Source: ACI

Airports Council International has today published the annual results on carbon performance and participation trends for its global carbon management standard for airports, Airport Carbon Accreditation.

The newly released report covers the period from May 2024 to May 2025, with headline results highlighting:  

  • A total of 590 airports across 91 countries and territories were accredited under the programme, with 104 new airports joining for the first time, during the reporting period;
  • Together, these airports welcomed 53.6% of global passenger traffic, meaning that more than half of the world’s passengers travelled through an airport actively managing and reducing its carbon emissions;
  • Accredited airports collectively reduced their Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 542,559 tonnes of CO₂e, (-8.1%);
  • By the end of the reporting period, 21 airports had reached Level 5, achieving net zero for emissions under their direct control and committing to reach net zero for Scope 3 emissions by 2050.

The report also highlighted improvements in emissions efficiency. Average emissions per passenger fell to 1.54 kg of CO₂e, while emissions per traffic unit declined to 1.34 kg of CO₂e. These represent reductions of 30.6% and 26.8% respectively compared with the three-year rolling average, showing that airports are continuing to improve their carbon performance despite growth in traffic.  

Olivier Jankovec, Chair of the Airport Carbon Accreditation Board and Director General at ACI EUROPE said:  “These headline figures and the detailed content of this report are both reassuring and encouraging, given the new reality of the “contested transition” – which is seeing political pushback against climate action gaining ground. Indeed, airports are well aware that no matter what, their license to operate and grow will remain conditional on the decarbonisation of aviation. Crucially, this means that for them climate action is not just about driving efficiencies, but also about future proofing their business and air connectivity. In this context, as we look back on Year 16 of Airport Carbon Accreditation, the proactive work of the airport community in managing and reducing carbon emissions comes across as stronger than ever. Airports worldwide are walking the talk on climate action, providing a much-sought-after beacon of hope.”