Climate

Taking action for the climate

By reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in absolute terms and adapting to climate change to ensure that our business is viable over the long-term.

Climate change mitigation

The aim of mitigation is to reduce our carbon footprint and limit our impact on the climate.
This involves managing our energy consumption, developing renewable energies and gradually decarbonising our business activities.

We are also working with our partners, airlines and service providers to encourage them to use cleaner and more sustainable solutions.
We are prioritising sustainable transport, energy efficiency in buildings and optimising flows among other measures.

Our commitments:

Achieve Net Zero Emissions for our own emissions (Scope 1&2) in absolute terms by 2030, then maintain this level.
Achieve Net Zero Emissions across our value chain (Scope 3) in absolute terms by 2050, then maintain this level.

In order to meet these commitments, the three Côte d'Azur airports are participating in the voluntary Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.

To date, Cannes-Mandelieu Airport and Golfe de Saint-Tropez Airport are accredited at Level 4+ of the programme, while Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is accredited at Level 5, the most demanding level.

These accreditations are the result of concrete actions:

Transitioning to 100% renewable electricity for all its facilities.
Deploying a fleet of electric vehicles at the airports.
Using of HVO 100 biodiesel for generators (ANCA).
Optimising energy use in our facilities and equipment.
Replacing gas boilers with geothermal and waste heat recovery systems (temperate water loop) or heat pumps

To meet our second commitment, the three Côte d'Azur airports are also working on decarbonising their value chain by focusing on the four pillars of aviation decarbonisation:

Deploying sustainable aviation fuels: Replacing kerosene with aviation biofuels, reducing our carbon impact by 90% over their entire life cycle, in accordance with European regulations.
Anticipating technological disruptions: Deploying infrastructure adapted to the energy transition of aircraft (hydrogen and electric).
Fleet renewal: Taking advantage of technological advances in aircraft design (commissioning more energy-efficient and efficient aircraft).
Optimising operations: Collaborating with authorities on optimising flight paths, continuous descent and improving taxiing times.

These key decarbonisation aviation areas are complemented by non-sector measures such as developing public transport and installing electric charging stations to decarbonise access to the airports and introducing responsible purchasing policies that include decarbonisation issues.

Decarbonisation policy

Tackling climate change is not limited to reducing emissions. We must also adapt to the changes already underway.

Adapting to climate change

Airports are particularly at risk when it comes to heat waves, heavy rainfall, flooding, rising sea levels and, in certain cases, forest fires.
We are strengthening our facilities to ensure that our airports remain safe, resilient and can continue to operate should such risks arise.

Key to this strategy is managing water use, greening spaces, monitoring weather patterns, maintaining facilities and designing sustainable facilities.
To reduce the vulnerability of our hubs and ensure their resilience, the three Côte d'Azur airports have each developed their own climate change adaptation plans for 2050, in line with French scenarios (TRACC), which are predicting an increase in average temperatures of 2°C by 2030, 2.7°C in 2050 and 4°C in 2100 compared to the pre-industrial era.

The climate is the concern of each and every one of us. Together we will build a more energy-efficient, resilient and environmentally friendly airport.

Frequently asked questions

Are aircraft emissions included in the airport's carbon footprint?

In order to measure its carbon impact, the airport assesses its carbon footprint. This assessment is divided into three areas, known as ‘Scopes’:

Scope 1: Direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sources owned and/or controlled by the airport that enable it to operate its infrastructure and equipment. For example, emissions from burning fossil fuels in boilers, generators, maintaning vehicles, or processes owned and/or controlled by the airport, such as de-icing products, refrigerant gases, etc.
Scope 2: Indirect GHG emissions resulting from generating power, heat, or cooling that the aiport purchases and consumes, rather than being generated on site. Scope 2 emissions are physically emitted at the facility where the purchased energy is generated. Since 2015, the airport has had a contract guaranteeing the exclusive supply of green renewable energy.
Scope 3: All other indirect emissions in the airport operator's value chain that come from sources that are neither owned nor controlled by the company (e.g. emissions related to aircraft during flight and take-off/landing, emissions related to purchasing maintenance and construction services, subcontractors’ emissions, or emissions associated with off-site waste management). These sources may be located inside or outside the airport. These emissions are accounted for in Scopes 1 and 2 of the relevant companies (e.g. aircraft kerosene falls under Scope 1 for airlines).

Aircraft emissions are therefore included in the airport's carbon footprint under Scope 3 (indirect emissions from the value chain).

What does it mean to achieve ‘net zero emissions’?

Achieving ‘net zero emissions’ means that the airport complies with two requirements. First, the airport must reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 90% in absolute terms compared to its reference year (the year in which the airport began its reduction programme, i.e. 2010 for Nice). Second, residual emissions (i.e. a maximum of 10% of emissions in the base year) must be offset by certified projects.

Nice Airport has achieved Net Zero Emissions since 2025 for its own emissions (Scopes 1 and 2), ahead of its initial 2030 target, and is committed to achieving this across its entire value chain, including aircraft (Scope 3), by 2050.

Note: The ‘Net Zero Emissions’ target is much more stringent than the ‘carbon neutrality’ target, which does not impose any minimum reduction in emissions before absorbing or offsetting. However, it is important to pay attention to the scope of the commitment (Scope 1, 2 and/or 3; see question #1).

What does Airport Carbon Accreditation (AiCA) require?

Aéroports de la Côté d’Azur has been accredited by the Airport Carbon Accreditation (AiCA) programme since 2010. To date, Cannes-Mandelieu and Golfe de Saint-Tropez airports are accredited at Level 4+ of the programme and Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is accredited at Level 5, the most demanding level.

The airports are committed to achieving Net Zero Emissions for their own emissions (Scopes 1 & 2) and to developing partnerships with subcontractors, clients and suppliers with the aim of decarbonising their activities.

In addition, Nice Airport – accredited at level 5 – aims to achieve and maintain Net Zero Emissions by 2050 for all its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including the footprint of aircraft (Scope 3). In other words, all emissions generated by passengers travelling to the airport, partners and aircraft in cruise phase will be reduced as much as possible and any residual emissions will be absorbed.

What is the decarbonisation action plan for Côte d'Azur Airports?

Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur has been committed to decarbonisation measures for many years, for example:

Transitioning to 100% renewable electricity for all its facilities,
Deploying a fleet of electric vehicles, including urban vehicles on the landside and technical vehicles on the airside,
Gradually deploying photovoltaic projects on the three platforms to increase auto-generation,
Optimising taxiing times on take-off and arrival, and optimising approach trajectories, without steps,
Using biodiesel (e.g. HVO 100) for generators and professional vehicles (ANCA);
Optimising energy use in infrastructure, buildings and equipment,
Replacing gas boilers with geothermal and waste heat recovery systems (moderate temperature water loop) or heat pumps,
Installing a power grid on airbridges and aircraft stands to supply auxiliary aircraft engines with electricity during turnarounds.
In line with our second commitment, the three Côte d'Azur airports are also working on decarbonising their value chain using the on the four aviation decarbonisation pillars:
Deploying sustainable aviation fuels:
Replacing kerosene with aviation biofuels, reducing the carbon impact by 90% over their entire life cycle, in accordance with European regulations. The technology is proven and European legislation imposes minimum and progressive thresholds for including this type of biofuel, with a target of 70% of total fuel used by 2050.
Anticipating technological disruption:
Deploying infrastructure adapted to the energy transition of aircraft (engines and power supply) based on hydrogen and electricity.
Renewing fleets
Taking advantage of technological advances in aircraft design (introducing more energy-efficient aircraft).
Optimising operations
Collaborating with authorities on optimising flight paths, continuous descent and improving taxiing times.

These aviation decarbonisation pillars are complemented by non-aeronautical measures such as developing and promoting public transport and electric charging stations to decarbonise airport access, and implementing responsible purchasing policies that include decarbonisation requirements for suppliers.

How are residual emissions absorbed?

Residual emissions are any emissions that are unavoidable in a carbon footprint assessment (i.e. a maximum of 10% of the footprint for the reference year – see question 1).

Our residual emissions are currently offset or absorbed by purchasing certified carbon credits, mainly for projects underway in France.

The aim is to absorb all Scope 1&2 emissions by 2030 through our own forestry projects, without having to purchase carbon credits. In collaboration with the ONF (the French Forestry Department), Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur has been financing reforestation projects within a 50km radius of these three airports since 2020.