Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE), owned and operated by the City of Philadelphia Department of Aviation, has achieved Level 3 Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA), highlighting the airport’s dedication to advanced environmental sustainability. ACA is an international carbon management certification program intended to encourage the airport industry to reduce its carbon footprint and improve efficiency. This voluntary program evaluates an airport's carbon emissions management and reduction strategies and recognizes their efforts through the program's accreditation levels. PNE joins Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) in reaching Level 3 ACA. PNE and PHL are also among only 27 airports in the United States that have achieve this distinction.
“Airport Carbon Accreditation is an excellent program that provides clear, measurable goals to quantify our sustainability efforts. I’m very proud that we have reached Level 3 accreditation at both PHL and PNE and have made a commitment not just to track our emissions but to demonstrate annual progress,” said Airport Sustainability Manager Jessica Noon.
PNE achieved Level 1 ACA in 2022 and advanced to Level 2 in 2024. To move to Level 3 ACA, the Department of Aviation had to expand its annual greenhouse gas inventory to include Scope 3 emissions, which are produced by airport tenants. The PNE Level 3 annual carbon footprint assessment calculates emissions from airport operations, purchased energy and emissions produced by flights, facilities, ground transportation and other tenant activities. This requires close coordination with PNE airport staff as well as major tenants. Level 3 accreditation also required the development of a robust stakeholder engagement plan to collaborate with airport tenants on projects to reduce airport emissions. As a Level 3 airport, each year PNE must show emission reductions and complete rigorous verification through Airports Council International North America (ACI-NA), the governing body of ACA.
The Department of Aviation leads a number of emission reduction activities at PNE, including the PNE Energy Audit in 2022, sustainable design standards established in 2023, and renovation of the primary administrative facility at PNE which is currently underway and will include renewable geothermal power generation and seek LEED (Leadership in Energy and the Environment) Gold certification. The Department has also installed electrical infrastructure to prepare for a future 1.5-megawatt solar array to be constructed at PNE and continue to reduce its environmental impact.
PNE was recognized for its Level 3 ACA achievement at ACI-NA and ACI World General Assembly in Toronto on October 29. Department of Aviation CEO Atif Saeed, Chief Development Officer Api Appulingam and Sustainability Manager Jessica Noon were among the airport team on hand to accept the honor.
