In 2009, at a congress of Airports Council International Europe, European airports pledged to reduce CO2 emissions in order to achieve the ultimate goal of becoming carbon neutral. The Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme has been set up to achieve this, and you can find more about it HERE.
The programme consists of six levels:
- Mapping (Level 1)
- Reduction (Level 2)
- Optimisation (Level 3)
- Neutrality (Level 4)
- Transformation (Level 5)
- Transition (Level 6)
So far, more than 600 airports in over 90 countries around the world have joined the programme.
Riga Airport has been a member of the ACA programme since 2015. Level 3 of the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, "Optimisation," requires airports not only to reduce their own emissions but also to engage third parties in managing their carbon footprint. These third parties include airlines and various service providers such as air traffic control, ground handling, catering, fuel supply, and other industries operating within the airport's territory. Additionally, airports must collaborate with other transport providers, such as road carriers and railway operators, to promote environmentally friendly access to the airport.
To achieve Level 3 of the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme, Riga Airport has taken significant steps to reduce its direct emissions. These efforts include installing solar panel parks, incorporating electric vehicles into its fleet, and enhancing the company's energy efficiency. Additionally, the Airport has begun measuring and estimating the climate impact of its stakeholders by calculating Scope 3 carbon footprint emissions. Recognizing that stakeholder engagement is crucial for climate change mitigation, Riga Airport developed its first Stakeholder Engagement Plan this year, detailing a variety of collaborative initiatives. As part of these efforts, the Airport also hosted a seminar for stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of mitigating climate change impacts and to share best practices for reducing CO2 emissions.
