Airport Carbon Accreditation –
An Introduction
Panagiotis Karamanos
Senior Advisor, Airport Carbon Accreditation
Global CO2 Emissions
Road vs Shipping vs Aviation
Industry’s Commitment
4
Airport Carbon Accreditation
"ACI EUROPE and its members commit to reduce
carbon emissions from airport operations fully
within their own control with the ultimate target to
become carbon neutral."
Airport Carbon Accreditation Design Principles
Effectiveness
Flexibility
Design
Principles
Recognition
Simplicity
Accreditation Levels
Level 3+ Offsetting own Scope 1&2
emissions
Level 3 Engaging others and measuring
their emissions
Level 2
Managing and reducing
footprint
Level 1
Carbon footprint
Scope 1&2
Scope 3
Example of a Reduction Target
AIA's Carbon Footprint
Baseline (2005)
2020 Target
80000
Target: 25% decrease in emissions by
2020 using 2005 as a baseline
70000
(tonnes CO2)
2005 Baseline: 67.001 tonnes
60000
50000
2020 Target: 50.251 tonnes
40000
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
CERTIFICATE
of ACCREDITATION
Valid until the 2nd of July 2014
This is to certify that Airport Carbon Accreditation, under the administration
of WSP Environment & Energy Ltd, confirms that the carbon management
processes at
ATHENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
implemented by Athens International Airport
have earned the accreditation level of OPTIMISATION, in recognition of their
exemplary work in managing, reducing and engaging other stakeholders on
the airport site, in minimising CO2 emissions as part of the European airport
industry’s response to the challenge of Climate Change.
www.airportcarbonaccreditation.org
Olivier Jankovec
Director General
ACI EUROPE
Simon Clouston
Global Director
WSP Environment & Energy
Milestones
June 2009
Launch in
Europe
June 2013
Launch in
Africa
November 2011
Launch in AsiaPacific
November 2013
Named as one of
the top-3 low
carbon projects in
Europe
The only standard for carbon management in the airport industry
Evolution of Participation
90
80
Total Number of Airports
70
78
ACI Europe
75
ACI Asia-Pacific
60
59
50
43
40
30
20
17
12
10
9
4
0
June 2010
June 2011
June 2012
June 2013
February 2014
Abu Dhabi,
Adelaide,
Amman,
Bangkok,
Parafield,
Changi,
Sunshine
Coast,
Mumbai,
Bangalore,
Delhi,
Hyderabad,
Hong-Kong
Key Features
✈ 
Launched by ACI-Europe (co-managed with ACI Asia-Pacific & Africa)
✈ 
Voluntary programme for active carbon management
✈ 
Specifically designed for carbon emissions of the airport industry
✈ 
Measurable goals and reporting
✈ 
The airport industry’s contribution to ATAGs 4-pillar strategy
✈ 
Independent expert advisory board
✈ 
Independent administrator – WSP Environmental
✈ 
Technical task force of environmental managers
Basic Accreditation Process
•  Undertake internal actions in accordance to the
level of accreditation
•  Obtain verification from independent 3rd party
•  Get Accredited
Help Desk Support
•  Obtain internal high level approval
On-Line Application
•  Register at the website & guidance document
Benefits of Participation
A. 
Raised sustainability profile & external credibility
B. 
Reduction in exposure to climate change regulatory risks
C.  Efficiency improvements
D.  Knowledge transfer
A. Raised Profile & Credibility
Airport Carbon Accreditation is formally supported or endorsed by:
✈ 
International Civil Aviation Organization
✈ 
United Nations Environment Programme
✈ 
European Commission DG MOVE, DG CLIMA
✈ 
Eurocontrol
✈ 
European Civil Aviation Conference
What They Say
“Airport Carbon Accreditation is a highly significant initiative
by airports for meaningful and measurable action in
addressing their greenhouse gas emissions. I commend ACI
for its success with the program in Europe and for extending it
to the Asia-Pacific region, in line with ICAO’s global strategy
for dealing with climate change”
R. Benjamin, ICAO Secretary General
“I applaud ACI-Europe for having set up Airport Carbon
Accreditation, an initiative that demonstrates commitment to
reduce the carbon footprint of airports and eventually to
become carbon neutral.”
A. Steiner, UNEP Executive Director
A. Raised Profile & Credibility
✈ 
Airport Carbon Accreditation is based on internationally recognised
environmental standards
✈ 
Emissions performance is audited by an independent third party
✈ 
Public disclosure of airport sector carbon performance helps to
encourage & improve stakeholder confidence
B. Reduction of Regulatory Risk
✈ 
Mitigates exposure to impending policy initiatives and regulation
✈ 
Helps airports to achieve consistency and compliance with:
•  Environmental or sustainability goals
•  Reporting standards
•  Management of carbon emissions
✈ 
Provides concrete evidence of voluntary best practice carbon
management
C. Efficiency Improvements
✈ 
Efficient and innovative airport operations
✈ 
Sound environmental management
✈ 
Interdepartmental cooperation
✈ 
Stakeholder engagement (airlines, service providers …)
C. Efficiency Improvements
✈ 
Efficient and innovative airport operations
✈ 
Sound environmental management
✈ 
Interdepartmental cooperation
✈ 
Stakeholder engagement (airlines, service providers …)
What can the airport do to reduce emissions?
C. Efficiency Improvements - Examples
✈ 
Solar panels
✈ 
Geothermal energy
✈ 
Electric or hybrid vehicles
✈ 
Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning improvements
✈ 
Provision of FEGP and pre-conditioned air
✈ 
Underground network to supply fuel to aircraft
✈ 
Other
D. Knowledge Transfer
✈ 
Shared experience between airports (footprints, carbon management)
✈ 
Access to the Help Desk
✈ 
Periodic updates in programme guidance
✈ 
Airport Carbon Accreditation workshops
✈ 
Participation in webinars, meetings, etc.
Costs
✈ 
Direct Costs
— Participation fees
— Third party verification
✈ 
Indirect Costs
•  Internal cost of preparing carbon footprint and submitting
application
✈ 
ACERT is a free, user-friendly Excel footprint tool by ACI World.
✈ 
Airport Carbon Accreditation is a carbon management programme that
recognises ACERT is suitable to calculate scope 1 and 2 emissions.
✈ 
Data generated can be acceptable only for Level 1 and Level 2 of
Airport Carbon Accreditation subject to independent verification.
✈ 
ACERT is recommended especially to small airports that do not have
internal environmental expertise.
Webinars for Verifiers
✈ 
Verifier training started in November 2012
✈ 
Regular sessions
✈ 
60+ Verifiers have taken the training
✈ 
Approved verifiers listed individually
✈ 
Airport operators can attend free of charge
2
Communications & Marketing
✈ 
— 
— 
— 
— 
✈ 
ACI-related:
Dedicated newsletter, Facebook page and website
Airport banner campaign
Press releases and templates
Annual report and brochures
Airport-related:
—  Use of logos in terminals, vehicles, documents
—  Use of information in reports
Communications & Marketing
What They Say
“Being the first Airport accredited for level 1 in the Asia-Pacific region, the carbon
accreditation program is an important initiative and tool that will support our vision in
being the most sustainable airport in the region.”
“The Optimization Level certification has helped our efforts in building an energy
efficient and green airport.”
“It is a proud achievement for our airport & the GMR Group to be successfully
registered with Airport Carbon Accreditation, positively contributing to the
environment.”
The accreditation process has helped GHIAL in implementing various carbon
emission reduction initiatives in a systematic way. It also helped in increasing
awareness on the subject among various stakeholders.
What They Say
“Becoming the first carbon accredited airport in Asia-Pacific to achieve “Optimization”
not only secures recognition against the emerging industry standard for the carbon
reduction work of Airport Authority Hong Kong and over 40 of our business partners,
but also provides a practical framework for further improving our performance.”
“Achieving Airport Carbon Accreditation was a good opportunity for Changi Airport
Group to take stock of our carbon emissions inventory and introduce a framework that
enables us to focus on key areas of environmental improvement.”
“Airport Carbon Accreditation has now become an industry benchmark that helps
airports to foster strong green image ……..”
Airport Carbon Accreditation……
……responds to regulatory concerns about aviation and climate change
……provides a unique common framework and tool for carbon management
.......is flexible and site specific so it can be used at any airport
…....recognises existing or new initiatives
……is based on continual improvement and partnerships
........provides improved accountability and transparency
……is consistent with national and international standards
.......is recognised as the industry reference standard for airport carbon management
THANK YOU
www.aci-europe.org
www.aci-asiapac.aero
www.airportcarbonaccreditation.org