News

All Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur Group platforms have achieved Carbon Neutrality

Published on 05-09-18

The airports of Cannes-Mandelieu and Golfe de Saint-Tropez have joined Nice Côte d'Azur Airport at Level 3+ of the Airport Carbon Accreditation.

As of 2011, Nice Côte d'Azur Airport was one of the first French airports to join the independent Airport Carbon Accreditation program and 5 years later in 2016, became the 25th airport in the world, and the 1st in France, to achieve carbon neutrality.
Now, all of the Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur Group platforms are certified to Level 3+, Carbon Neutrality, of the Airport Carbon Accreditation.

Airport Carbon Accreditation is a program supported by ACI Europe, which allows airports around the world to rigorously measure their carbon footprint and more importantly, to implement programs in order to significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, according to 4 levels of certification:
1 mapping, 2 reduction, 3 optimisation and 3+ neutrality. These results and programs are audited by an independent firm, before being reviewed by WSP, the administrator of the scheme.

Accreditation Level 3+, Carbon Neutrality, is the highest level

It requires the airport manager, after several years of proven reduction, to commit to continue maintaining its improvement efforts every year, for all activities under its control and to encourage other relevant parties to do the same: airlines or assistant helicopter airlines, freight companies, shops, restaurateurs, car rental companies, cleaning companies, refuelling tankers, public authorities, security companies, etc.

To date, 37 partners* have voluntarily participated in the Airport Carbon Accreditation program for the Côte d’Azur Airports.

Since 2015, the Group’s platforms have significantly reduced their emissions, particularly due to the successful partnership with the Electricité de France (EDF) Group and the signing of a guaranteed 100% French hydraulic electricity purchase contract, which corresponds to a reduction of 30 to 50%, depending on the platforms.
To illustrate the efforts provided in Nice, emissions are barely 130 grams CO2 eq. per passenger, while the world average is 2,210 grams and 1,610 grams for European airports.

For the future, Nice Côte d'Azur Airport has also decided to convert its fleet of professional vehicles to electric. Its service vehicles will thus be completely renewed by 2020. The airports of Cannes-Mandelieu and Golfe de St Tropez shall also quickly follow on from this example.

Dominique Thillaud, Chairman of the Board of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur Group says: “The Group’s three airports have achieved Carbon Neutrality: this is very strong recognition of our long-standing involvement in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This commitment helps preserve air quality on the Côte d’Azur and more generally, to help fight climate change. We would like to set an example in an activity that is often in the firing line of criticism, despite its efforts and its added value that is essential for regional economy and employment.
It is also a matter of satisfaction and pride for all of our staff and partners who have, each at their own level, worked to achieve this result, often by means of small and simple everyday gestures - always turning off their computer before leaving the office, avoiding printing documents as much as possible - but also through changes in more personal behaviour: car sharing, preferential use of public transport, home/work journeys by bike, etc. Developments that we have also strongly encouraged. ”

Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE says: “Two years after Nice Airport achieved carbon neutrality, a new step was taken by the Côte d’Azur Airports, as the Group’s 3 airports are now certified to Level 3+ of the Airport Carbon Accreditation program. I sincerely congratulate Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur for achieving its carbon neutrality objective - made possible particularly by means of an ambitious strategy, concrete actions and close collaboration with 37 partners who deploy their activities on the platforms operated by the group. This achievement makes Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur the first French airport group to have achieved carbon neutrality.

*Partners

Aelia, Air France, Alitalia, AM PM, Atalian, Aviapartner Nice SAS, Brinks, British Airways, DHL International Express, Delta Airline, Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile - DGAC, Direction de la Protection des Populations des Alpes Maritimes – DDPPAM, Douanes, Dufry France, easyJet, Europcar, Flytrans, GSF Jupiter, Heli Air Monaco, Heli Securité, ICTS, Lagardere Travel Retail – Essentials, Lagardere Travel Retail – Restauration, Lufthansa German Airlines, Menzies Aviation, Menzies Fueling Aviation, Meteo France, Onet Services, SAS Scandinavian Airlines System, SASCA (Total, BP), Securitas, SIP Nettoyage, Sixt, SkyGroup – Monacair, SSP Restauration, Swissport Executive Aviation, Turkish Airlines Nice.