Riga Airport aims to become carbon neutral by 2050

The Board of Riga Airport has approved the Airport’s operational plan for achieving zero CO2 emissions by 2050, the so-called Net Zero 2050 Roadmap.

“Riga Airport is ready to contribute to the achievement of global climate goals and to consider the necessary business transformation in advance. The Net Zero Roadmap is an essential complement to our sustainability strategy: we continue the dedicated work to reduce harmful emissions from Airport operations, including the possibility of becoming certified to a higher level of the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme in a few years,” says Laila Odiņa, Chairperson of the Board of the company.

Achieving zero CO2 emissions at airports involves two main elements: firstly, reducing the airport’s own emissions from electricity, heat, and fuel consumption to as close to zero as possible and, secondly, neutralising emissions that cannot be reduced through CO2 sequestration.

Electricity, fuel, and heat consumption, as well as surface de-icing, are the main sources of emissions at the Airport that the company can directly influence. Consequently, the Airport plans to achieve the largest reduction in CO2 emissions by switching to alternative energy sources, including the development of a solar panel park, switching to alternative fuel transport, generating heat from renewable energy sources, modernising the electricity grid, replacing apron and runway lighting with efficient LED lighting, and improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings.