SFO Honored for Reducing Carbon Footprint

Written by SFO Communications Staff

The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has been honored with an Environmental Achievement Award by the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA).  

In the category of Environmental Management, SFO was recognized for its Climate Action Plan, which outlines a variety of efforts intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to airport operations.

“We are proud to be recognized by the Airports Council International-North America for environmental achievement,” said Airport Director John L. Martin. “The SFO Climate Action Plan demonstrates our commitment to be an industry leader in airport sustainability.”

SFO developed a Climate Action Plan in 2008 and has updated it every year since.  The airport has achieved significant success in reducing its carbon footprint by implementing various energy efficiency measures, recycling solid waste, and reducing vehicle fleet fuel consumption.  

Since 1990, SFO has lowered GHG emissions from airport-controlled operations by 34 percent, by supplying conditioned air and electric power to all parked aircraft, recycling more than 77 percent of solid waste, and constructing the AirTrain system to eliminate the need for rental car shuttle buses.  

Additional steps include planting more than 2,000 trees around the airport and measures to enable concession tenants and airlines to reduce their GHG emissions.