24.02.2009
CPH: Many years of environmental commitment bears fruit

CPH releases its annual environmental report today, and is marking the tenth anniversary of environmental reporting by further tightening its environmental profile. Although passenger numbers and traffic at Copenhagen Airport has increased, noise has been reduced to one-third of the level in 1998, and CO2 emissions alone were reduced by 9% last year.  CPH will work on making the airport even greener in future.

“Aircraft noise is one of the most significant environmental impacts from an airport. Copenhagen Airport has therefore implemented a number of noise-reducing measures over the years. Over the past six years, we have successfully held the noise impact from the airport’s activities at a stable level and below the threshold value, even though the number of take-offs and landings has increased,” said Erik Nielsen, Environmental Manager of Copenhagen Airports A/S.

Less noise
In recent years, CPH has increased its focus on reducing aircraft noise at night and in the early hours of the morning. The airport is measures aircraft noise, and noise events exceeding a certain level are reported to the Danish Civil Aviation Administration (CAA-DK). The number of reports was almost halved in 2008 as compared with 2007. This was achieved not least because the airlines have changed to aircraft types that are less noisy for their evening and night departures.

Focus on energy conservation
CPH is also working on reducing the airport’s CO2 emissions. Last year alone, emissions were reduced by 9%, partly as a result of a new environmental policy focusing on energy conservation and new technology. The reduction was achieved in CO2 emissions over which CPH as a company has direct control.

“If we look at Copenhagen Airport as a whole, air traffic is the greatest source of CO2 emissions. CPH therefore intends to collaborate with its partners at the airport to reduce overall emissions from the airport,” said Erik Nielsen pointing to CPH’s collaboration with Naviair, the air traffic control operator, to make take-offs and landings more sustainable:

“Together with Naviair, we have started analysing approaches to and exits from Copenhagen Airport in order to identify the most sustainable types of operations. Similarly, we are also looking at how we can minimise noise and emissions from aircraft when they are at the airport."