Sustainability and Zero Carbon Course in Airports
Online course of 300 hours in sustainability and zero carbon at airports, structured in 6 modules covering airports and climate change, emissions inventories, decarbonisation of operations, carbon neutrality and net zero, and environmental assessment and reporting, with an assigned technical tutor.
Sustainability and Zero Carbon Course in Airports — studying from the United Kingdom
Civil and infrastructure engineering is a major employment sector in the United Kingdom, with significant activity in transport, water, energy and urban regeneration. Rail projects such as HS2 and ongoing network upgrades by Network Rail create demand for engineers in track, signalling, structures and systems. Smart city initiatives in cities including Manchester, Glasgow and Milton Keynes apply digital technologies to mobility, utilities and public services. Major contractors and consultancies including Balfour Beatty, Arup and AECOM employ civil and rail professionals across the country.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £619 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which UK professional bodies are relevant to civil and rail engineering qualifications?
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and, for rail, bodies such as the Permanent Way Institution and the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers are relevant in the UK. Chartered status is handled through the Engineering Council. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by these bodies, so you should confirm with ICE or the relevant institution how your study would be treated.
Do UK civil, rail and smart city employers recognise online private qualifications?
UK infrastructure employers, including consultancies, contractors, rail operators and local authorities, generally recruit based on competence, professional registration and project experience. A private qualification can add to your profile, but employers decide its relevance. Practical experience and progress towards professional registration usually carry more weight.
How does online study fit with a UK working schedule, and what about funding?
Online study lets you keep working in the UK, and no student visa is needed to study from home. Fees are payable in instalments, and some employers support job-related training, which is common practice in general terms but varies by employer. Each programme has a defined number of hours and an assigned technical tutor. Review the hours and funding options before enrolling.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the climate impact of airports and the relevant reference frameworks.
Calculate emissions inventories under the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-1.
Design decarbonisation measures for airport operations.
Distinguish between carbon neutrality, offsetting and net zero emissions.
Apply the CSRD sustainability reporting requirements.
Integrate environmental management and community engagement.
Prepare a zero-carbon plan for an airport.
Who it's for
- Airport sustainability managers.
- Carbon footprint consultants.
- Environmental officers.
- Energy managers.
- ESG analysts.
- Emissions verifiers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into airport management.
What you'll work with
- ISO 14064-1 (quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions)
- GHG Protocol Corporate Standard (corporate GHG accounting and reporting)
- ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation Guidance Document (airport carbon management levels)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 (ReFuelEU Aviation, sustainable aviation fuels)
- Directive (EU) 2022/2464 (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, CSRD)
- ISO 14001 (environmental management systems)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 (alternative fuels infrastructure, AFIR)
- Law 7/2021 (Spanish climate change and energy transition law)
- ACERT
- FAA AEDT
- SimaPro
- Microsoft Power BI
- RETScreen
6 modules
1.1The climate footprint of aviation1.2Scopes 1, 2 and 3 at airports1.3European targets: Fit for 551.4ACI Europe sector commitments1.5Airport Carbon Accreditation: levels1.6Climate risks for airports1.7Shared responsibility between airport, airlines and city1.8Communication and greenwashing1.9The EU taxonomy of sustainable activities1.10Case study: an airport operator's sustainability report
2.1GHG Protocol methodology2.2ISO 14064-1 and verification2.3Emission factors2.4LTO cycle emissions2.5Landside access emissions2.6Scope 3 and the value chain2.7ACERT and ACCA tools2.8Data quality and uncertainty2.9Carbon footprint report2.10Workshop: carbon footprint calculation with ACERT
3.1Electrification of vehicles and equipment3.2Renewable energy and PPAs3.3Building efficiency3.4Electrical power supply to aircraft at stand3.5Sustainable aviation fuels3.6Hydrogen and electric aircraft3.7Efficient taxiing and green operations3.8Waste management and the circular economy3.9Water and biodiversity3.10Practical exercise: roadmap for electrifying ground handling
4.1The difference between carbon neutrality and net zero4.2Offsetting and voluntary markets4.3Quality of carbon credits4.4Science-based targets4.5ReFuelEU Aviation and SAF4.6CORSIA and emissions trading4.7Transition scenarios4.8Green finance and sustainable bonds4.9Reputational risks4.10Case study: net zero plan of a European airport
5.1Environmental impact assessment of airport expansions5.2ISO 14001 environmental management system5.3The EMAS Regulation and the environmental statement5.4CSRD and ESRS sustainability reporting5.5Key environmental indicators5.6Engagement with neighbouring communities5.7Noise and air quality5.8External verification of the inventory5.9Continuous improvement of environmental performance5.10Workshop: ESRS indicators for an airport
6.1Environmental diagnosis of the airport6.2Emissions inventory6.3Targets and trajectory6.4Scope 1 and 2 reduction measures6.5Scope 3 strategy6.6Economic analysis of decarbonisation6.7Reporting and verification plan6.8Governance and engagement6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with your tutor
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ACERT, FAA AEDT, SimaPro, Microsoft Power BI and RETScreen, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures for an airport emissions inventory, designing a decarbonisation roadmap and developing sustainability indicators. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: ISO 14064-1; GHG Protocol Corporate Standard; ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation Guidance Document; Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 (ReFuelEU Aviation); Directive (EU) 2022/2464 (CSRD); ISO 14001; Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 (AFIR); Law 7/2021.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with ACERT, FAA AEDT, SimaPro, Microsoft Power BI and RETScreen, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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