Only 18 airports in North America have achieved a Level 2 certification through ACI. Globally, Austin-Bergstrom is one of 248 airports worldwide accredited in this carbon management program, with the ultimate goal of reaching carbon neutrality.
The second of four overall levels, Level 2 Accreditation (Reduction) is earned after an airport has mapped its carbon footprint, developed a carbon management plan and shown a continued reduction in airport carbon emissions over consecutive years.
Austin’s airport has used a variety of tactics to reduce its carbon footprint including using wind and solar energy sources, alternative fuel vehicles, conservation awareness campaigns and purchasing carbon offsets. Electrical power for all airport buildings is supplied by Austin Energy’s GreenChoice program, generated by wind turbines. Austin-Bergstrom has utilized 100 percent renewable electricity since 2012, preventing over 93,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. Use of this power source has been extended from the terminal to the airfield to power aircraft support vehicles such as luggage loading and has replaced over 30 diesel powered vehicles with electric.
The Austin airport was awarded its Level 2 Accreditation during a ceremony at ACI-NA’s Annual Conference held in Nashville, Tenn. on Oct. 1, 2018. Launched in 2009, the ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation program is the global standard for carbon management in the airport industry.
"Airports strive to be good partners within their communities and in the global aviation system by promoting sustainability and environmentally responsible practices,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. "One of the chief ways North American airports can lower their carbon footprint is by participating in the Airport Carbon Accreditation program. I applaud airports like Austin-Bergstrom that are leading our industry on a path toward continued success in innovation and sustainability."
Austin-Bergstrom is striving to achieve carbon neutrality. This achievement would make Austin-Bergstrom the second airport in North America, after Dallas-Fort Worth, to be carbon neutral.
As part of the overall commitment to its sustainability and carbon management programs, Austin-Bergstrom will be offsetting 999 metric tons of CO2 – just over one third of the airport’s total carbon footprint this year.