California airport criticized by environmentalists for expansion plan wins big sustainability award

OAK is working toward achieving zero emissions from its operations by 2040.Photo byAaliyah WonUnsplash

Oakland International Airport (OAK) has reached Level Three certification in the Airports Council International’s (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation program, marking a significant step in its sustainability efforts. The achievement was announced during the ACI North America 2024 Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

OAK’s Director of Aviation, Craig Simon, expressed pride in the airport's commitment to reducing carbon emissions. To obtain the certification, OAK expanded its carbon footprint assessment to include Scope 3 emissions, which cover indirect emissions such as passenger transport and business travel.

OAK is working toward achieving zero emissions from its operations by 2040. The Airport Carbon Accreditation program has seven levels, with 587 airports participating globally.