Dubai International Airport (DXB) has received the prestigious Level 4 'Transformation' certification from the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program placing it among the top 5% of airports worldwide for its efforts to reduce carbon emissions. This certification is awarded to airports that make significant emissions reductions and drive long-term change through collaboration with stakeholders.

What is Airport Carbon Accreditation?

The ACA program independently evaluates and certifies airports based on their carbon management efforts. Airports progress through seven levels from basic carbon footprint mapping to full carbon neutrality and transformation. DXB has now reached Level 4 which requires airports to align their operations with global climate goals and implement absolute emissions reductions.

DXB’s Sustainability Achievements

The Level 4 milestone reflects DXB’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement. The airport has implemented several initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint including:

Biodiesel Transition: Partnering with dnata and ENOC to switch airside vehicles to biodiesel, reducing emissions by over 3,500 tonnes annually.

Energy Efficiency: Collaborating with Etihad Energy Services to retrofit buildings and integrate rooftop solar panels.

Waste Reduction: Partnering with BEEAH Group to cut food waste sent to landfills by 60%.

DXB also participates in the World Economic Forum’s ‘Airports of Tomorrow’ initiative and the oneDXB Sustainability Alliance working on over 180 decarbonization projects.

Future Goals

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, emphasized that sustainability is a long-term strategy involving collaboration and continuous improvement. DXB’s achievement sets a new standard for sustainability in airport operations, contributing to Dubai and the UAE’s commitment to Net Zero by 2050.