Environment & Sustainability
In focus
ENVIRONMENTAL RECOGNITION
Our 10 airports have just received the ACA 4+ accreditation, the highest level of the ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation program - an unprecedented performance and to which the implementation of the ANA/VINCI Airports decarbonization plan has contributed with less than 35% direct emissions since 2018.
This accreditation - Portugal is the first country at Europe and global level to obtain it for all its airport infrastructures - recognizes that airports have accounted for and reported direct and indirect CO2 emissions related to activity and operation, significantly reduced direct emissions, offset residual direct emissions, and started reducing indirect emissions. The ACA 4+ also recognizes that airports have set carbon emission reduction targets consistent with a warming scenario of less than -2°C under the Paris Agreement.
At ANA we have been implementing a wide range of initiatives, such as the photovoltaic production program for all airports, with the first unit already in operation at Faro airport; the forest carbon sink program, aimed at sequestering residual emissions (scopes 1 and 2), implemented near Faro, Porto Santo and Lisbon airports and also the opening of a fast-charging station for electric vehicles at Lisbon airport (scope 3). Measures such as LED lighting, intelligent system for monitoring consumption (electricity and water), optimization of heating and cooling temperatures, acquisition of electric vehicles, replacement of the fleet of function vehicles only with electric or hybrid vehicles and the acquisition of guarantees of origin, among others, also contributed to this effect.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
WATER FROM THE AIR PROJECT
In the area where the airbridges of Gago Coutinho - Faro airport are installed, there were 2 problems:
- the condensed water from the air conditioning cooling process equipment at the airbridges flooded the embarkation/disembarkation paths, promoting potential danger of falling for the passengers;
- the inexistence of a water supply made it necessary to transport water for maintenance/washing tasks on the airbridges.
The transport, in 1m3 containers, was carried out by a forklift powered by petrol, making the procedure time-consuming and increasing the carbon footprint.
The solution was to equip the 6 airbridges with 1m3 capacity tanks for storing the condensed water. The harvested water is now used not only for washing and cleaning tasks (aircraft, airbridges and surrounding areas), but the remaining water is now used for electric vehicle battery maintenance and even for filling the tanks of fire-fighting vehicles.
This solution, developed in partnership with VINCI Facilities and which was well received by the stakeholders operating on the airside, made it possible to combine the resolution of two problems with environmental protection, reflected in the reduction of the water and carbon footprints and in the reduction of waste production.
Innovating, we continue towards Positive Mobility
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SUSTAINABLE STREET LIGHTING SYSTEM
ANA remains committed in finding solutions to descarbonize airport activity, not only through integrating Innovation and Environment (reduction of energy consumption), but also by investing in renewable energies (energy sustainability).
With these objectives in mind, a pilot project is underway at Humberto Delgado Airport to replace public lighting with omniflow systems at Departures area - Kiss & Fly Park (pickup and drop off of passengers).
The installed lighting poles integrate LED technology and include the following features:
- Power generation through a solar and wind hybrid system;
- Energy storage in integrated batteries;
- 30 LED lighting at 360º with a maximum power of 90W;
- Omniflow online lighting management system.
The units installed on September 20th have already produced 26kWh of solar and wind energy for self-consumption, allowing consumption to be reduced by more than 90% compared to traditional lighting, which contributes to the fulfillment of the company's ambitious environmental goals.
This project aims to evaluate and validate the benefits of the solution for later extension to other areas.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ECO GENERATOR COMBINES CIRCULAR ECONOMY, RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND WATER HARVESTING
Looking for an alternative solution to the use of diesel generators for energy supply in non-electrified areas, a multidisciplinary team from Faro Airport developed the Eco Generator.
The project, which incorporated improvements as the team acquired know-how, combines 3 strands:
- Circular Economy
Reuse of materials in its construction:
•Conversion of an old x-ray van;
•Batteries from old diesel generators;
• Aluminium structures of refurbished facilities.
- Renewable energy sources
An alternative solution for electricity supply through renewable sources (sun and wind) using solar panels and wind turbines.
- Water collection
The excess energy generated can be used to capture rainwater and atmospheric humidity, to be stored in tanks for later use.
Remote monitoring, with registration of weather conditions and electricity use, will provide better knowledge on the behaviour of batteries, the influence of cloudiness, the lifetime of equipment in marine environment conditions and the influence of other factors. This information will constitute a starting point and leverage for the creation of other projects of greater dimension.
The Eco Generator, besides its main function, is a tool to raise awareness about the difficulty of producing, storing and managing electricity and water.
Learn more here
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PARTNERSHIP STUDIES GREEN HYDROGEN
The potential development of green hydrogen at ANA’s Airports it’s linked with potential solutions to decarbonize the aviation sector. To this end, a pilot project is being developed, in order to replace buses and operation vehicles with combustion engines by a green hydrogen fleet, powered by electric fuel cells, aiming to reduce airport CO2 emissions, in which ANA - VINCI Airports, Galp, CaetanoBus and Mitsui are participating.
The project will assess the most appropriate location and various aspects of airport operation, including type and number of vehicles to be considered, the hydrogen production and distribution strategy, equipment suppliers, the fleet replacement rate, and regulatory requirements, as well as the most viable business model. Each of the partners will be complementarily responsible for the study and evaluation of the project axes that best fit their business areas and decarbonisation strategies. The results will be appreciated before the end of the year, aiming at the continuation or not of the project.
The decision by ANA - VINCI Airports, Galp, Caetano and Mitsui to jointly explore green hydrogen as a possible solution to decarbonise airport operations results from their individual commitments to develop solutions that can accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy system. The pilot project will be completed by the end of the year.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
EXHIBITION OF CERVAS
The travelling exhibition of CERVAS - Centre for Ecology, Recovery and Surveillance of Wild Animals, which has already visited Porto, Lisbon and Faro Airports, is now on display at Madeira Airport until 17 June 2022. The exhibition "Nocturnal Birds of Prey in Portugal" brings together the photojournalistic work of Artur Vaz Oliveira and Gonçalo da Costa and can be seen at arrivals public area, on floor 0.
Based in the Serra da Estrela natural park, CERVAS is a centre that recovers and releases, on average, 60% of the live animals received there, contributing to Portugal’s biodiversity conservation. This Centre has been supported by ANA for over a decade.
Learn more about CERVAS here.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PORTUGUESE AIRPORTS ALIGNED WITH GLOBAL CLIMATE OBJECTIVES
until now, the 9 Portuguese airports operated by ANA have been accredited at Level 2 ‘Reduction’. As a result of great commitment and an ambitious and global environment policy, it was possible for them to upgrade by two levels and secure Level 4. This new level of accreditation means that ANA are actively reducing their CO2 emissions, through initiatives such as: 100% renewable electricity, fleet electrification and LED deployment, and forging effective partnerships to secure absolute emissions reductions across our airports.
To this effect, in June 2021, ANA launched the Stakeholders Carbon Forum in order to work with the main partners that operate at their premises to achieve an overall reduction of carbon footprint. The Forum is the main platform of collaboration between the airports and their partners, including airlines, handlers, major energy consumers and entities linked to mobility, such as city councils and transport companies. From this vast variety of stakeholders, dedicated working groups were created to define partnership plans focused on climate change and carbon management.
ANA assume booster role in this process, in line with the firm belief that only joining efforts and sharing a collaborative path will enable faster and more significant results towards positive mobility.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
TOGETHER, WE PLANT THE FUTURE, IN GOUVEIA
Continuing its program “Together we plant the future”, ANA promoted a new awareness action with the community of Gouveia, on 25 March, planting 4000 trees - namely birch, chestnut, beech, strawberry tree and wild pine.
The action, resulted from a partnership established with QUERCUS - National Association for Nature Conservation and the Municipality of Gouveia, had as main objectives carbon emissions compensation, biodiversity promotion and better regulation of water cycle, a determinant in an area recently affected by forest fires and currently experiencing a period of extreme drought.
In this initiative participated 4th grade students from EB1 school in Gouveia and also considered the return to nature of a round-winged eagle, recovered at CERVAS - Center for Ecology, Recovery and Surveillance of Wild Animals, a center supported by ANA.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
TOGETHER WE PLANT THE FUTURE – ACTION IN THE FOREST PERIMETER OF CONCEIÇÃO DE TAVIRA
ANA planted 2500 trees in Conceição de Tavira Forest Perimeter, on land owned by ICNF Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests. This action of forest densification in a recently burned area was developed in partnership with QUERCUS and ICNF, in addition to Tavira City Council.
During the event, which took place December 6th, the 4th year students of Tavira school returned to nature a Barn Owl that had completed its recovery process at RIAS - Center for the Recovery and Research of Wild Animals.
These actions, under the motto “Together We Plant the Future”, promote biodiversity and decarbonization, and are in line with the airport activity strategy to achieve carbon neutrality at its airports by 2030. VINCI Airports in progress in its airport network.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ANA COOPERATES IN THE REFORESTATION OF PORTO SANTO ISLAND
Reforestation initiatives are part of VINCI Airports' priorities and commitments to achieve carbon neutrality in its European airports by 2050. In this context, ANA and the Regional Government of Madeira formalized, on 12 November, a protocol to plant five hundred trees, in 2021, on the island of Porto Santo, on land granted by the IFCN - Institute of Forest and Nature Conservation.
This project, which promotes biodiversity and improves the management of water resources on the island, will enhance the local compensation of airport’s residual carbon emissions, with an estimated sequestration value of 3040 TCO2. It is estimated that this amount will offset the totality of carbon emissions from Porto Santo airport, also contributing to offsetting more than half of the emissions associated with Madeira airport.
During the next 5 years, the forested area maintenance will be ensured, and added more 100 trees per year, for a total of 1000 trees planted until 2026. The action will ensure the planting of Madeira’s endemic species, namely Myrica faya and Apollonias barbujana.
The island of Porto Santo was elected in 2020 as a Biosphere Reserve and the intention is to turn it into a Green Island, free from greenhouse gas emissions. The island's reforestation, which formally began a hundred years ago, continues to be a very important objective for the Regional Government of Madeira, which ANA supports through this initiative.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ANA AT QUERCUS' GREEN MINUTE
The effort and commitment that ANA has made in the Environment since the 1990s, and the good results achieved in this area, has resulted in four episodes of “Minuto Verde” (Green Minute) program, developed in partnership with the Environmental ONG - QUERCUS.
“Minuto Verde” is an environmental TV show presented by QUERCUS, since 2006, on RTP1 channel, every working day (in the morning, at 8 am, 9 am and 10 am in the “Bom Dia Portugal” program; in the afternoon, from 5:30 pm, at program “Portugal em Direto”) and consists in 60-second episodes.
The episode launched on October 22nd, 2021, was dedicated to electric mobility in which was presented the charging system for electric vehicles made available to everyone at Lisbon Airport, as well as the ongoing renewal of the ANA´s fleet for low-emission vehicles.
On November 5, 2021, a new episode was Broadcast, dedicated to ANA's support for bicycle use to and from airports. It was presented Lisbon Airport’s dedicated bicycles and scooters parking area (bicycle rack) as well as the bicycle assembly and disassembly area available to everyone at the Porto and Faro Airports.
The third episode, was launched on November 11th and was dedicated to some of ANA's innovative projects to protect water resources, such as collecting water from passenger bottles system at security control in Porto Airport. This system allows the water reuse in watering green areas and washing, as well as increasing the plastic bottles recycling. A solidary compactor was installed at Lisbon Airport - consisting in a reverse vending machine for compacting plastic cans and bottles. For each package deposited for recycling, the passenger is donating the amount to a solidarity action. See the episode dedicated to these projects here.
The fourth episode, broadcast on December 30, was dedicated to carbon management, presenting some of the ongoing initiatives at ANA to reduce carbon emissions in order to achieve carbon neutrality at our airports, such as Real-time monitoring tool of carbon emissions and fuel consumption during aircraft Ground-movements (Taxi-Time) at Lisbon Airport. See the episode here.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THIS SUMMER, JOÃO AND TRISTÃO APPEALS FOR A PORTO SANTO WITHOUT MARINE WASTE
ANA recently joined João and Tristão, the mascots of the "Porto Santo Without Marine Waste" campaign, to appeal to the island's residents and visitors to help protect its biodiversity by reducing plastic waste.
According to ANP|WWF "every year, 8 million tons of plastic waste generated on land reaches the ocean, causing irreparable damages to marine fauna and flora. A study, in southern Portugal, observed plastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of 22.5% of 160 seabirds analyzed."
The Association believes that this campaign will contribute to the differentiation and valorization of Porto Santo Island.
In June, an event brought together entities such as the Porto Santo City Council, the Regional Secretariat of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change and the Norwegian Embassy, the results of the first phase of the project were presented and the "Porto Santo Without Marine Waste" seal was given to the adhering establishments, along with the signing of commitments by the entities present .
The project is financed by the EEA Grants Environment Program and has as partners the Nature Association Portugal, in association with WWF, AIDGLOBAL, Madeira Water and Waste, the Porto Santo City Council and ARDITI, and also has the support of WWF Norway and the Regional Secretariat for the Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change.
Learn more here.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ON THE FRONTLINE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
ANA took another step towards achieving level 4/4+ of the ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program by defining partnership plans with stakeholders for mobility.
Aiming to join efforts and share a collaborative path, ANA has been promoting meetings at the airports under its management with the presence of the main mobility stakeholders.
At Faro Airport, the meeting took place on July 1 and was attended by Faro City Council, GetON/ Blue Fleet, RNE - Rede Nacional de Expressos and FLIXBUS.
On July 2, at Lisbon Airport, the meeting was attended by Lisbon City Council, Loures City Council, Carris, the Lisbon Metro and TML -Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa.
At the Azores Airports, the entities involved in the July 6 meeting were Ponta Delgada City Council, ANC Aerobus (airport - city - airport), the Azores Regional Government and Vila do Porto City Council.
On July 14, Madeira Airports met with the Santa Cruz City Council, Porto Santo City Council, APRAM - Portos da Madeira, SAM - Sociedade Automóvel da Madeira, Horários do Funchal and the Regional Secretariat of Economy.
Finally, at the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, the meeting took place on 19 July, with the presence of Maia City Council, Porto City Council, 100 Rumos and STCP - Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos do Porto.
The fight against climate change represents a global challenge that can only be overcome with everyone's commitment.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
VINCI ENVIRONMENT AWARDS - REGIONAL PHASE
On 22 September 2020, on VINCI Environment Day, the Group launched the "VINCI Environment Awards", with the aim of mobilising employees to seek solutions in the 3 priority areas established by VINCI: climate, circular economy and natural environments
To this end, a dedicated digital platform was created where all the employees of the VINCI universe, spread over 120 countries, could submit their innovative environmental initiatives. In total more than 2500 initiatives were submitted in the 19 defined regions, and ANA was integrated in the Southern Europe region (including Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Serbia), in which 83 initiatives were submitted by 162 employees of VINCI Concessões, VINCI Energia and Eurovia.
In the first phase, the initiatives were voted on by all the employees from the respective Region who wished to participate by registering on the platform; then 23 experts from the five countries and the various branches of VINCI were mobilised to analyse and pre-select 30 initiatives. Finally, a jury made up of 7 members selected the 10 winning initiatives.
The initiatives were evaluated according to replicability, innovation, change of practices, alignment with environmental objectives and targets, ease of implementation and investment involved, and, above all, based on the positive environmental impacts arising from their implementation.
The announcement of the winners took place online on 17 June, in an online event attended by participants, jury members and guests from the five countries of the Southern Europe region.
In each region, two initiatives will be selected to participate in the international phase of the Prize, scheduled for September, where the two best initiatives from each of the 19 regions will compete.
The awarding of six of the ten prizes to initiatives presented by ANA colleagues attests to the overall quality and robustness of the 29 projects presented by our company.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
CLIMATE CHANGE AND CARBON MANAGEMENT AT STAKEHOLDER FORUM
Adressing climate change represents a global security challenge for humanity, and ANA has developed rigorous work over the past 15 years to reduce its carbon emissions, assuming a commitment to reduce its respective footprint.
Currently, all airports are accredited at level 2 (reduction) of the ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program. However, the climate urgency forces us today to accelerate and expand our fight against climate change, which is also one of the main concerns of our partners. Joining efforts and sharing a collaborative path will enable faster and larger results to be achieved.
The online forum for stakeholders, held on June 17, focused on climate change and carbon management and was attended by ANA, handlers, airlines, concessionaires, catering, city councils and public transport companies, among other entities.
This forum shared experiences and good practices on measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with the aim of establishing a common commitment to actions to reduce the carbon footprint, with ANA assuming the central role of dynamizer.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FARO AIRPORT WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC PLANT
On June 15th, the installation of a photovoltaic panel plant at Faro Airport was launched, a project that will cover 30% of its energy needs.
This project – the first in an airport environment in Portugal – is part of the environmental action plan for the Algarve region, and represents the concerns in this matter and in sustainability, a priority for the company.
The new solar plant in Faro is part of a global action plan for VINCI Airports at all its airports, with similar projects already implemented or under development in the Dominican Republic, Brazil, UK, Serbia, Sweden, France and now in Portugal.
The photovoltaic panels will have a capacity of 3 MWp and will supply the airport with 30% of its energy needs, generating annual savings equivalent to more than 1,500 tons of CO2.
This project will be fully developed and managed by ANA | VINCI Airports, through the photovoltaic subsidiary SunMind, of the VINCI group. Construction is expected to start soon and the plant will be operational in 2022.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
CERVAS EXHIBITION
Faro Airport is hosting the travelling exhibition of CERVAS - Centre for Ecology, Recovery and Surveillance of Wild Animals.
This exhibition brings together the photojournalism work of Artur Vaz Oliveira and Gonçalo da Costa previously compiled by the Youth Association Friends of the Cáster as part of the Environment Dispersed Images 2018 and the (itinerant) collective exhibition prepared in 2017 by the STRI - Nocturnal Birds of Portugal. It portrays the daily work of the Centre and, also, the species of nocturnal birds of prey in Portugal, one of the groups with which the Centre has the most work experience.
CERVAS aims to recover injured or debilitated wild animals, to raise environmental awareness about the conservation and wildlife management and to support and/or carry out ecological and health monitoring work of the population and wild animals. From the total amount of animals admitted to CERVAS, on average, it has been possible to recover and release into the wild 60% of the live animals, thus actively contributing to the conservation of biodiversity in Portugal.
The exhibition, which has already been displayed at the airports of Porto and Lisbon, will then travel to the Azores and Madeira.
Based in Gouveia, in the Serra da Estrela natural park, the Centre has been sponsored by ANA since 2008.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
HYDROGEN PROJECT AT LISBON AIRPORT RECEIVES LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT
The Portuguese Government has formally supported the efforts in the development of hydrogen projects at Lisbon Airport, as part of its joint application with VINCI to the Green Deal Horizon 2020 programme.
With the NetZero2050 commitment, ANA and the airport industry in Europe align with the Paris Agreement regarding the decarbonisation strategy established by the European Commission, through the Green Deal, and the Portuguese National Strategy for Hydrogen.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
TREE AND WATER WEEK
This year, with the theme "Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being", the International Day of Forests, established in 2012 by the UN and celebrated on 21 March, aimed to alert to the urgency of halting forest degradation and loss, which can compromise the sustainable future of life on the planet.
On this occasion, countries are encouraged to undertake efforts to organise local, national and international activities involving forests and trees, such as tree-planting campaigns, for the benefit of current and future generations.
On the other hand, the World Water Day, celebrated on 22 March, was established by the UN in 1993. The 2021 theme, "Valuing Water", was intended to alert to the negative consequences of population growth, increased water consumption in agriculture and industry, and climate change on water conservation.
Water is an increasingly scarce and precious resource. Its quality and quantity is essential for the pursuit of human activities and the maintenance of biodiversity, which is increasingly threatened by climate change.
Proper water management and of the services it provides at the level of ecosystems, as a support for biodiversity, are areas of strategic priority under the ANA Airports environmental management system, having developed an employee awareness campaign entitled "Tree and Water Week".
