Fifteen years earlier, Budapest Airport would be carbon neutral
At the end of October, Budapest Airport organized its Greenairport meeting for the fifteenth time. The airport operator announced at the Sustainability Partner Meeting that it is working hard to reduce its carbon emissions up to 15 years earlier than the current 2050 target date of 2035.
Sustainability is one of the most important pillars of the day-to-day operation of Budapest Airport and its long-term strategy. However, the airport operator can most effectively reduce the environmental impact of the airport by working with airport partners, which is why in 2015 it launched the Greenairport program. The aim of the partners involved in the initiative40 is for the airport and the organizations operating there to work together to help each other reduce the overall environmental impact of their own carbon footprint and operations.
In the 6 years since the Greenairport program was set up, members met for the fifteenth time in October this year. The current meeting was organized around the topic of green electricity consumption and green buildings, where Budapest Airport would also like to set an example and at the same time be an environmentally conscious use of energy and materials during airport constructions and developments. In addition to these topics, participants discussed airport carbon reduction options, the achievements of previous businesses, and the challenges they face in the areas of e-mobility and waste management.
René Droese, Development Director of Budapest Airport, described the events as the airport operator’s current sustainability efforts and developments, the primary aspect of which is the protection of the environment. As he said, “In our airport developments in the design, permitting or construction phases, we use new technological and energy efficiency solutions, including modern insulation and heating systems, LED lighting and solar panels.” He added: “Budapest Airport is currently working hard on important new developments,
includes the temporary reopening of Terminal 1 and the new Terminal 3 to serve the expected future growth in passenger numbers and provide even better quality to its passengers.
For these important developments, net zero carbon emissions must be a basic requirement already at the design stage if we are to achieve our sustainability goals. In addition to these major developments, several of our new investments are nearing completion or have recently been completed, such as the new airport main gate opening recently, the Turbo Roundabout handed over last year before Terminal 2, the new airport cycle path, Passenger Pier 1, along with several minor developments they are all built with sustainable expectations in mind, taking into account environmentally conscious aspects of material use, energy use and traffic optimization. ”
Chris Dinsdale, CEO of Budapest Airport, highlighted in connection with the Greenairport meeting: “if we continue the journey we have started, sometime before 2035 we may be the first airport in the region to be able to achieve net zero carbon emissions.” “2035 is far, so hard: He has commented on a detailed net carbon roadmap that is close to achieving zero emissions at least 15 years before the couple’s 2050 target date in the climate agreement, and to set an example for other European airports as well.”
The airport operator aims to have its entire electricity supply from renewable energy sources from 1 January 2023. To this end, it will increase the amount of green energy purchases.
Over the past 10 years, Budapest Airport has managed to reduce its CO2 emissions per passenger to almost a third of its previous value, while reducing its water consumption by 30%.
The company’s waste recycling rate is outstanding at 70%, compared to below 35% for the retail sector.
In order to achieve the e-mobility goals, Budapest Airport continuously encourages the use of electric and hybrid vehicles, both inside and outside the airport fence. The company plans to hand over 35 new chargers by the end of 2021, bringing the total to up to 116 chargers to the company’s employees, tenants and passengers. The airport operator plans to install more than 100 new charging stations in the coming years, which is necessary for Budapest Airport, most of the ground handling companies working at the airport and other partners to fully switch to electric vehicles in the coming years.
In line with the sustainability goals of Budapest Airport, in addition to the above efforts, it has now joined a consortium that has received a grant of EUR 25 million from the European Commission in the framework of a sustainability project called STARGATE. As part of this, Budapest Airport aims to develop and create a paperless, cloud-based air cargo management system, as well as to implement sustainability projects primarily related to the terminal, energy efficiency, sustainable aviation fuel and traffic improvements.
Opening image: Budapest Airport