(Los Angeles) Tonight, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) will temporarily turn off its iconic gateway pylons in observance of Earth Hour.

The pylons, which line 1.5 miles of Century Boulevard and ring the entrance to LAX, will be lit green before going dark from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. The pylons join other city-owned buildings and famous landmarks across Los Angeles in this global observation of Earth Hour.

Lighting required for public safety will not be turned off during the event and airport operations will not be affected.

"Earth Hour serves as an important reminder that fighting climate change begins with conscientious choices, from simply turning off the lights when you leave the room to adopting comprehensive measures to operate our businesses and homes more sustainably," said John Ackerman, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). "As a leader in aviation sustainability, LAWA will continue its work toward carbon neutral operations at LAX and Van Nuys Airport so that our communities can prosper and thrive."

LAWA has continued progress toward reaching goals set forth in its "Boldly Moving to Zero" Sustainability Action Plan (SAP). The SAP, which is available on the Sustainability at LAWA website, includes three bold goals for 2045: using 100 percent renewable energy, eliminating potable water consumption for non-potable uses and achieving carbon neutrality.

The following is a selected list of sustainability achievements from 2022 through today. For reference, in 2022, passenger volume increased 37 percent and airport operations (defined as number of take-offs and landings) increased by 10 percent from 2021 levels.

Air Quality

• In 2022, 40 percent of the LAWA-owned bus fleet was zero-emissions, surpassing the goal of 20 percent by 2023.
• The first deliveries of unleaded aviation fuel for general aviation aircraft were made to Van Nuys Airport (VNY) in 2022 and are available for purchase for compatible piston aircraft. This complements the availability of sustainable aviation fuel for jets, which is also used at VNY and LAX.
• LAX participates in The Good Traveler program, which allows travelers to purchase carbon emission offsets for their flights. In 2022, LAX travelers offset 111 metric tons of carbon dioxide by funding projects that lower emissions through sustainable projects.
• In 2023, LAWA announced the LAX Electric Ground Support Equipment (eGSE) Incentive program, which offers to buy-down the cost of new, electric zero-emission eGSE that replaces conventionally fueled GSE. This program encourages operators to expedite the replacement of conventionally fueled GSE and reduce emissions. The program also supports the Los Angeles International Airport Zero-Emission Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Policy, passed in January, which will require all GSE at LAX to be zero emission by 2033. This policy has the potential to reduce 88-130 tons of NOx, which is equivalent to removing up to 858 heavy-duty diesel truck per year, and between 29,000-49,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which is equivalent to 10,904 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven per year.
• LAWA is pursuing a Level 4 Airport Carbon Accreditation verification for 2023, after achieving Level 3 certification in 2021 and 2022. Level 4 requires airports to define long-term carbon management strategies and reduction goals that are aligned with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. It also requires airports to actively work towards driving down indirect emissions from third parties.

Energy Management

• Since 2011, LAX has reduced energy use per passenger by 20.7 percent, surpassing the goal of a 15 percent reduction by 2025.
• In 2022, five solar projects at VNY were in progress to install more than 11,800 solar panels with a capacity to generate over 5.7 megawatts of renewable electricity.
• In 2023, the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners approved a 20-year lease to develop and operate a 10-megawatt ground mount solar facility on 34 acres at VNY.

Water Management

• Total potable water consumption per passenger at LAX decreased 10 percent per passenger in 2022 as compared to 2021.
• Increased number of acres at LAX irrigated with reclaimed water to 66.8 percent of landscape in 2022. Examples of areas irrigated with reclaimed water include the Airport Police Facility, LAX Economy Parking and Receiving Station-X.
• The installation of drain inlet filters has reduced the concentration of aluminum, copper and zinc in stormwater runoff by 40, 70, and 61 percent, respectively, during the 2020-2021 rainy season.

Sustainable Design

• AWA's Sustainable Design and Construction Policy dictates that all new building construction, major facility renovation projects and non-building landside and airside projects be designed and built to achieve LEED Silver or higher.
• In 2023, LAX's Airport Police Facility, Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility and Terminal 4.5 Vertical Core all received LEED Gold certification.
• Through material resources management, design and construction teams incorporate waste reduction, recycling and re-use principles into projects.
• AWA integrates native and drought-resistant plants into the airport campus's landscapes.

To learn more about Earth Hour, visit www.earthhour.org.