OAKLAND, Calif. – Oakland International Airport (OAK) has achieved a major environmental milestone, earning Level 4 certification in the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program — the second-highest level of recognition for airport sustainability worldwide. The certification marks OAK’s fourth year in the program and highlights its growing commitment to reducing carbon emissions across airport operations.
“Our OAK team is committed to reducing carbon emissions in our airport operations,” said Port of Oakland Director of Aviation Craig Simon. “We’re proud of the efforts that we have made towards that goal in recent years which led to this prestigious accreditation, and we thank our tenants for their partnership and cooperation as we implement carbon reduction strategies.”
The ACA program, developed by Airports Council International (ACI), is an internationally recognized decarbonization framework for airports. It offers a standardized methodology to measure emissions and guides airports through progressive levels of sustainability performance. With five total levels, ACA accreditation ranges from mapping emissions to achieving carbon neutrality and absolute emissions reductions.
OAK now stands among an elite group of just 11 airports in North America to reach Level 4 or higher. The airport is working toward transforming operations and those of its business partners to achieve lasting emissions reductions and support a zero-emission future.
Several key initiatives helped OAK secure the Level 4 status. The Port of Oakland now sources 75% of its electricity from carbon-free power. Approximately 40% of the airport’s vehicle fleet has transitioned to alternative fuels such as renewable diesel and electricity. OAK also operates five electric shuttle buses from a new charging depot, continues to optimize building energy performance, and collaborates with tenants to overcome barriers to zero-emission operations.