Sharjah Airport retains carbon neutral status for the 4th year

Sharjah Airport has reaffirmed its leading position in the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme, administered by Airports Council International (ACI), by successfully renewing its Level 3+ (Neutrality) accreditation.

This remarkable achievement solidifies Sharjah Airport’s status as the only carbon-neutral airport in the GCC for the fourth consecutive year, further highlighting its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority (SAA), emphasized that this accomplishment reflects the airport’s unwavering commitment to leading sustainable aviation efforts.

He stated that maintaining carbon neutrality for the fourth consecutive year aligns with the strategic vision of Sharjah and the UAE in promoting environmental sustainability.

He further noted that this milestone is an integral part of the airport’s comprehensive sustainability strategy, focusing on reducing carbon emissions, implementing green initiatives, and launching ambitious projects to offset and balance any remaining emissions.

In line with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy, Sharjah Airport continues to develop integrated sustainability strategies, including enhancing energy efficiency, adopting renewable energy sources, and implementing innovative policies that improve airport operations while maximising their positive environmental impact.

Ali Salim Al Midfa underscored that this achievement sets a benchmark for airports across the GCC, as the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme remains the only global framework recognising airports’ efforts in reducing CO₂ emissions and achieving carbon neutrality.

He reiterated that Sharjah Airport’s continued commitment to sustainability motivates its team to intensify their environmental responsibility initiatives in the aviation sector. He further emphasised the airport’s dedication to finding innovative solutions to enhance energy efficiency, collaborating with local and global partners to shape a greener future for aviation.

Inspired by the UAE’s ambitious climate goals, Sharjah Airport aims to serve as a role model for other airports, encouraging them to take similar steps toward achieving long-term environmental objectives and contributing to global climate action.

The Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, launched by ACI Europe in 2009 and later expanded to the Asia-Pacific region in 2011, is designed to help airports measure, manage, and reduce carbon emissions through a structured seven-tier accreditation system.

This system ranges from basic carbon mapping to achieving full carbon neutrality and beyond, providing a standardized framework for sustainable airport operations worldwide.

Sharjah Airport embarked on its carbon accreditation journey in 2014, progressively advancing through multiple levels of the programme.

At Level 1 (Mapping) in 2014, it was among the first airports in the region to join the programme, systematically mapping carbon emissions from sources within its direct control (Scope 1 & Scope 2) and conducting independent third-party emissions verification.