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Mactan-Cebu wins Level 2 airport carbon accreditation
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Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) has achieved Level 2 Airport Carbon Accreditation from Airports Council International in Asia‑Pacific and Middle East, as first reported by Asian Aviation. The accreditation recognises MCIA’s completion of a verified greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and the deployment of carbon-management steps that cut carbon intensity per traffic unit. The airport uses a 1.64 MWp rooftop solar array, building management systems and other efficiency changes, and it says it aims to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emission intensity by over 90% by 2029 versus its baseline, on a path toward net-zero carbon by 2050.
This ACA Level 2 validates that our team is making real, measurable progress in embedding sustainability into every aspect of our operations,
Ricia Montejo, MCIA General Manager of Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC)
Key takeaways
- Accreditation: MCIA has received Level 2 Airport Carbon Accreditation from Airports Council International in Asia‑Pacific and Middle East.
- National first: MCIA is the first airport in the Philippines to reach Level 2 accreditation.
- Installed generation: The airport operates a 1.64 MWp rooftop solar installation as part of its energy mix.
- Emission target: Under its Carbon Management Plan MCIA targets a reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emission intensity of over 90% by 2029 versus baseline and aims for net-zero by 2050.
- Operational steps: Since 2024 MCIA has used bridge mounted equipment (BME); in 2025 airlines began using full electric ground support equipment (eGSE) and Single‑Engine Taxi‑In (SETI).
Table of contents
What Level 2 means for Mactan‑Cebu
Level 2 accreditation recognises an airport that has measured its emissions and put formal carbon-management measures in place. For MCIA the milestone confirms completion of a verified GHG inventory and demonstrable reductions in carbon intensity tied to passenger and cargo throughput. The airport’s statement links the accreditation to operational changes — not just a one-off offset purchase — and frames it as a validation of ongoing management rather than an end point.
The accreditation was announced by MCIA’s operator and its private-sector partner, who described the achievement as evidence of sustained operational improvements. That formal recognition places the airport in ACI’s pathway of graduated steps that start with measurement, then management, and then target-setting for deeper cuts.
Measures that have driven the cuts
MCIA attributes its carbon-intensity reductions to a mix of energy supply and operational measures. The site lists a 1.64 MWp rooftop solar array, conversion to LED lighting, optimisation of HVAC through a building management system (BMS) and smart sensors, and tighter monitoring of vehicle and equipment fuel use. These measures are described as complementary: generation reduces grid demand while controls and maintenance lower consumption.
The airport has also introduced operational changes on the apron. In 2024 it began providing parked aircraft with electricity and cabin cooling via bridge mounted equipment (BME) so auxiliary engines do not run while at gate. From 2025 airlines at MCIA started using full electric ground support equipment (eGSE) and adopting Single‑Engine Taxi‑In (SETI) procedures to reduce fuel burned during ground movements.
Targets, governance and the path ahead
MCIA’s updated Carbon Management Plan sets an ambitious milestone: reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emission intensity by over 90% by 2029 against a baseline, and pursue net-zero carbon by 2050. The airport says it will combine further green infrastructure investments with collaborative carbon management to meet those targets. The plan ties measurable operational steps to the numerical goal rather than leaving the commitment purely aspirational.
Meeting a greater than 90% intensity reduction by 2029 will require continuation and scaling of current measures, additional electrification of ground operations and ongoing verification of emissions. The airport operator and its public partner say they will keep reporting progress as they implement further efficiency and clean energy projects.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Accreditation level | Level 2 (Airports Council International, APAC & MID) |
| Solar capacity | 1.64 MWp rooftop |
| Operational items | BME (2024), eGSE and SETI practices (2025) |
| Targets | Reduce Scope 1 & 2 intensity by >90% by 2029; net-zero by 2050 |
Case for and against meeting the targets
The case for
- Existing measures combine generation and efficiency: the 1.64 MWp solar array plus BMS, LED conversion and sensor controls reduce baseline energy use and create immediate carbon savings.
- Operational changes already adopted on the apron — BME, eGSE and SETI — reduce fuel consumption and can be scaled with further investment and airline cooperation.
The case against
- Achieving a greater than 90% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 intensity by 2029 depends on rapid additional electrification and infrastructure upgrades that require capital and coordination across airport tenants.
- Progress hinges on verified, recurring measurement; if verification cycles are delayed or methodology changes, reported intensity reductions could be harder to track against the baseline.
What to be careful about
- Target achievement depends on scaling measures beyond the current 1.64 MWp rooftop solar installation; limited on-site generation narrows the margin for cuts.
- Reliance on tenant actions (airlines, ground handlers) means airport control over some emissions sources is indirect and contingent on broader buy-in.
- Operational savings from BME and SETI require continuous maintenance and monitoring; lapses would reduce realized emission reductions.
The bottom line
Level 2 accreditation formalises a step MCIA has already been taking: measuring emissions and instituting operational changes that reduce energy use and fuel burn. The airport combines a modest on-site solar array (1.64 MWp) with building controls and apron procedures introduced in 2024–2025. The declared >90% intensity reduction by 2029 is ambitious and will require sustained investment, tenant cooperation and routine verification. If MCIA maintains the current trajectory and scales electrification, it will be positioned to meet progressively tougher ACI benchmarks on the way to its 2050 net-zero aim.
What to watch
- Watch for MCIA’s next public progress update on its Carbon Management Plan; no date has been set.
- Watch for announcements about further electrification of apron equipment and additional eGSE procurement; no date has been set.
- Watch for the next verified GHG inventory or verification statement from MCIA; no date has been set.
Frequently asked questions
What does Level 2 Airport Carbon Accreditation signify?
Level 2 recognises that an airport has completed a verified GHG inventory and has implemented active carbon-management measures that reduce carbon intensity per traffic unit.
Which measures has MCIA deployed to cut emissions?
MCIA cites a 1.64 MWp rooftop solar array, conversion to LED lighting, HVAC optimisation through a building management system and sensors, monitoring of vehicle fuel use, bridge mounted equipment (BME), and adoption of full electric ground support equipment (eGSE) and Single‑Engine Taxi‑In (SETI).
What are MCIA’s emission targets?
MCIA’s Carbon Management Plan targets a reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emission intensity of over 90% by 2029 versus its baseline and sets a long-term goal of net-zero carbon by 2050.
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