Of the 425 airports that reduce their carbon emissions as part of the global airport carbon accreditation, 63 are French. The number of accreditations at the highest levels confirms their leading position in action against climate change
November 25, 2022 – On the occasion of the 4th annual congress of French & Francophone airports organized by the Union of French & Francophone Airports Associates (UAF & FA), the ACI today (Nov 25) to highlights the results obtained in terms of decarbonization by the French airport industry within the framework of the international standard relating to the carbon management of airports, the Airport Carbon Accreditation.
France, leader in airport climate action
At the international level, and out of 86 countries represented in the Airport Carbon Accreditation, France has by far the largest number of airports committed to climate action. The 63 French airports currently actively tackling their CO2 emissions through Airport Carbon Accreditation represent almost 30 % of the total number of accredited airports in Europe (219) and 15% globally (425). These figures speak volumes about the determination of the French airport community to deal with the negative externalities of airport operations.
This climate desire is also reflected in the levels of accreditation currently obtained by French airports. A clear majority of them, 46, has been certified for having achieved tangible CO 2 reductions, from level 2 to the highest levels of the program. The airports continue their efforts for a more demanding transformation and reach the most ambitious levels of the program. Since the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2022, 4 airports have been upgraded to level 2, 6 airports to level 3, while the highest levels, levels 4 and 4+, have been achieved respectively by Marseille Provence airport and Lyon Saint-Exupéry airport.
The two busiest airport networks in France have achieved the highest levels of accreditation: Groupe ADP operating Paris-CDG and Paris-Orly airports is at level 4 “Transformation” and Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur operating Nice and Cannes airports at level 4+ “Transition”. In addition, VINCI Airports, a French airport operator that has become a world leader, has obtained airport carbon certification for each airport in its network, as part of its AirPacte environmental strategy.
The global pandemic has not dampened the pace of airport climate action, despite the unprecedented shock it has posed to air travel. Since March 1, 2020, when COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic, 22 French airports have joined the program for the first time and 25 have obtained accreditation at a higher level than before.
The Airport Commitment to Energy Efficiency and the Environment (EASEE) project
In 2020, UAF & FA set up a new initiative, in partnership with Eco CO2, aimed at enabling small airports in France to overcome obstacles to their commitment to climate action. The partners recognized that carbon management at airports required significant resources, both financial and human, which often limited the ability of small airports to commit to decarbonization. The new project, called EASEE (Airport Commitments for Energy Sobriety and the Environment), provides tailor-made technical and financial support through a public mechanism (the Energy Savings Certificates scheme) – thus allowing directly to airports to be accredited within the airport Carbon Accreditation, regardless of size or financial capabilities.
Since its creation, the EASEE project, which brings together 73 airports, has helped 36 airports in France to obtain Airport Carbon Accreditation certification, and 37 4 additional airports should be certified in the coming months. Ultimately, this should bring the total number of French airports participating in Airport Carbon Accreditation to 89. The EASEE project remains the only initiative of its kind globally supporting airports on their journey towards carbon-free operations and better energy and environmental performance. It was warmly welcomed by ACI EUROPE, owner of Airport Carbon Accreditation and a long-time partner of UAF&FA in its environmental efforts.
Olivier Jankovec, Managing Director of ACI EUROPE , said: “ The scale of the commitment of French airports to the ongoing transformation of our industry is enormous. 63 airports (and counting!) are now reducing their CO 2 emissions and many are working with their partners in the airport ecosystem to also trigger the CO 2 reductions of the other players on the platform. I would like to congratulate all the airport teams who are working hard to reduce their emissions while providing much-needed connectivity to French cities and regions .”
He added: “ The UAF & FA with its unique initiative tackling all the obstacles in the way of airport decarbonization and concrete climate actions set an example to follow. I welcome this cooperation and its potential to enable faster decarbonization of airports.“
