Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) support for airport operators
Move up the ACA ladder with confidence — from carbon footprint mapping to Level 5 readiness.
VURDHAAN helps airports build a robust emissions baseline, deliver verifiable reductions, and mobilise the on-airport ecosystem — with evidence packs designed for independent verification.
- ACA-aligned delivery & verifier-ready evidence
- ISO 14064 & GHG Protocol-informed accounting
- Airport operations + stakeholder emissions expertise
Sources used (opens)
The challenge: ACA progress is an operations + evidence problem
Airports don’t stall at ACA because they lack ambition. They stall because emissions data is fragmented, operational projects aren’t linked to verifiable CO₂e outcomes, and stakeholder actions are hard to evidence.
Problem
Scope boundaries, meter data, fuel logs, tenant activity, and reporting periods don’t line up — making it hard to produce a verifier-ready footprint and track year-on-year change.
Impact
Delayed upgrades, repeated rework during verification, missed reduction opportunities, and avoidable operational cost leakage — plus increasing scrutiny from airlines, regulators, and the public.
Solution
A single, traceable “ACA evidence spine”: data → calculation → reduction logic → stakeholder proof → verifier pack — so you can renew annually and upgrade strategically.
Our approach: built around how verifiers review ACA submissions
We focus on operational outcomes and the documentation trail needed for independent verification — without overloading your team.
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Boundary & baseline
Confirm organisational boundary, emission sources, reporting year, and data owners. Build a defensible baseline footprint.
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Reduction portfolio
Identify and prioritise projects across energy, buildings, fleet, and operations — linking each to a measurement method.
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Ecosystem mobilisation
Structure stakeholder plans with airlines, handlers, tenants, and surface access partners — with proof points that stand up to audit.
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Verifier-ready submission
Prepare the ACA evidence pack: calculations, assumptions, reduction evidence, stakeholder documentation, and renewal cadence.
Services for airports pursuing ACA
Choose what you need — from Level 1 mapping through Level 4+/5 transition planning. We tailor support to your airport’s maturity, data reality, and stakeholder complexity.
Carbon footprint mapping (ACA Level 1)
Get a baseline that survives scrutiny — clear boundaries, traceable data, and consistent factors.
- Scope 1–2 inventory + relevant Scope 3 modules
- Data templates aligned to airport systems
- Assumptions register + audit trail
Reduction roadmap (Levels 2+)
Turn “projects” into measurable CO₂e reductions with a portfolio view for capex planning.
- Abatement options across terminals, HVAC, lighting, airfield, fleet
- Measurement method per initiative
- Decision support: carbon impact × operational feasibility
Green electricity & energy strategy
De-risk Scope 2 reductions with procurement and on-site generation options suited to your market.
- Renewables pathway options (region-dependent)
- Metering and evidence requirements
- Integration with terminal energy management
Electrification of airport fleets
Build an implementable plan for GSE, landside vehicles, charging, and operational change.
- Fleet inventory & use-profile mapping
- Charging strategy and operational constraints
- CO₂e accounting for verifiable reductions
Stakeholder engagement (Level 3 optimisation)
Mobilise airlines, handlers, tenants, and surface access partners with a measurable engagement plan.
- Carbon task force setup + governance
- Third-party data collection and proof
- Action plans: e.g., APU reduction, FEGP utilisation
Neutrality & removals strategy (3+/4+/5)
Where needed, address residuals responsibly — with a reduction-first narrative and compliant evidence.
- Residual calculation and documentation
- Quality criteria screening for offsets/removals
- Year-on-year reduction of residual reliance
Level 4/4+/5 transition planning
Build a credible transition plan aligned to net-zero expectations and your airport development horizon.
- Interim targets, governance, and reporting cadence
- Scope 3 engagement strategy and evidence
- Integration with risk, resilience, and infrastructure planning
Verifier readiness & renewal support
Reduce the drag of annual renewal cycles with a repeatable evidence and QA workflow.
- Pre-verification QA + gap remediation
- Submission pack structure + traceability checks
- Internal capability uplift (lightweight)
Tell us your current ACA level (or target) and your reporting year — we’ll help you map the shortest credible path upward.
Proof of expertise: standards alignment + typical deliverables
ACA submissions are judged on the integrity of boundaries, calculations, evidence, and governance. Our work is structured to align with widely used frameworks and ACA verification expectations.
Frameworks & standards we align to
- Airport Carbon Accreditation requirements & independent verification process
- GHG Protocol scopes, boundaries, and reporting logic (Scope 1–2–3)
- ISO 14064-1 organisation-level quantification & reporting principles
- Net-zero transition logic (reduction-first; residuals treated transparently)
Note: reduction potential and procurement pathways vary by grid mix, market instruments, and regulation. We qualify assumptions and document what is region-specific.
Typical deliverables (what you can expect)
- Carbon footprint model + assumptions register + data traceability index
- Carbon management plan and KPI cadence for annual renewal (Y+1)
- Abatement portfolio: initiative sheets + measurement methods
- Stakeholder engagement plan + evidence templates for third parties
- Verifier pack structure: “what goes where” + QA checks
The VURDHAAN effect
Not “more reporting.” A clearer operating model for carbon performance.
- Less rework: decisions and calculations documented once, reused every renewal
- Faster approvals: investment cases tied to measurable CO₂e outcomes
- Better stakeholder traction: clear asks, data flows, and shared metrics
- Higher trust: audit-ready evidence that stands up to verification
Interactive: ACA maturity slider (what changes as you move up)
Move the slider to see how boundaries, stakeholder expectations, and evidence complexity evolve.
Diagrams you can use internally: align teams around what ACA actually requires
These visuals mirror how airports typically organise work across operations, sustainability, finance, and stakeholders.
Interactive: ACA ladder explorer
Select a level to reveal the focus, typical evidence, and what we help you produce.
Level 1: build a defensible baseline
Define boundaries, quantify Scope 1–2, and capture relevant Scope 3 modules where required/appropriate.
Level 2: demonstrate reductions
Move from “plans” to measurable reductions: link initiatives to methods, baselines, and evidence.
Level 3: optimise with your ecosystem
Engage third parties on the airport site (airlines, handlers, tenants) with defined actions and proof points.
Level 3+: manage residuals transparently
Where neutrality is pursued, quantify residual emissions and document quality-screened offsets/removals.
Level 4: transformation planning
Strengthen long-term strategy: targets, governance, and a portfolio that aligns with a credible transition path.
Level 4+: transition with verified residual approach
Build continuity: verified footprints, stakeholder evidence, and (where used) documented offset/removal logic.
Level 5: net-zero operations under control + Scope 3 pathway
Highest ambition: substantial absolute reductions in Scope 1–2, residuals addressed via approved removals, and a documented commitment/pathway for Scope 3 net zero by 2050 (or sooner where applicable).
Interactive: airport decarbonisation flow (click nodes)
A practical way to coordinate airport teams and stakeholders: each lever shows what it affects and what evidence typically looks like.
Select a lever
Click a node to see what it typically impacts and what evidence airports often need to keep renewal-ready.
Tip: Use this view to brief internal teams and tenant partners on “what we need, by when” (renewal cycles are annual: Y+1).
Key requirements & timing (kept simple)
ACA is structured around a 12-month inventory, an annual renewal cycle, and independent third-party verification. Evidence requirements increase as you progress.
Build the baseline + evidence spine
Unify boundaries, data, and calculation logic so your carbon footprint is repeatable and renewal-ready.
Renew annually (plan backwards)
Submit your renewal application at least one full month before the renewal date; verification cadence varies by level.
Verification cadence depends on level
Some levels verify every second year; higher levels often operate on multi-year verification cycles with interim reporting expectations.
Level 5 expectation includes Scope 3 pathway
Level 5 requires deep Scope 1–2 reductions and a commitment/pathway to achieve net zero in Scope 3 by 2050 (or sooner where applicable).
What we do in practice to keep you renewal-ready
- Set up data ownership and a monthly/quarterly capture routine (so Y+1 renewal isn’t a fire drill).
- Maintain an “evidence library” for meters, invoices, fuel logs, and stakeholder inputs.
- Lock calculation methods and change-control them (so year-on-year comparisons remain defensible).
Ready to make ACA progress measurable — and verifiable?
If you tell us your current level (or target), reporting year, and where data sits today, we’ll propose a practical plan to strengthen your carbon footprint, prioritise reductions, and structure stakeholder evidence.
What happens after contacting: we schedule a short discovery call, map your boundary + evidence gaps, and outline the workstreams needed for your next renewal/upgrade cycle.
Bring these (if you have them)
- Last footprint or utility/fuel datasets (even partial)
- List of airport-owned fleets and equipment
- Stakeholder map (airlines, handlers, tenants, access)
- Your preferred reporting year boundaries