Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has earned a Level 4 Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA). PHL is one of only seven U.S. airports to earn the designation by the Airports Council International for continuing to manage its carbon footprint through LED lighting replacements, fleet electrification, energy-efficient updates to its heating and cooling systems, new recycling systems from its construction projects as well as by tapping into the City of Philadelphia’s 70-megawatt solar production facility, which provided renewable energy credits that accounted for 23% of the airport’s energy usage last year. The airport has a target of net-zero operations by 2050 and has committed to reducing its emissions by at least 55% by 2035.
“Our mission to make Philadelphia the greenest big city in America demands real, measurable action from every corner of city government,” said Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker. “Earning this premier designation proves our Department of Aviation isn’t just keeping pace—they are setting the standard for sustainable infrastructure nationwide. I’m incredibly proud of the PHL team for turning our environmental commitments into national leadership.”
“This achievement represents a major milestone in our sustainability journey as an airport,” said Tracy Borda, interim CEO for the department of aviation. “It is a great honor to be the only airport on the East Coast to be recognized for this level of environmental commitment.”
“We are truly setting ourselves apart as a leader in airport sustainability and holding ourselves accountable – ensuring that we walk the talk,” said Jessica Noon, airport sustainability manager. “This recognition is a result of the hard work the airport has done over the course of many years to prioritize sustainability in our decision-making and go the extra mile to operate in a cleaner, greener way.”
