Budapest Airport is still the only carbon-neutral airport in the region

Budapest Airport has just received the official certificate attesting its carbon-neutrality, achieving this prestigious environmental accreditation for the second time after last year. Thus, in the Central Eastern European region, Ferenc Liszt International Airport continues to be the single airport that meets the strict corresponding environmental requirements. The focus of these is that the airport should be and is capable of counterbalancing – keeping a full balance – of CO2 emission (the generally accepted measure of energy consumption) generated in the course of its operation.

Budapest Airport received the accreditation of carbon neutrality for another year, also confirmed by ACI Europe (the European organization of Airports Council International) with an official certificate issued after the environmental audit of Ferenc Liszt International Airport.

The relevant strict environmental norms are met by only 39 airports in Europe, mostly in Scandinavia and Italy. When the program was started six years ago, CO2 emission (the so-called carbon footprint) at Budapest Airport was assessed first, and then its per-passenger limit value, as well as its targeted rate of reduction, was defined.

After 2018, Budapest Airport received the carbon neutral accreditation for 2019 as well, primarily due to a series of energy-saving measures.

Among other things, the company achieved that electric vehicles are used in more and more areas also by other companies operating at the airport, enhanced the heat insulation of several hangars and other buildings, and optimized its water network and water consumption. In addition, Budapest Airport also purchased so-called carbon credits produced by a Chinese wind power station project, thereby contributing to the international struggle against climate change.

As part of its global responsibility, Budapest Airport undertook to take further significant environmental measures. It has announced for the three-year period between 2019 and 2021 that it will decrease its CO2 emission per passenger by 10 percent versus the 2016 level. To ensure successful implementation, Budapest Airport – via its Greenairport program – cooperates for instance with Wizz Air, ground handling companies, and other commercial and logistics partners. In addition, some state-run service providers also joined the program, including air traffic control service provider HungaroControl, the airport unit of the National Tax and Customs Authority, and the on-airport International Postal Exchange facility of the Hungarian Post.

“Since the commencement of the program, we managed to decrease CO2 emission per passenger of Ferenc Liszt International Airport by close to 50%, and we are delighted to have been able to ensure the cooperation of our partners at the airport too,”

highlighted Gábor Szarvas, environmental director of Budapest Airport. He also pointed out that further major steps are being planned, as in comparison with the emission of 1.67 kg CO2/passenger + cargo measured at the 2016-year base level, a further ten-percent reduction is planned to be achieved over the next three years. Accordingly, Budapest Airport has continued to be the greenest airport in the Central Eastern European region.

Photo: bud.hu

Source: bud.hu