CLE Releases Sustainability Management Plan

June 27, 2025

Press Releases

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) has finalized a new Sustainability Management Plan (SMP) to guide the airport towards more sustainable day to day operations. The new plan will also ensure capital projects are being carried out in a way to minimize current and future emissions.

“The plan was created with the help and input from local and aviation industry sustainability consultants and an interdepartmental committee,” said Elizabeth Lehman, Airport Sustainability Coordinator. “It highlights sustainability achievements at the airport to date and establishes objectives and actions that the airport will being to work towards starting in July 2025.”

Aligned with the City of Cleveland’s Climate Action Plan, the SMP establishes a commitment for the airport to achieve net-zero carbon emissions reduction by 2050.

The actions in the SMP are organized across six focus areas:

• • Built environment (green building, energy and water efficiency)
  • Clean Energy (electrification, renewable energy supply & development)
  • Clean Transportation (fleet electrification, EV infrastructure, employee commuting, etc.)
  • Environment & Nature-based Solutions (impervious surface reduction, stormwater capture, biodiversity)
  • Waste Management & Circular Economy (sustainable procurement, recycling programming)
  • Climate resiliency & Community (climate emergency preparedness, community relationships)

 

These actions have been prioritized by airport personnel and leadership and are organized into three phases of implementation: Year 1, Years 2-5 and Years 5+.

Year 1 work will focus on building programmatic infrastructure in order to effectively complete and track this work going forward, including establishing a data management platform and an employee engagement program.

The plan has been used to inform sustainability goals for the Terminal Modernization Development Program (TMDP) and will continue to be referenced throughout the transformation of CLE.  

 

Officially publishing this first iteration of CLE’s Sustainability Management Plan is just the first step toward a successful sustainability and emissions reduction program.  The real benefits will begin to surface as the airport begins to implement this work and carry out the actions to which they are committed.