ACI EUROPE launches “Sustainability Strategy for Airports 2.0” to help airports embed sustainability across their operations and long-term planning
ACI EUROPE launched its Sustainability Strategy for Airports 2.0 on 7 October 2026, during the Joint ACI EUROPE and ICAO EUR/NAT Environmental Protection Seminar in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Building on the first strategy introduced in 2019, the updated framework reflects the airport sector’s evolving sustainability challenges and the need to translate commitments into measurable progress. It provides airports with practical guidance to strengthen their sustainability performance, integrate environmental and social considerations into decision-making, and prepare for emerging regulatory requirements.
Seven themes for airport sustainability
The strategy is structured around seven thematic areas that reflect the breadth of sustainability challenges facing airports:
- Decarbonisation and Energy Transition, addressing emissions reduction and the transition to more sustainable energy systems.
- Climate Adaptation and Resilience, helping airports prepare for the physical impacts of climate change and strengthen operational resilience.
- Local Environmental Quality and Community Impacts, covering the relationship between airport activities, the local environment and surrounding communities.
- Circular Economy and Resource Management, promoting more responsible resource use and improved waste management.
- Biodiversity, Land Use and Airside Ecology, addressing the management of natural habitats, land and biodiversity around airport sites.
- Sustainable Mobility and Accessibility, encouraging more sustainable travel to and from airports for passengers, employees and other airport users.
- People and Community, recognising the importance of employees, local communities and wider social considerations in airport sustainability.
From commitments to practical action
A central element of the updated strategy is its four-level maturity framework: Comply, Embed, Advance and Pioneer. This enables airports to assess their current approach to sustainability, identify areas for improvement, and establish a pathway to more advanced practices, taking into account their operational circumstances and strategic objectives.
The strategy also brings together practical actions, key performance indicators, airport case studies and regulatory guidance to help airports translate high-level commitments into implementation, while strengthening governance and reporting.
Read the full Sustainability Strategy for Airports 2.0 and explore the framework, recommendations and practical guidance for advancing sustainability across the airport sector.
