Environment

Water dispensers using plastic bottles for employees have been removed. Carafes and gourds were distributed in all offices to encourage employees to drink tap water, which is known for its excellent quality.
Fountains supplied with Geneva water have also been installed for the passengers. You can locate them using the "water fountain" pictogram on the terminal map..

In 2017, 5’280 tonnes of waste were produced at the airport site (2% less than in 2016) and the recycling rate rose to 44.4%. The goal is to increase to 50% by 2020, through various projects. For example, a new device has been put in place allowing passengers to keep their bottles by emptying them before security checks.

An effort is also made on construction sites: excavation materials are reused as much as possible on the platform. During the refurbishment of an aircraft car park, the rubble was re-used on site.

The airport is the largest priority site for the flora of the canton of Geneva. Among more than 210 plant species, 26 are protected or even considered rare.

 

At present, Genève Aéroport has nearly 15’000 m² of photovoltaic solar panels that produce more than 1.6 GWh per year. Ten additional sites have been identified and will be equipped in the coming years. This represents 55’000 m² of additional solar panels. They will produce the equivalent of the annual electricity consumption of 2’500 households.

En 2018, 28% des véhicules et engins circulant sur le tarmac étaient électriques ou hybrides. L’objectif est d’atteindre 40% de véhicules et engins électriques en 2020. En parallèle, plus de 210 points de recharge ont été installées. Par ailleurs, huit bus électriques dédiés au transport des passagers circulent sur le tarmac. Genève Aéroport prévoit l’acquisition de deux bus électriques supplémentaires par année. 
 

Genève Aéroport holds the 3+ level « Airport Carbon Accreditation » certification set up by the Airport Council International. It recognises and validates the efforts made by airports to manage and offset their greenhouse gas emissions. By mid-2019, more than 270 airports were certified worldwide and 49 were certified at the 3+ level.

The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) is a global programme for compensation and reduction of CO₂ emission from international aviation. It must allow the sector to be carbon-neutral by 2020, i.e. the growth of CO₂ emissions from 2020 levels will have to be offset. As of this date, aircraft operators of all members of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), including Switzerland, will be required to purchase « emission units » from carbon offset programmes.
 

Genève Aéroport works constantly to improve its environmental footprint and has taken many measures to reduce noise pollution, minimize the emission into the air of greenhouse gases and pollutants, limit the consumption of natural resources and preserve biodiversity.

For further information, go to Sustainable development or consult the Sustainability report.

Genève Aéroport is taking various measures to reduce the level of noise at the source and where people are exposed. As part of its soundproofing programme, it spontaneously contacts the owners concerned as the work progresses, so as to explain what it can do. The local authorities are also informed.

• More information: Noise abatement

In certain emergency situations, in order to guarantee the safety of the aircraft, the passengers and the crew, aircraft are (very rarely) obliged to dump the fuel they are carrying. They do this subject to very strict conditions aimed at ensuring air safety and preventing land and water pollution.

This is the task of the unit to prevent animal risks (PPA). PPA agents know exactly what the risks are and watch the birds' movements on the tarmac. If necessary, they take action to scare them off, using the most appropriate means for the species and the place (taped bird calls, flares, laser, etc.).