Aéroports de Paris Receives the Airport Carbon Accreditation after Cutting Back CO2 Emissions

Aéroports de Paris (Paris:ADP) (Pink Sheets:AEOPF) receives the level 2 Airport Carbon Accreditation. This certification, handed to Aéroports de Paris CEO Pierre Graff by Siim Kallas, European Commission Vice-President for Transport and Olivier Jankovec, ACI-Europe* Director General, attests to the progress made by the Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly airports in terms of greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

From left to right: Olivier Jankovec, Siim Kallas, Pierre Graff. (Photo: Business Wire)

Airport Carbon Accreditation is ACI-Europe's certification programme for carbon management. This certification assesses and recognises the efforts of airports to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through verification by an independent third party. There are 4 accreditation levels: mapping, reduction, optimisation and neutrality.

Less than 6 months after achieving level 1 certification, today the Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly airports were awarded level 2 (reduction)."This certification rewards Aéroports de Paris's proactive stance in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In 2004, we produced 125,000 tonnes of CO2 to satisfy our energy needs. Today, our carbon emissions represent less than 100,000 tonnes." explains Aéroports de Paris CEO Pierre Graff.

In another commitment made to reduce its carbon footprint, Aéroports de Paris launched a programme to install renewable energy sources with the setting up of the geothermal power station at Paris-Orly and a biomass boiler at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport. Aéroports de Paris is also planning to cut back power consumption in its existing buildings, and build new ones to high energy performance standards, as well as acquiring electric vehicles to further reduce its carbon emissions.

Aéroports de Paris has already initiated the actions that will allow it to receive level 3 "optimisation" certification by extending the process to airport partner third parties.

* ACI-Europe is the European region of Airports Council International (ACI), the only worldwide professional association of airport operators. ACI-Europe represents over 400 airports in 46 European countries. Member airports handle 90% of commercial air traffic in Europe, welcoming nearly 1.5 billion passengers each year.

The four levels of Airport Carbon Accreditation

Level 1, Mapping: the airport operator determines emissions sources directly linked to its activity and calculates the equivalent annual carbon emissions.

Level 2, Reduction: the airport operator provides evidence of effective carbon management procedures (policy, goals, organisation, monitoring, personnel training in the field). It must also show that reduction targets have been achieved.

Level 3, Optimisation: the airport operator must widen the scope of carbon footprint to include third party emissions (air and road traffic). It must have an inciting carbon reduction policy to engage third parties at and around the airport.

Level 3+, carbon Neutrality: the airport operator must offset remaining emissions to achieve carbon neutral operations through a certified programme.

www.aeroportsdeparis.fr

Aéroports de Paris builds, develops and manages airports including Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly and Paris-Le Bourget. With 83 million passengers handled in 2009, Aéroports de Paris is Europe's second-largest airport group in terms of airport passenger traffic and the European leader for freight and mail.With an exceptional geographic location and a major catchment area, the Group is pursuing its strategy of adapting and modernizing its terminal facilities and upgrading quality of services, and also intends to develop its retail and real estate business. In 2009, the group revenue stood at 2,633 million euros and the net income at 270 million euros.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6534671&lang=en