The Green Airports Recognition aims to promote environmental best practices to minimise aviation’s impact on the environment and recognise airport members who have outstanding accomplishments in their environmental projects.
By participating in this initiative, airports can share their environmental projects with other airports in the region and have the chance to be recognised for their achievements. Platinum, Gold or Silver recognition will be awarded in various airport size categories. The top submissions will be captured in the Green Airports Recognition publication.
Green Airports Recognition 2025 - Sustainable Energy at Airports
Green Airports Recognition has successfully entered its ninth year, promoting environmental best practices while recognising ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East airport members who have outstanding accomplishments in their sustainability projects.
Although aviation contributes only about 2% of the total emissions, airport operators are in a unique position to lead and demonstrate initiatives in climate change mitigation, due to the significant share of Scope 3 emissions at airports. Airports can collaborate with stakeholders, such as airlines and ground handling service providers, to promote innovative new technologies that reduce scope 3 emissions and improve airport operational efficiency.
Airports could showcase their innovative initiatives in reducing aviation’s carbon footprint and achieving net zero through the sustainable energy management such as, sourcing renewable (e.g. solar, hydrogen, geothermal)/electricity energy, adopting eco-friendly energy solutions for operations, facilitating Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), or other approaches to enhancing energy efficiency at airports.
The Green Airports Recognition 2025 offers airports in the APAC & MID regions a chance to showcase their innovative initiatives for sustainable energy management while mitigating the impacts of climate change.
Green Airports Recognition 2024 - Biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions
The aviation industry has entered a resilient recovery phase globally, overcoming the pandemic. Airport expansion to meet the growing aviation demand must prioritize minimising environmental impact, particularly considering the relationship with Biodiversity near the airports.
As part of efforts to preserve Biodiversity, embracing Nature-Based Solutions has become crucial for preserving our planet, particularly in safeguarding local and regional biodiversity.
We encourage airports to submit their best practices in preserving Biodiversity and utilizing Nature-Based Solutions at their premises ranging from wetland restoration and creation, balancing wildlife species and airport operation, wildlife trafficking prevention, ecosystems restoration or carbon removal through Nature-Based Solutions.
Recognised Airports
Green Airports Recognition 2024, twelve exceptional airports were recognised for their successful journey towards preserving Biodiversity and exploring best practices of utilizing Nature-Based Solutions in the aviation industry.
Winners of Green Airports Recognition 2024
The recognised Airports were honoured at the 19thACI Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly(May 2024), Conference and Exhibition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The recognised airports are:
Over 35 million passengers per annum:
- Platinum – Hong Kong International Airport
- Implementation of Marine Ecology and Fisheries Enhancement Measures at Hong Kong International Airport - Gold – Sydney Airport
- Bringing Country back to Wetlands - Silver – Indira Gandhi International Airport
- Center of Excellence – Biodiversity Center
Between 15-35 million passengers per annum:
- Platinum – Kansai Airport
- Creating a rich seaweed bed and blue carbon - Gold – King Khalid International Airport
- Plantation Project - Silver – Kempegowda International Airport
- Nature based holistic approach for Sustainable Future
Between 8-15 million passengers per annum:
- Platinum – Mactan-Cebu International Airport
- Coastal Clean-up - Gold – King Fahd International Airport
- "Our Airport is Green" - Silver – Central Japan International Airport
- Forests grow marine life
Less than 8 million passengers per annum:
- Platinum – Queenstown Airport
- Shotover Wetland restoration - Gold – Darwin International Airport
- Gurambai Cultural Trail Upgrades - Silver – Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport
- Moringa Plantation
A full list of submitted projects, please visit the library here.
Environmental Aspects
Each year, a different theme is chosen from the following environmental aspects:
- Environmental Policy and Management (including green procurement)
- Noise
- Air quality
- Waste
- Water (including both municipal water usage and wastewater discharge)
- Energy
- Carbon
- Biodiversity
- Ground transportation
- Land & water contamination
- Others
The Green Airports Recognition run by ACI Asia-Pacific is an excellent initiative helping airports share best practice initiatives across the region and providing recognition for those taking action to improve their environmental performance
Publications
- Green Airports Recognition 2024 - Biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions
- Green Airports Recognition 2023 - Single-Use Plastic Elimination
- Green Airports Recognition 2022 - Carbon Management
- Green Airports Recognition 2021 - Air Quality Management
- Green Airports Recognition 2020 - Water Management
- Green Airports Recognition 2019 - Green Airport Infrastructure
- Green Airports Recognition 2018 - Waste Minimization
- Green Airports Recognition 2017 - Energy Management