Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur has been committed to the continuous improvement of its environmental policy for over 20 years, and has now taken another essential step towards its goal of achieving full carbon neutrality without offsetting by 2030. Obtaining the new Airport Carbon Accreditation level 4+ certification attests to the reduction, in absolute terms, of its emissions, while the Golfe de Saint-Tropez airport is already the first in France to be able to claim neutrality without compensation.
This is a firm commitment by Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur: to achieve carbon neutrality without offsetting by 2030 – 20 years earlier than the global commitments made at COP21. In 2018, the Group was the first in France to obtainAirport Carbone Accreditation level 3+, certifying its carbon neutrality by offsetting its residual emissions. In 2020, it will begin reforestation operations, either directly on its own property for the Golfe de Saint-Tropez airport, or in neighboring communes for the Cannes-Mandelieu and Nice Côte d’Azur airports. This step, unprecedented in France, creates natural carbon sinks, absorbing up to 300 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year as the trees grow.
Finally, between 2018 and 2019, a decisive step was taken, as all three platforms succeeded in reducing their direct emissions in absolute terms: -4.4% for Nice, -20% for Cannes-Mandelieu and -27% for the Golfe de Saint-Tropez airport. Less emissions, despite traffic growth, more absorption, directly on their territories: the Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur Group is now the first in France to obtain the brand-new, and most demanding, Airport Carbon Accreditation level 4+, and the 2nd in Europe.
” Obtaining Airport Carbon Accreditation level 4+ is not a medal, and even less a false nose for greenwashing. This is international recognition of a sincere commitment and an ambitious, unprecedented action plan. When we reduce our direct emissions, in absolute terms, we preserve our territory. This involves numerous actions, the implementation of innovations, and the daily search for solutions to reconcile air transport with air quality requirements. Tomorrow, low-emission aircraft will be taking off and landing from totally neutral airports. It’s the way of the future, and we want to be its laboratory. “explains Franck Goldnadel, Chairman of the Board of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur.
Saint-Tropez, a showcase for an unwavering commitment to preserving the environment
Since the Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur Group took over its management in 2013, the Golfe de Saint-Tropez airport has reduced its direct emissions by 62%, while supporting a 22% increase in traffic. In 2020, its residual emissions amounted to less than 17 tonnes, whilea massive reforestation operation, representing an absorption capacity of nearly 30 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, and the enhancement of its 22 hectares of forest are underway. These actions will enable the airport not only to achieve neutrality without offsetting, but also to absorb part of the emissions of aircraft on half-cruises.
While the Nice Côte d’Azur and Cannes Mandelieu airports are making year-on-year progress on this ambitious roadmap, the Golfe de Saint-Tropez airport has already achieved this objective.
” Because of its size and the fact that we handle all ground operations directly, the Golfe de Saint-Tropez airport has acted as a laboratory for ideas and innovations, testing solutions and putting our carbon-neutral policy into practice. The progress we’ve made and the benefits it represents for the region are our commitment and motivation to go even further on all our platforms, in order to become totally carbon neutral in the short term, without compensation, and to amplify the efforts of the entire aeronautical industry in terms of energy transition. “says Franck Goldnadel, Chairman of the Board of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur.
In concrete terms, since 2013, the Var airport has succeeded in reducing its direct emissions by almost two-thirds, saving 44 tonnes of CO2 equivalent for an investment of over 150,000 euros. All avenues have been explored. The simplest, such as replacing energy-guzzling light bulbs with Led bulbs, creating skylights in offices to limit the use of artificial lighting, and insulating certain parts of the buildings. Other simple but costly measures, such as the exclusive use of renewable energy, or innovative ones, such as the electrification of the company’s fleet of vehicles and trailers. Another concrete example is the installation on 4 vehicles of ” anti-smog ” boxes, an innovation supported by the Solar Impulse Foundation, with an immediate gain of 67% to 94% in reduced NOx and fine-particle emissions.
” Through the actions we have implemented over the past few years, we are contributing both to reducing emissions worldwide, with the systematic use of low-carbon electricity, and to improving local air quality, with solutions to drastically reduce NOx and fine particle emissions,” adds Isabelle Vandrot, Head of the Sustainable Development and Environment Department at Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur.
The final stage in the airport’s strategy to achieve full neutrality without offsetting consisted in reforesting part of its grounds, with the planting of 1,100 Mediterranean trees. This natural carbon sink represents a potential absorption capacity of 30 tonnes of CO2 equivalent over the next few years, i.e. twice the airport’s residual emissions. Added to this is a policy of enhancing the 20 hectares of woodland already bordering the runways, to boost the vitality of the trees and their photosynthesis action.
Acting beyond direct emissions
” Today, the Golfe de Saint-Tropez airport is fully equipped to absorb all its residual emissions, but also to go further and offset some of the emissions that are not our direct responsibility, but those of aircraft in flight. For us, it’s common sense to act as far and as effectively as possible, because we’re a link in the air transport chain. Absorbing as much as possible, but also anticipating the fuels of the future, is the best way to preserve our region and the activities that are essential to its influence and dynamism. “concludes Franck Goldnadel.
In addition to its efforts to improve air quality, the Golfe de Saint-Tropez airport has also undertaken a number of measures to benefit the wider natural ecosystem. For example, the replacement of surveillance cameras with infrared cameras means that the powerful floodlights previously used for site security can now be switched off at night. This reduction in artificial light, together with the silence induced by closing the slopes at night, gives the birds the peace and quiet they need. In the same vein, the partnership agreement with the Aéro Biodiversité association reinforces measures to preserve plant and animal species and, more broadly, the airport’s immediate environment.