San Diego Airport in the US has achieved the highest level of certification- Level 4+ – on the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.
The certification was achieved through a series of programmes that have increased the use of carbon-free electricity and all-electric ground vehicles. In addition, the airport has also facilitated carbon emission reductions by airlines and rideshare partners, and enabled carbon-offset purchases by passengers. Notable projects and initiatives at the airport include: the airport authority being one of the first organisations to enroll San Diego Community Power’s ‘Power100 Champions’ programme. It now receives 100% renewable and carbon-free grid-delivered electricity to the entire SAN airport campus. The airport also has a stormwater capture and reuse system through which it has capture, treated and reused more than four million gallons of water since the system was commissioned in 2018. It has also developed one of the largest zero-emission shuttle fleets in the region, with a total of 33 all-electric buses and has partnered with airports, fuel providers and airlines to advocate for policies that would increase the use of low-carbon sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation sector.
San Diego is one of only three airports in North America to achieve Level 4+ ‘Transition’ certification and the only airport in California to reach the milestone. It is currently working on a trajectory to meet international net zero emission targets through the implementation of its carbon management plan, offsetting remaining direct carbon emissions and partnering with tenants responsible for scope 3 emissions at the airport.
“Since achieving Level 3+ ‘Carbon Neutrality’ in 2018, our team has been working with our airline partners, ground transportation providers and passengers to reduce their emissions which is a key component of achieiving Level 4+ accreditation,” said Kimberley Becker, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority President and CEO. “It’s through collaboration that this goal was met and I would like to acknowledge the hard work of Airport Authority team and the aviation partners that are committing to new ways of reducing emissions.”
