Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur Group airports have all been certified at Level 3+ as part of ACI Europe’s Airport Carbon Accreditation program, signifying carbon neutrality.
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 30-50%, depending on the platform.
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, which will 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, said, “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, helps 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 behavior: 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, commented, “Two years after Nice Airport achieved carbon neutrality, a new step was taken by the Côte d’Azur Airports, as the Group’s three 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.”