BETWEEN 2023 and 2024, Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) – the only institutionally-endorsed global carbon management certification program for airports – reported early this month that accredited airports collectively reduced more than one million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
To be precise, airports accredited under the programme collectively reduced 1,037,292 tonnes of CO₂, representing a 14.8 per cent decrease in Scope 1 and 2 emissions; equivalent to powering over 200,000 average households for a year.
For the 15th year running, Airport Carbon Accreditation now has an increased number of accredited airports – 558 across 87 countries, with 70 airports joining the program for the first time and 132 progressing to a higher level of carbon management.
The report noted that regional emissions reductions contributing to the global total comprised:
Asia-Pacific & Middle East: –529,421 tonnes of CO₂
Europe: –278,570 tonnes of CO₂
North America: –150,184 tonnes of CO₂
Africa: –48,406 tonnes of CO₂, and
Latin America & the Caribbean: –30,710 tonnes of CO₂.
Its 2023-2024 annual report stated at the end of the reporting period in May last year, 15 airports had achieved the highest Level 5 accreditation, having reached net zero for emissions under their control and committed to full decarbonisation across all scopes by 2050.
With science leaving no doubt over the fact that global warming was accelerating, and that climate action must remain a top priority, Airports Council International (ACI) Europe director general Olivier Jankovec said it was heartening to see that reducing carbon had truly become embedded in airport management across the globe.
What is Airport Carbon Accreditation?
ACA is a green initiative of Airports Council International (ACI) for its members, and it runs independent assessments of airports around the world and its efforts to manage and reduce emissions.
ACA being the only endorsed global carbon management certification program for airports, it independently assesses and recognises the efforts of airports to manage and reduce its carbono emissions through seven levels of certification: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 3+, Level 4, Level 4+ and Level 5.
According to ACA, through its seven levels of certification, ACA acknowledges that airports are at different stages in its journey towards comprehensive carbon management.
It stated the program is for airports of all sizes and extended beyond hubs and regional airports with scheduled passenger traffic, to include general aviation and freight-focused airports.
ACA is also the only global airport-specific carbon standard that relies on internationally recognised methodologies.
It added the program provided airports with a common framework for active carbon management with measurable goalposts; and it is also site-specific allowing flexibility to take account of national or local legal requirements, while ensuring the methodology used was always robust.
ACA strives to enable the airport industry to effectively reduce its carbon footprint, to benefit from increased efficiency through lowered energy consumption, shared expertise and knowledge exchange, as well as better communication of the results.
Level 4 Transformation
At Level 4 of Airport Carbon Accreditation, airports are required to align their carbon management ambition with the global climate goals and transform their operations with absolute emissions reductions in mind, while also strengthening stakeholder engagement.
According to ACA, in order to achieve Level 4, an airport must:
– Set out a policy commitment to absolute emissions reduction,
– Include additional Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions into its carbon footprint,
– Formulate a long-term absolute carbon emissions reduction target, and the target amount and date shall be aligned with the IPCC 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius pathways,
– Develop a Carbon Management Plan to achieve the target, and
– Development of a Stakeholder Partnership Plan, which should demonstrate the airport actively driving third parties at the airports toward delivering emissions reductions.
Punching above its weight
Last week, Fiji Airports received the certificate of accreditation for Nadi International Airport attaining Level 4 Transformation of the Airport Carbon Accreditation.
The certification recognises the airport’s work in aligning its carbon management with global climate goals to reach absolute emissions reductions, and establishing related partnerships with its business partners, as part of the global airport industry’s response to the challenges of climate change.
The Level 4 Transformation also made Fiji’s primary gateway to the world the first airport in the Blue Pacific region to achieve that level of recognition.
Fiji Airports chairman Hasmukh Patel and Fiji Airports CEO Mesake Nawari received the award recognition at the Green Airports Recognition (GAR) 2025 in New Delhi, India, last Wednesday.
Nadi International Airport attained Level 4 Transformation together with Japan’s Narita International Airport, Dubai International Airport, King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia and Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan.
Fiji Airports had achieved Level 3 Optimisation in airport carbon accreditation in 2020. At that time, it had been some three years that Nadi Airport had gone from a Level 1 accredited airport to
Level 3, placing it alongside some of the biggest airports in the world like the multiple award-winning Changi in Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong.
Nadi Airport received its Level 1 Mapping of Airport Carbon Accreditation in 2017.
Commenting on the latest Level 4 achievement, Mr Nawari said that accomplishment underscored Fiji Airports’ role in the global effort to combat climate change.
He said this achievement reflected the commitment, support and understanding of Fiji Airports board of directors, management, staff and stakeholders in driving sustainability across its airport operations.
Recognising that its infrastructure was vulnerable to climate change events, he said they were mobilising resources to do their part in addressing this critical issue.
“We are punching above our weight and to be recognised alongside bigger international airports signifies our commitment to reducing our carbon emissions and the active steps undertaken to minimise its environmental impact,” Mr Nawari said after receiving the award in Delhi.
Fiji Airports has launched numerous sustainability initiatives over the past year under Mr Nawari’s leadership, with the team actively working to reduce emissions and further enhance the airport’s environmental performance.
Those sustainability projects include the procurement of 14 solar-powered electric vehicles at the Nadi airport, and surplus energy in a battery bank to power streetlights in the airport carpark area and external signage at night.
Four domestic airport terminals in Savusavu, Matei, Rotuma and the temporary Labasa terminal building are now fully solar-powered following the installations of solar panels by Renewable Energy
Special Projects team in recent months.
The installation project also included solar works at the CEO’s official residence and all streetlights around the Fiji Airports compound, now fully solar powered.
Sustainable energy
Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID) had also announced other results of the Green Airports Recognition (GAR) 2025, now in its ninth year, honouring 12 airports from 39 submissions across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East regions for excellence in sustainable energy management.
This year’s theme ‘Sustainable Energy at Airports’ highlighted the industry’s dedication to reducing environmental impact through innovative energy solutions.
Airports were encouraged to showcase groundbreaking/innovative initiatives in energy management, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), renewable energy source like solar and green diesel, electric vehicles, green and zero-energy buildings, and various energy optimisation measures.
According to ACI, 12 airports were recognised with Platinum, Gold, and Silver awards based on airport size and specific criteria. Platinum awards were given to Changi, Kansai, Christchurch, and Hubballi Airport for their exceptional efforts in energy management and sustainability.
ACI Asia-Pacific and Middle East Stefano Baronci said the high-quality number of submissions this year highlighted the airport industry’s commitment to sustainable energy practices, from renewable energy adoption to eco-friendly operations, SAF integration, and energy efficiency.
He said those projects set a benchmark for industry in building a sustainable aviation future.