The growing concern for the impact of CO2 emissions on the environment has led to policies and regulations designed to control and limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. One outcome of these regulations has been the development of carbon markets, where carbon credits are bought, sold, and traded. As airports evaluate their options in the new market and regulatory environment, there may be potential for them to generate revenue by generating and selling credits in the carbon market. However, as the carbon credit market continues to evolve, there are many questions regarding airport participation, including the kind of credits airports can create or trade, who can take credit for various actions at an airport, the minimum level of credits needed to be marketable, and how carbon trading would affect airport compliance obligations, including grant assurances made to the federal government.
Research is needed to provide the airport community with current, relevant information on the carbon trading market and potential opportunities and/or challenges to their participation in this market.
The objective of this research is to prepare a primer for airports that describes the carbon credit market and outlines potential opportunities for and challenges to airport participation.
