Carbon neutral vs. Climate Neutral: why the difference matters. Understanding two commonly confused terms and what they mean for organizations pursuing sustainability goals. If you've spent any time reading about sustainability, you've probably encountered the terms "carbon neutral" and "climate neutral." Although they are often used interchangeably, they describe different concepts. Understanding the distinction helps organizations set more meaningful environmental goals and communicate their progress more accurately. What does carbon neutral mean? Carbon neutrality focuses primarily on carbon dioxide (CO[2]), the greenhouse gas most commonly associated with energy production and transportation. An organization becomes carbon neutral when the amount of carbon dioxide it emits is balanced by an equivalent amount removed from the atmosphere through natural or engineered carbon sinks, emissions reductions, or verified offsets [1] [,] [2]. Achieving carbon neutrality is an important milestone for many organizations, but it does not address all greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. What does Climate Neutral mean? Climate neutrality takes a broader approach. Rather than focusing exclusively on carbon dioxide, it considers the full spectrum of greenhouse gases (including methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases) based on their contribution to global warming [3]. Like carbon neutrality, climate neutrality seeks to balance greenhouse gas emissions with removals, resulting in no net contribution to climate change. Because it accounts for all greenhouse gases, climate neutrality provides a more comprehensive measure of an organization's climate impact [2] [,] [3]. A real-world example: UC Merced. The University of California, Merced became the first public research university in the United States and the first campus in the University of California system to achieve carbon neutrality [4]. The university accomplished this through campus-wide energy optimization, renewable energy, energy load shifting, electrification of fleet vehicles and grounds equipment, and expanded electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Its achievement demonstrates that carbon neutrality requires coordinated action across facilities, transportation, and operations [4]. Another example: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Another example of carbon neutrality in practice is Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). In 2016, DFW became the first airport in North America to achieve "Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 3+ (Neutrality)" through the Airport Carbon Accreditation program [5]. Today, it remains the largest carbon-neutral airport in the Americas while pursuing the ambitious goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions without offsets by 2030. The airport is reducing emissions through renewable energy procurement, energy-efficient infrastructure, electrification initiatives, and innovative operational improvements [6] [,] [7]. Maintaining carbon neutrality is not a one-time achievement - it requires continuous improvement. As part of that ongoing effort, ecoPreserve partnered with DFW to develop a Zero Waste Roadmap that identifies strategies to reduce waste sent to landfills, increase material recovery, and improve operational efficiency. This initiative is helping DFW further reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions while supporting the airport's broader sustainability and resilience goals [8]. Why the difference matters. For many organizations, carbon neutrality is an important milestone but is not always the final destination. Climate neutrality encourages a more comprehensive view of environmental impact by considering all greenhouse gases and the broader systems that influence climate change. Researchers are continuing to refine its understanding of methane and other short-lived climate pollutants. Some studies suggest that stable methane emissions from ruminant livestock may have a different long-term warming profile than carbon dioxide, illustrating why climate neutrality requires a more nuanced assessment than carbon accounting alone [9]. What this means for sustainability leaders. Whether an organization pursues carbon neutrality or climate neutrality depends on its goals, operations, and reporting framework. Regardless of the path chosen, understanding the distinction helps leaders establish more credible sustainability commitments and communicate them more transparently. As businesses, universities, airports, and governments continue to set ambitious environmental targets, success will increasingly depend on addressing not only carbon dioxide emissions but also the broader climate impacts of their operations. SOURCES [1] University of Oxford. (n.d.). What is net zero? Net Zero Climate. Link [2] United Nations. (n.d.). Climate Neutral Now. UN Climate Change. Link [3] European Commission. (n.d.). Climate Action and the Green Deal. European Commission. Link [4] University of California, Merced. (n.d.). Carbon Neutrality. UC Merced Sustainability. Link [5] Airports Council International. (n.d.). DFW named first North American airport to achieve carbon neutral certification. Airports Council International. Link [6] DFW International Airport. (n.d.). Sustainability. DFW Airport. Link [7] DFW International Airport. (n.d.). Zero Carbon Electric Central Utility Plant. DFW Airport. Link [8] ecoPreserve. (n.d.). DFW Zero Waste Roadmap. ecoPreserve. Link [9] University of Oxford, Oxford Martin School. (n.d.). What is GWP*? Net Zero Climate. Link Mark Maxwell Director of Green Building Certifications July 16, 2026

This major US airport's $12B expansion will add A new Terminal in 2027. By Felix Gott May 26, 2026 8:30 pm EST Although you might not know it from some of the news stories in recent months, the U.S. aviation system is having one of its most transformative periods in decades. While many of the headlines focus on the major budget airline Spirit shutting down its operations or the cost of jet fuel as a result of the conflict in the Middle East, this paints a somewhat misleading picture. At the same time, there has been a boom in airport investment, with tens of billions of dollars committed to projects to redevelop transport hubs across the country, changing the way the sector operates and kickstarting a new age of air travel. Several U.S. airlines have permanently cancelled several flights and routes in the last few months. And some of these moves are cost-saving exercises in response to global events. But many of them are strategic shake-ups, reassigning staff and planes to new routes and markets. Similarly, several airports have announced enormous expansion projects designed to power them into the future. One of the most impressive examples is the $12 billion expansion project at Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW), which includes a $5.6 billion investment in a brand-new terminal. Dallas-Fort Worth is already the third-busiest airport hub in the world and second in the U.S. after Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). This major expansion is designed to support further growth and will cement the airport's relationship with American Airlines, which has provided around $4 billion of the budget, and will be the only carrier in the new Terminal F. What does the Dallas-Fort Worth expansion include? In common with many other major airports in the U.S., most of DFW was built in the 20th century and hasn't been upgraded much since then. As a result, a lot of the existing infrastructure is outdated and unfit for purpose, and certainly not future-proofed. The DFW Forward project will address this. The main focus of the project is the brand-new Terminal F, a joint project by DFW and American Airlines. It will feature 31 self-supported gates, a new Skylink station, and a huge concourse. Upgrades and renovations are also planned in Terminal A and Terminal C. Alongside the terminal improvements, there are plenty of planned works that are less visible to tourists but just as important. The heating and cooling systems will get a full modernization, with energy supplied entirely from renewable resources. New roads will ease traffic issues and make pick-up and drop-off a breeze. The project began in 2023, when Runway 17R/35L was closed for renovation. The renewable-powered electric central utility plant project began in 2025, and the first phases of the official DFW Forward project are due to complete in 2026. Terminal F will open for business in 2027, and the entire project is due for completion in 2030.