ACI Europe confirmed the commitment of the European airport industry to achieve Net Zero for CO2 emissions under its control by 2050 at the latest.
That commitment was initially launched in June 20191. Based on Europe’s airports 2019 traffic volumes and estimated carbon footprint, this Net Zero commitment will eliminate a total of 3.14 million tons of annual CO2 emissions as of 2050.
235 airports run by 63 operators across 29 countries have now backed this industry commitment - thus individually committing to the same objective2.
In addition to all 211 airports that had done so before the COVID-19 crisis and that continue to stand by their pledge, a further 24 airports have joined the European airport industry commitment to Net Zero today3.
These 235 airports accounted for 68% of European passenger traffic in 2019.
Reflecting stepped up ambitions, 91 airports run by 16 operators are set to deliver on their Net Zero commitment already by 2030.
This includes 10 airports operated by Swedavia (including Stockholm-Arlanda), which have recently become the first ones globally to become Net Zero. Athens International Airport should follow as of 2025, with Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur (3 airports including Nice), Aeroporti di Roma, Amsterdam Schiphol, AVINOR (44 airports including Oslo), Copenhagen, Eindhoven, EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, Finavia (21 airports including Helsinki), Luxembourg, Lyon-Saint Exupéry, Marseille-Provence, SEA Milan airports and Tallinn all targeting 2030.
Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI Europe said: “Europe’s airports have been leading globally on climate action for the past 12 years, delivering constant CO2 reductions through Airport Carbon Accreditation. While COVID-19 is an unprecedented shock from which we still must recover, it has only reinforced our resolve to play our part in the transition towards carbon-free European economies. The renewed and stepped-up ambition levels we are announcing today are truly impressive given the circumstances. They reflect not just continued alignment with the EU Climate goals, but for many airports that are now targeting Net Zero by 2030, it means going well beyond the EU’s 2030 reduction target of -55%.”
He added: “I want to thank all airports that are reaffirming, joining, and advancing these important commitments - especially under the current circumstances. Of course, these efforts are also part and parcel of the vision and roadmap towards a Net Zero European aviation by 2050, which recently came to fruition through ‘Destination 2050’. Beyond reducing those CO2 emissions for which they are directly responsible, Europe’s airports will also have a crucial role to play in supporting other partners and in particular airlines in their own decarbonisation efforts.”
Adina Vălean, EU Commissioner for Transport commented: “The European Green Deal is our plan to make the EU more sustainable. The policy measures outlined in our Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy should help aviation stakeholders decarbonise the sector. Also, when talking about airport decarbonisation it is impossible not to mention the role and positive impact that ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation has had in driving airports’ climate efforts. I very much welcome the effort of airport stakeholders in standing up with these ambitious targets to reach Net Zero. I am looking forward to working on future progress on these matters with the EU airport community.”
However, ACI Europe was also clear about the fact that if airports are focused on building back better by renewing and stepping up their climate ambitions, they face considerable challenges to deliver unless more supportive regulatory and financing frameworks are in place.
Jankovec concluded: “There is no escape that delivering on these Net Zero targets will be extremely challenging given the financial distress in which Europe’s airports find themselves in. With generally limited financial support extended to airports to face the COVID-19 crisis, still significant uncertainty over the recovery coupled with constant downward pressure on airport charges, no access to the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility and inadequate State aid rules, Europe’s airports are facing an investment crunch. This will hurt investment in sustainability first, and the risk of locked-in carbon intensive solutions at airports is real. This needs to be addressed by the EU and European States as a matter of priority – they have to walk the talk on the regulatory and financial side when they speak about greening airports."
Niclas Svenningsen, Manager, Global Climate Action, UNFCCC: “The COVID-19 crisis has changed the world as we know it, leaving no sector unscathed and reshuffling many a priority. It is therefore with great joy that I welcome European airports' perseverance in upholding their pledge to reach net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Even more so, as over 90 of them are setting the bar even higher and planning to hit this target by 2030. This is the kind of ambition we need in the run up to the upcoming COP26. Given the unrelentless pace of the Climate Emergency, now more than ever we need all stakeholders to get on board with climate action.”
1 ACI Europe Press Release, 26 June 2019: Europe's airport industry commits to net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050
2 ACI Europe Resolution: European airports committing to Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050 – supported by ADV, AOA, Assaeroporti, RAA, UAF
3 Belfast City Airport Ltd., Fraport Greece, Groningen Airport Eelde N.V., Groupe ADP (Le Bourget), London Luton Airport Operations Ltd., Port lotniczy Łódź im. Władysława Reymonta Spółka z o.o., S.A. Aéroport de La Réunion Roland Garros, SE Lithuanian Airports, Tallinn Airport Ltd.
Tags: ACI Europe, net-zero CO2 emissions
