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Julian Potter honored for two decades of sustainability leadership at SFO
Summary
Julian Potter received the Commission on the Environment’s Environmental Service Award for leading San Francisco International Airport’s (SFO) sustainability efforts including net‑zero targets, solar installations, waste reductions, and work on sustainable aviation fuel.
The San Francisco Commission on the Environment presented its Environmental Service Award to Julian Potter in recognition of more than 15 years of work advancing sustainability at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
Commissioner Chiu noted Potter’s role in SFO’s 2016 strategic plan to pursue net‑zero energy, zero waste and net‑zero carbon targets, citing a 41% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from a 2013 baseline and more than 3 megawatts of solar capacity installed under Potter’s leadership. Ivar Sotero, SFO airport director, praised Potter for coalition building with airlines, fuel providers and nonprofits and for advancing sustainable aviation fuel commitments among airport partners.
Debbie (the department director) and others commended Potter’s humility and ability to unite diverse stakeholders. Potter accepted the award with thanks and emphasized the collective nature of the work, saying, “It's not she. It's us. It's hundreds of us,” and describing sustainability as achieved through many partners across the airport, its businesses and the region.
The award spotlighted the airport’s policies — including bans on single‑use plastic bottles and advances toward sustainable aviation fuel — as examples of local action with broader industry influence. The commission closed the item after brief public comment praising Potter’s leadership.
