Paris-Orly Airport reaches Level 5 of Airport Carbon Accreditation, achieving net zero for its own emissions five years ahead of schedule

octobre 13, 2026

Paris-Orly Airport in France, operated by Groupe ADP, has reached Level 5, the highest level of Airport Carbon Accreditation, marking a significant milestone in a decarbonisation journey that began when it became one of the programme’s first 17 accredited airports in 2010. Sixteen years later, the airport has achieved net zero for its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions five years ahead of its initial schedule, reflecting sustained investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy and cleaner airport operations. Building on this achievement, Paris-Orly is committed to reaching net zero for its Scope 3 emissions by 2050.

A major part of this progress comes from reducing energy consumption and replacing fossil fuels with lower carbon alternatives. In 2025, electricity consumption at Paris-Orly was approximately 16% lower than in 2019, while heat consumption fell by around 35%. These reductions reflect measures introduced since 2022 to improve energy performance across the airport, from modernising equipment and lighting to adjusting heating and cooling settings and optimising ventilation.

Renewable energy is also playing an important role. In 2025, 87% of the heat consumed at Paris-Orly came from renewable sources, supported by geothermal energy, a heat pump, waste heat recovery and biomethane guarantees of origin. The geothermal system, which has been operating since 2011, was complemented by a heat pump at the end of 2024. Together, these systems produce approximately 36 GWh of renewable heat annually and help avoid around 7,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions each year.

The airport is also working to reduce emissions from its vehicle fleet. Across Groupe ADP’s three Paris region airports, this involves replacing conventional vehicles with electric alternatives wherever possible and using lower carbon fuels for equipment that cannot yet be electrified. Since October 2025, all winter operations equipment at Paris-Orly has been running on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). Across this emissions source, these measures have delivered an average 57% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2010.

Looking ahead, Groupe ADP is expanding its use of solar energy to support the electricity needs of its airports. By 2030, the group aims to cover 25% of the electricity demand of its three Paris region airports through solar power. Since September 2026, all solar plants associated with its long term power purchase agreements have been operational, enabling more than 24% of the airports’ combined electricity needs to be covered as early as 2027. Further installations are planned across car parks, rooftops and suitable areas of airport land, with biodiversity considerations taken into account.

Beyond its direct emissions, Groupe ADP is also working to reduce the wider climate impact of activities at Paris-Orly. Its Scope 3 decarbonisation priorities include increasing the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels, encouraging passengers and employees to use public transport, and reducing aircraft taxiing emissions. Through its Paris-Orly By Cycle 2030 initiative, the group also aims to expand the airport’s cycling network from approximately 1 km to nearly 6 km of continuous, secure cycle paths. In addition, Groupe ADP’s 2025 Pioneers roadmap sets a target to reduce average taxiing emissions per flight at Paris-Orly by 7%, reinforcing its commitment to tackling emissions across the wider airport ecosystem.

Justine Coutard, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Groupe ADP commented about the achievement of Paris-Orly Airport: “Achieving Level 5 of the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme at Paris-Orly Airport is a major recognition of our commitment to decarbonising our operations. With a 90% reduction in our direct greenhouse gas emissions since 2010, net zero emissions across Scopes 1 and 2, and 87% of our heat supply coming from renewable sources, this distinction reflects a profound transformation across our industrial processes, operations and people.

At a long-established airport such as Paris-Orly, this journey relies on the daily commitment of our teams, the evolution of our practices and the gradual transformation of our infrastructure. This recognition marks an important milestone, but it is not an end in itself. It reinforces our determination to pursue our efforts and actively contribute to the environmental transition of the aviation sector.”

Discover more about the sustainability initiatives at Groupe ADP and Paris-Orly Airport here.