DFW AIRPORT, Texas – Nov. 17, 2020 – Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport has taken its commitment to sustainable initiatives to new levels – literally – by becoming the first airport in the world to achieve newly established carbon neutral levels announced by Airports Council International.
DFW Airport earned the new 4+ level in ACI’s global Airport Carbon Accreditation program. DFW was recognized as the first carbon neutral airport in North America in 2016.
The ACI announcement came just weeks after DFW Airport received international recognition as the first airport to earn a United Nations Global Climate Action Award on Oct. 27, 2020.
“These recognitions are the latest examples of DFW Airport’s commitment to serving our community and our world with a comprehensive, holistic approach to sustainability,” said Sean Donohue, CEO of DFW Airport. “We continue to look for innovative and meaningful ways to reduce the Airport’s carbon footprint with mindful, responsible practices and processes. We can and will do more, thanks to the focus and hard work of everyone at DFW Airport.”
As part of the ACA program, airports commit to reducing their emissions by making investments in heating and lighting efficiency technology, electric, hybrid or gas-powered vehicles, public transport incentive schemes and stakeholder engagement to encourage further emissions reductions. Airports applying to become accredited must have their carbon footprints independently verified.
As one of four organizations in the “Climate Neutral Now” category of the 2020 UN awards, DFW Airport was honored for its continued efforts to find innovative ways to reduce its carbon footprint. In 2017, DFW Airport implemented the Renewable Natural Gas Initiative, transitioning its compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle fleet to renewable natural gas (RNG) produced from local landfill gas.
Through the RNG initiative, DFW Airport dramatically reduced vehicle fleet emissions – the second largest segment of its carbon footprint – and as of June 2020, 70 percent of the natural gas used in the Airport’s vehicle fleet came from RNG. Not only did the change eliminate nearly 17,000 tons of CO2, it lowered operations and maintenance cost by $1 million per year.
DFW Airport achieved its 2020 Strategic Plan goal to reduce carbon emissions by 15 percent per passenger two years early and has now set an ambitious target to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030, supporting the United Nation’s Race to Zero campaign.
There is a long-standing commitment to sustainable efforts at DFW Airport. The Airport’s Strategic Plan and Sustainability and Diversity programs directly advance 16 of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
To learn more about the DFW Airport commitment, check this link. To learn more about the ACI ACA program, check this link. To learn more about the 2020 UN Global Climate Action Awards, check this link.