Dubai, Heathrow, and LAX – the world’s most polluting airports by carbon footprint

Flights connected to the international airports in Dubai, London Heathrow, and Los Angeles International (LAX) together emit about three times more carbon dioxide than the entire city of Paris. This conclusion is reached by a new global study from ODI Global and Transport & Environment, published this week.

Airport Tracker 2026: which airports lead in emissions

The updated "Airport Tracker 2026" ranking evaluates the climate impact and air quality of about 1,300 international airports, based on 2023 data from the International Council on Clean Transportation.

In first place for emissions is Dubai International Airport with approximately 23.2 million tons of CO2 per year. In second place is Heathrow with about 21 million tons, and third is LAX with approximately 18.8 million tons.

A small number of hubs determine the carbon footprint of aviation

Following the top three in the ranking are Incheon Airport in Seoul, New York's John F. Kennedy, Hong Kong, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Frankfurt.

Globally, just about 100 major airports generate approximately two-thirds of total CO2 emissions from passenger flights.

According to the analysis, European airports in total emit more CO2 than the major hubs in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa combined.

The authors note that if the aviation sector were a separate country, it would fall into the top 5 largest greenhouse gas emitters in the world.

Aviation is "off course" after the Paris Agreement

Transport & Environment comment that the results show: aviation is still "off course" on the path to net-zero emissions.

Research fellow at ODI Global Sam Pickard warns that while many sectors have been gradually reducing their emissions since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015, aviation's carbon footprint continues to grow.

"This can no longer be swept under the rug with half-hearted promises about expensive so-called sustainable aviation fuel or weak offsetting mechanisms," states Pickard. "A real strategy and roadmap are urgently needed, including demand management measures."

Denise Auclair from Transport & Environment adds: "Allowing a fossil-fuel-dependent sector to continue expanding through increased airport capacity simply deepens aviation's biggest vulnerability. It is high time we put our energy independence and the health of citizens at the center."

Industry reaction

Heathrow states that they have a "clear plan to achieve net-zero emissions" and that any expansion plans must be in line with the British government's legally binding targets on carbon emissions, air quality, and noise.

Requests for comment were sent to Dubai Airport and LAX, but no detailed official reactions have been published at this time.

In a separate report by Transport & Environment, published last week, it is stated that flights departing from European airports generated about 195 million tons of CO2 in 2025, exceeding pre-pandemic levels from 2019.

Against this backdrop, the pressure on governments and the aviation sector to curb emissions growth and rethink plans for airport infrastructure expansion will inevitably intensify.