San Diego International Airport (SAN) is now officially carbon-neutral – only the second North American airport to achieve that status.
Airport officials recently announced that SAN had received the Airports Council International’s (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation programme’s highest rating, Level 3+.
“Airports like San Diego International Airport are leading efforts in our industry to lower our carbon footprint,” said Airports Council International-North America President and CEO Kevin M. Burke.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is the only other airport on the continent to received ACI’s top rating for reduction of carbon emissions.
In addition to cutting pollution, the airport’s Good Traveller programme found offsets for the carbon the airport continues to emit.
Initiatives included a greenhouse gas reduction partnership with Uber and Lyft and an alliance with San Diego Gas and Electric to expand airport car charging infrastructure and powering airside ground service equipment with electricity.
“We knew we could do more to operate more efficiently,” said said Kim Becker, SAN’s president and CEO.
“This accreditation is testament to not only the efforts of the Airport Authority, but those of our regional stakeholders and airport business partners to do their part in minimizing the airport’s carbon footprint.”