Nice Côte D’Azur Airport in France has become the first airport in the country to be awarded carbon neutral status by the Airports Council International’s (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA).
Carbon neutrality is the fourth and final stage of the ACA program following mapping, reduction and optimization. Nice Côte D’Azur has become the 25th airport globally to reach the fourth level of accreditation. At the same time, the operator’s two sister airports of Cannes Mandelieu and Saint-Tropez have been certified at the third level of the program – optimization.
In the past five years, Nice Côte D’Azur Airport has reduced its carbon emissions by 75% per passenger kilogram, and has now taken the additional step of purchasing recognized carbon offsets for the remainder of the carbon emissions under its direct control.
Dominique Thillaud, chairman of the management board of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur Group, the airport operator, said, “Our group committed to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of its daily activities. Today we are proud that the Nice platform is the first French airport to make it all the way to carbon neutrality – two years ahead of our initial target – and this in spite of increased capacity due to growing traffic. This reflects our strong dedication to emissions reductions across all the group, including the airports of Cannes Mandelieu and Saint-Tropez, and demonstrates that we are doing our part to achieve the goals set at COP21.”
Olivier Jankovec, director general, ACI Europe, said, “I would like to warmly congratulate all of the team at Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur for their work and this historic achievement that sees Aéroport Nice Côte d’Azur become carbon neutral – the first in France. The demands of the four levels of certification of ACA are rigorous, requiring strategic engagement and diligent work from the airport operator.
“During COP21, our industry formally committed to having 50 carbon neutral airports in Europe by 2030. With the good example of innovative airports like Nice Côte d’Azur, we are on the right track.”