BACKGROUND
In alignment with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 1.5°C target, the members of the Airports Council International (ACI) have committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 (see ACI Long Term Carbon Goal Study for Airports Report, 2021, as referenced in Special Note C). The term net zero, as applied by ACI, means that any airport-controlled carbon emissions are balanced by an equivalent amount being removed without the use of offsets. While carbon offsets prevent greenhouse gas emissions from occurring, carbon removals directly remove and sequester carbon from the atmosphere.
ACRP Research Report 220: Guidebook for Developing a Zero- or Low- Emissions Roadmap at Airports provides the information and resources needed for airports to create a zero- or low-emissions roadmap and addresses making the business case for working with stakeholders to set zero- or low-emissions goals and targets. In addition, ACRP Synthesis 100: Airport Greenhouse Gas Reduction Efforts assesses the state of the practice and lessons learned in approaches to greenhouse gas reduction. These efforts may also offer opportunities for revenue generation, as initially explored in ACRP Report 57: The Carbon Market: A Primer for Airports, which was published in 2011.
While the above reports have identified numerous carbon reduction strategies, carbon removal approaches and net-zero emission targets have not been widely studied nor adopted at airports.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this research is to develop a playbook to help airports understand and define how they can reach the net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2050 or earlier. This research will provide foundational knowledge for airports to better understand carbon removal strategies (technology and nature-based) and their potential feasibility in an airport setting.
STATUS: Publication is expected December 2024.
