Carbon Footprint of the International Airport Milan Linate

TÜV SÜD assessed the carbon emissions of Milan Linate Airport in accordance with the criteria of the "Airport Carbon Accreditation" standard

(April 2011)

From 2012 onwards, aviation will join industry in the European Union's Emissions Trading System. The international airport Milan Linate decided to determine its carbon emissions at an early stage and on a voluntary basis. TÜV SÜD verified and validated the measurement in accordance with the "Airport Carbon Accreditation" standard.

Milan Linate is one of the two international airports in Milan, both of which participate in the independent climate-change scheme. Last year, Milan Linate alone handled over eight million passengers. As a European Standard, "Airport Carbon Accreditation" assesses the emissions of airports and identifies measures to reduce carbon emissions aimed at reaching carbon neutrality. The four-level programme starts with "mapping", i.e. measuring, the actual emissions (level 1) and spans "reduction" (level 2), "optimisation" (level 3) and, as the ultimate target, "neutrality" (level 3+).

All emissions included

Airport operations account for around five per cent of the emissions caused by aviation. In Milan Linate both direct and indirect emissions were included in the carbon footprint. Direct emissions include, but are not limited to, the emissions caused by mobile and stationary installations for the production of electricity and heat. In the case of complex special buildings such as airports, there are numerous building services installations which are interconnected in a system. Indirect emissions result from sources including aircraft ground handling, operation of the airport systems and use of the infrastructure (check-in and boarding), but also the commuting journeys of passengers, visitors and staff to and from the airport.

TÜV SÜD's team of experts assessed the mapping of all direct and indirect emissions on-site at the airport and verified their measurement and the measures taken to offset these emissions in compliance with the "Airport Carbon Accreditation" standard. The Milan Linate airport successfully reached neutrality level (3+) and is thus one of the leading airports participating in the scheme. In the future, the experts will assess the emissions caused by the airport at annual intervals in accordance with the "Airport Carbon Accreditation" standard.

TÜV SÜD supports airport operators offering carbon footprint verification. "A carbon footprint verified and validated by an independent third party ensures transparency of the emissions caused by airport operation", says Thomas Claßen, project manager for voluntary climate-change programmes at TÜV SÜD Industrie Service. "Carbon neutrality enables airport operations to take place on a sustainable footing."