Top 10 Airports in the United States Making a Sustainable Difference
How their game-changing efforts are working in the fight against climate change
Travel Writing
How their game-changing efforts are working in the fight against climate change
The next time you go flying within the United States, you might make it a point to travel through one of these 10 sustainable airports making a difference to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Many of these airports started their ambitious sustainability plans more than a decade ago. Some have achieved their goals, while others are still working towards a sustainable future.
The Covid pandemic year of 2020 derailed some of these statistics since many airports were closed and people weren’t flying. However, sustainability actions persisted in other areas that could still be controlled. Now that we are into 2021 and the airports are opening up again, we shall revisit the progress in 2022.
1. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) Texas
DFW was recognized as the first carbon-neutral airport in North America in 2016
“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 Nations’ Race to Zero campaign.” — TravelPulse
Age of Airport: 47 years old
Opened: January 13, 1974
How large is it: 26.9 square miles
Passengers served: 73 million per year
How many airlines: 10 Domestic, 13 Foreign, 23 Cargo
How many tons recycled: 180,000
How many employees: 60,000
Start of sustainable plan: 2010
Projected Completion Date: 2016 (two years early)
Goal achieved: Zero Carbon Neutral (two years early, largest in the world)
Source: The US Airport Leading the Way in Sustainability
2. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) North Carolina
Age of Airport: 85 years
Opened: 1935, became international in 1982
How large is it: 8.68 square miles
Passengers served: 50 million per year
How many airlines: 11 domestic, 3 foreign
How many tons recycled: 7,000
How many employees: 22,000
Start of sustainable plan: June 2018
Projected Completion Date: 2030 for the airport (2050 for the city)
Goal achieved: in progress
Source: Charlotte Airport Sustainability
3. Denver International Airport (DEN) Colorado
Age of Airport: 26 years old
Opened: February 28, 1995
How large is it: 54.05 square miles
Passengers served: 69 million per year
How many airlines: 16 domestic, 8 foreign
How many tons recycled: 373
How many employees: 35,000
Start of sustainable plan: 2009
Project Completion Date: in progress
Goal achieved: 2015 certified carbon emission reduction, 2018 continuation
Source: Denver Airport Sustainability
4. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) California
Age of Airport: 94 years old
Opened: March 15, 1927
How large is it: 5,171 acres
Passengers served: 16 million
How many airlines: 18 domestic, 32 international, 7 cargo
How many tons recycled: 14,000
How many employees: 1,700
Start of sustainable plan: 2009
Project Completion Date: 2022 Level 4 Certification
Goal achieved: 2018 Level 3 Certification
Source: San Francisco International Airport Sustainability
5. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Atlanta, Georgia (ATL)
Age of Airport: 96 years old
Opened: April 16, 1925
How large is it: 47,000 acres
Passengers served: 100 million
How many airlines: 9 domestic, 9 foreign
How many tons recycled: 13,000
How many employees: 63,000
Start of sustainable plan: November 2010
Project Completion Date: 2020
Goal achieved: in progress
Sources: Hartsfield-Jackson Launches New Sustainability Efforts
Atlanta — sustainability efforts for the city with the busiest airport in the world
6. Boston-Logan International Airport (BOS) 2016
Age of Airport: 98 years old
Opened: September 8, 1923
How large is it: 2400 acres
Passengers served: 42 million per year
How many airlines: 40
How many tons recycled: 1400
How many employees: 17,000
Start of sustainable plan: 2015
Project Completion Date: 2017
Goal achieved: 46% reduction of GHG in 2020
Source: Sustainable Massport
7. San Diego International Airport (SAN) California
Age of Airport: 93 years old
Opened: August 16, 1928 as Lindbergh Field, 1934 became San Diego International Airport
How large is it: 661 acres
Passengers served: 25 million per year
How many airlines: 17
How many tons recycled: 60,000
How many employees: 9,000
Start of sustainable plan: 2015
Project Completion Date: 2022 Level 3 carbon neutrality
Goal achieved: in progress
Source: Sustainability Report — San Diego International Airport
8. Fresno Yosemite Airport (FAT) California
Age of Airport: 79 years old
Opened: June 1942
How large is it: 1,728 acres
Passengers served: 1.96 million
How many airlines: 11 domestic, 3 cargo
How many tons recycled:
How many employees: 564
Start of sustainable plan: June 2012
Project Completion Date: 2020
Goal achieved: in progress
Source: Fresno Yosemite International Airport Sustainability Management Plan, June 2012
9. Nashville International Airport (BNA) Nashville, Tennessee
Age of Airport: 84 years old
Opened: June 1937
How large is it: 4,500 acres
Passengers served: 18.3 million
How many airlines: 18
How many tons recycled: 161
How many employees: 39,540
Start of sustainable plan: 2010
Project Completion Date:
Goal achieved: in progress
Nashville International Airport Sustainability Study 2012
10. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, (SEA-TAC) Washington
Age of Airport: 72 years old
Opened: July 9, 1949
How large is it: 2,800 acres
Passengers served: 49.8 million per year
How many airlines: 31
How many tons recycled: 7,320
How many employees: 151,400
Start of sustainable plan: 2018
Project Completion Date: Carbon neutral or carbon negative by 2050
Goal achieved: in progress reducing GHG
Source: Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)
Achieving the Goal to become Carbon Neutral
There is a program started in 2009 for Airports to become carbon neutral certified. As you can see from the list above, one airport has already achieved that goal and others are in progress.
To become airport carbon neutral certified requires 6 steps to mastering their sustainability plan.
First step is to map or measure their carbon footprint
Then comes the second step in the effort of continued reduction
It then extends to other businesses on-site at the airport to do the same
Goal is to become carbon neutral certified
Once that is achieved the effort is to align with overall climate change goals
Finally, maintain and continue to offset carbon emissions
Source: Accredited airports
As you can see, many of these airports are older than your Grandparents. There is a big need for them to become sustainable. Not only for current use, but for the support of generations to come. This list is not an entire list of all the nations airports. There are many more airports in the United States that are in progress of going sustainable. You can research more about it here: Airport Sustainability — Airports
In the meantime, keep watching your local airport as it takes steps to go green implementing a sustainable strategy for the future of travel.