Site Characteristics
The close proximity of the city of Nice to mountainous terrain, the Mediterranean Sea and the River Var imposes particular operating conditions for Nice Côte d’Azur Airport. Due to its location, all environmental aspects need to be integrated into the management of the airport.
Water
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport consumes more than 2 million m3 of water every year: one quarter drinking water and three quarters water for industrial use. This represents 15% of the total water consumption of the City of Nice. Water meant for human consumption is drawn from the groundwater of the Var, from two wells, to then be treated.
This natural resource is fragile. The airport therefore makes every effort to ensure more efficient water management in the airport.
Energy
The energy aspect includes the production and purchasing of all utilities (electricity, water, gas, etc.) required for the airport’s energy supply. The energy component is a critical item in the functioning of the airport, managed in accordance with environmental regulations and with the goal of continually optimising consumption.
Since 1 January 2015, 100% of the electricity consumed at the Nice airport is from renewable sources.
Noise
Every day, Nice Côte d’Azur Airport measures all the planes taking off and landing using ten noise sensors and radar paths.
Over the years, Nice airport has developed its air navigation procedures and adopted numerous operating regulations to contain, control and reduce the impact of its aviation activities on the environment.
Fauna and flora
The lower Var Valley is a Natura 2000 protected area. In order to monitor and preserve this area on the edge of the airport, a partnership with the region's bird protection league LPO PACA has been forged. Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur also participates in the Natura 2000 site management committee led by the Departmental Council.
Waste
Catering for passengers and employees, business administration, maintenance of infrastructure, air freight and traffic, generate around 3,000 tonnes of waste each year, 1.4% of which is dangerous waste. A waste recycling policy has been implemented: 51% of consumer waste is recycled.
Categories of waste found in the airport:
- Mixed ordinary industrial waste
- Cardboard
- Paper
- Bulk ordinary waste
- Glass
- Green waste
- Wood
- Metal
- Bulky waste
- Dangerous waste
Air
Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur is actively committed to protecting the quality of air and fighting against climate change. The airport measures daily its pollutants within the AIR PACA measurement network which has managed and maintained the measuring station since 2005.
Greenhouse gases
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport has been committed to the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme sinc 2011.
Its carbon footprint, calculated on the basis of Scopes 1 and 2 under the GHG Protocol, has fallen from 0.58 kg CO2 eq per passenger in 2011 to 0.073 kg CO2 eq in 2019, which equates to an 87% reduction, with an increase in passenger numbers over the same period of almost 51%.
In 2019, the operator's carbon footprint, calculated using the Airport Carbon Accreditation methodology, was 1,050 tCO2eq in terms of absolute emissions.