Six Brazilian airports awarded Airport Carbon Accredition certification as Aena Brasil ramps up sustainability efforts

The Airports Council International for Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC) has announced that six airports operated by Aena Brasil in Brazil’s northeast region have received Level 1 Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA). This initial certification is awarded to airports that map their carbon footprint, identify emission sources, and calculate annual emissions. The accredited airports are Recife, Maceió, João Pessoa, Aracaju, Campina Grande, and Juazeiro do Norte.

Details on the Brazilian airports awarded Airport Carbon Certification 

The certification recognises efforts to monitor direct emissions from airport-owned vehicles and equipment. In 2024, a full greenhouse gas inventory, based on 2023 data, was completed. The 2025 inventory, with data from 2024, has been independently verified by ABNT, the only Brazilian verifier affiliated with ACI.

This achievement forms part of Aena Brasil’s broader Climate Action Plan (PAC), which includes over R$100 million in investments. Key initiatives involve replacing the airport fleet with clean energy vehicles, boosting energy efficiency, installing solar power, ensuring terminals are powered entirely by renewable electricity, managing waste and wastewater, offsetting emissions, and encouraging the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The operator also prioritises climate education and aims to reach Level 2 of the ACA programme by 2026.

Marcelo Bento Ribeiro, Director of Institutional Relations, Communications, and ESG at Aena Brasil, said: “Our Climate Action Plan reflects our commitment to a more efficient, innovative, and internationally sustainable airport operation. We are investing today in transformations that will secure a carbon-neutral future, actively and effectively contributing to the decarbonisation of the aviation sector in Brazil.”

ACI-LAC Director General Rafael Echevarne praised Aena Brasil’s efforts, noting the importance of the region and the operator’s long-term sustainability vision: “The certification of Aena Brasil’s first airports as part of the Climate Action Plan reinforces the company’s commitment… which is an honour and encouragement for our partnership.