Nice Côte d'Azur Airport obtains the highest Airport Carbon Accreditation level

Five years ahead of schedule, Nice Côte d'Azur airport joins the select club of 4% of airports worldwide that have signed up to the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme and achieved this highest standard. This accreditation means that the airport has not only reduced the emissions under its control by at least 90% but has also determined and implemented a decarbonisation roadmap for its entire value chain, including emissions from aircraft in climb out and descent, during the take-off and landing phases and their ground activities.

"Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is very proud to receive this accreditation. It rewards our tireless efforts for many years to significantly and sustainably reduce the environmental footprint of our activities and those of our partners. It also confirms the promise we made to the people of Côte d'Azur and our region that we could reconcile operational performance with environmental performance, develop our network and protect the future.” 
Goldnadel, Chairman of the Executive Board of Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur

“Congratulations to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport on reaching Level 5, the highest level of Airport Carbon Accreditation. Since joining the programme back in 2011, the airport has been at the forefront of airport climate action efforts, now operating at net zero for emissions under its direct control and keeping a clear focus on full decarbonisation by 2050. From using 100% renewable electricity to working closely with employees, suppliers, airlines and partners to reduce their emissions, Nice Côte d’Azur Airport stands as a global leader, raising the bar for innovation, collaboration, and decarbonisation in the airport sector.” 
Olivier Jankovec, Director General at ACI EUROPE

This award recognises the commitment of Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, a pioneer in decarbonisation and a laboratory for the airports of the future. It certifies that: 

• Its carbon footprint has been audited in accordance with the highest international standards (GHG Protocol and ISO 14 064).
• A revised carbon management plan has been implemented, demonstrating a sustainable reduction of more than 90% in its own emissions (Scope 1 & 2) since its base year (2010).
• The partnership plan with stakeholders has been updated. This plan provides information on the progress made by stakeholders in reducing their emissions to achieve their targets.
• A roadmap for achieving ‘Net Zero Emissions’ in its value chain (Scope 3) has been drawn up, to obtain a 90% reduction in these emissions by 2050. This roadmap will be reviewed every 6 years, and the airport will be required to demonstrate progress towards the long-term goal and its milestones.

Since 2010, Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (ANCA) has been implementing an ambitious plan to reduce its carbon footprint, enabling it to reduce its GHG emissions associated with its activities by 93% over 2024. This is the result of implementing key measures:

• Transitioning all its facilities to 100% renewable power.
• Deploying a fleet of electric vehicles.
• Using HVO 100 biodiesel for generating sets
• Optimising the energy consumption of facilities and equipment.
• Replacing gas-fired boilers with geothermal and waste heat recovery systems (moderate-temperature water loop for thermal control).

The residual emissions (Scopes 1&2) are now entirely absorbed by certified projects. The long-term objective is to absorb all these residual emissions through its own local carbon sequestration projects (reforestation projects with the French National Office of Forestry (ONF) which have been ongoing since 2020).

Building on its experience, the airport is now aiming to achieve Net Zero Emissions for its entire carbon footprint by 2050. To this end, it has drawn up a decarbonisation roadmap approved by Airport Carbon Accreditation as part of its Level 5 application.

To achieve neutrality by 2050, i.e. to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% compared with the reference year (2024) and keep them there, the airport has implemented a roadmap which it has shared with its partners, especially airlines and ground handlers, based on 4 levers.

1. Deploying Sustainable Aviation Fuels: Replacing kerosene with aviation biofuels that reduce the carbon impact by 90% over their entire life cycle, in compliance with European regulations. 
2. Anticipating technological breakthroughs: Deploying facilities ready for the aircraft energy transition (hydrogen and electricity).
3. Renewing fleets: Taking advantage of technological progress in aircraft design (introducing more fuel-efficient aircraft).
4. Optimising operations: Working with the authorities on optimising trajectories, continuous descents and improving taxiing times.

These decarbonisation strategies for air transport are complemented by measures not related to the aviation sector, such as developing public transport and electric charging stations to decarbonise passenger journeys to the airport and deploying responsible purchasing policies that factor in decarbonisation.

This certification benefits not only the airport, but also the entire region and its partners. It gives Côte d'Azur residents a glimpse of what sustainable, low-carbon mobility could be like.

There are also benefits for local residents, passengers and employees, such as improving air quality, reducing noise pollution and developing sustainable mobility solutions.

Definitions

Scope 1: Direct GHG emissions from sources that are owned and/or controlled by the airport, for example, emissions from combustion in boilers, furnaces, vehicles, etc. that are owned and/or controlled by the airport.Les émissions directes de GES qui proviennent de sources qui sont la propriété et/ou sont sous contrôle de l’aéroport, par exemple, les émissions issues de la combustion dans des chaudières, fourneaux, véhicules, etc. qui sont la propriété et/ou sous le contrôle de l’aéroport.
Scope 2: Indirect GHG emissions from generating electricity, steam, heating or cooling purchased and used by the airport. Scope 2 emissions are physically produced at the facilities where the purchased electricity is generated.
Scope 3: All other indirect emissions, which are the consequence of the airport's activities, but are produced by facilities/equipment that are not owned and/or controlled by the company (e.g. aircraft movements on the ground and in the air, vehicles and equipment driven by third parties, off-site waste treatment, etc.). These sources may be located on site or outside the airport (geographical perimeter).

* airports handling more than 14 million passengers a year