Four regional airports operated by Finavia, the operator of 20 airports across Finland – Ivalo, Kittilä, Kuusamo and Rovaniemi, have met all the stringent requirements of the recently introduced Level 5 of Airport Carbon Accreditation. They join the ranks of global trailblazers, as only ten airports1 in the world have reached this level of carbon management maturity thus far.Level 5 is the new topmost level of the global standard for carbon emissions management and reduction for airports, owned by Airports Council International. Its introduction constituted a breakthrough in airport carbon management, certifying airports for reaching and maintaining a net zero carbon balance for emissions under their control (Scope 1 and 2), and extending mapping, influencing and reporting requirements for all other emissions (Scope 3)2. Airports reaching this level are fully on track with the objective of the Paris Agreement with regard to emissions under their control, at the same time championing net zero transition amongst their business partners, including airlines, ground handling companies, F&B and retail outlets, tenants and more. Olivier Jankovec, ACI EUROPE Director General said: “With their achievement of Level 5, Finland’s Ivalo, Kittilä, Kuusamo and Rovaniemi airports are positioned at the forefront of our industry’s transformation to net zero. They have achieved a net zero balance for emissions under their control – which is a tremendous achievement in and of itself – and are now aiming at the next frontier: reducing emissions from third parties linked to airport activities, including flights. It is heartening to see that it is Europe’s regional airports that serve as a testbed and a launching pad for the future of net zero air transport. Finland has reasons to be proud!” ”By exclusively transitioning to the use of renewable energy, we have reduced our carbon emissions by 98 percent at Ivalo, Kittilä, Kuusamo, and Rovaniemi airports over the past ten years. Our operations at all 20 of Finavia’s airports have been carbon neutral since 2019. Now, we have achieved net-zero levels at four airports, which we are proud of. Finavia is a pioneer in sustainable development in the air transport industry, and we have consistently reduced the carbon emissions of our operations. Our goal is for our operations at all airports to reach net-zero levels by the end of 2025,” said Mikko Viinikainen, Finavia’s Senior Manager, Sustainability and Environment.
THE CASE STUDY IN AIRPORT DECARBONISATION
At Finavia airports, carbon emissions are mainly caused by use of electricity, terminal heating, generation of emergency power, and vehicle energy consumption. Since 2018, the electricity used for e.g. lighting has been emission-free, and the airports’ vehicles have been fuelled with diesel made from waste and residues. In 2023, Finavia switched to using renewable motor fuel oil in heavy airport equipment, such as fire engines, at Ivalo, Kittilä, Kuusamo, and Rovaniemi airports. The airport operator has also transitioned to using renewable energy for terminal heating, such as district heating based on biofuels. In addition, ground handling is operated with electric vehicles or by using renewables only. This way, Finavia was able to minimise carbon emissions from their operations and reach the goal of net-zero emissions at four airports in Northern Finland.
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