Machupicchu Earns Fourth Consecutive Carbon Neutral Certification, Cuts Per Visitor Footprint 8%

Machupicchu has received its fourth consecutive carbon neutral certification from Green Initiative, becoming the first UNESCO World Heritage Site to achieve this. The certification covers tourism-related emissions and is backed by concrete projects, including a biodiesel plant that converts used cooking oil into fuel, a pyrolysis system that turns organic waste into biochar, and recycling equipment for PET plastic and cardboard. The initiative is led by the Municipality of Machupicchu, Inkaterra, Grupo AJE, and Bosques Amazonicos, with PROMPERU as a strategic partner. Per the announcement, the destination's carbon footprint per visitor fell more than 8% since 2025. Restoration work in 2024 captured over 5,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, and 6,596 native trees were planted in the Historic Sanctuary. A proposed carbon neutral tourism corridor connecting Cusco, Machupicchu, and Choquequirao aims to expand these waste management and restoration practices across a wider route.