Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Achieves Carbon Neutral Recognition

Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport has become the first airport in North America to achieve Carbon Neutral status, one of only 23 airports worldwide to achieve the distinction.  The Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) Program upgraded DFW Airport to “Level 3+ Neutrality,” which is the highest level of environmental achievement available to airports.  The recognition culminates nearly two decades of sustainability efforts by DFW Airport to reduce its own emissions and carbon footprint, and thereby contribute to the regional effort to clean the air in the Dallas Fort Worth area.

“This major achievement demonstrates 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.  “Our team has made major strides in reducing DFW’s carbon footprint by how we manage precious resources such as energy and water, and how the Airport manages vehicle fuels, emissions, waste, recycling, and our land.”

An important part of DFW’s sustainability program is its fleet of natural gas service vehicles. DFW’s vehicle fleet has been almost completely converted to clean-burning CNG, cutting the Airport fleet’s carbon emissions by 25 percent while saving millions in fuel costs.

Since 2010, DFW has achieved 29 percent reduction in carbon emissions on a per passenger basis as well as an overall 38 percent reduction in energy costs, even while total passengers at the Airport increased by 15 percent over the same period.

Carbon neutrality occurs when the net carbon dioxide emissions over an entire year is zero, meaning the airport absorbs or offsets the same amount of carbon dioxide as it produces. The achievement is recognized and accredited by Airport Carbon Accreditation, an international organization that monitors the efforts of airports to manage and reduce their carbon emissions.