By 2035, Riga Airport plans to achieve zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, LETA was informed at the airport. Considering the urgent need to slow down climate change, Riga Airport has revised its plans to achieve zero CO2 emissions, setting 2035 as the new target. According to Laila Odina, Chairperson of the Board of Riga Airport, the airport has revised the emission reduction goals and objectives set out in both the airport's medium-term and long-term strategies, setting an accelerated deadline for achieving Net Zero. "Although the initial deadline for the airports' commitment to climate neutrality, NetZero 2050, adopted by Airports Council International, was set for 2050, Riga Airport, like many other European airports, believes that by working purposefully, this goal can be achieved earlier, by 2035," Odina added. Achieving zero CO2 emissions at airports involves two main elements: firstly, reducing the airport's own emissions generated by electricity, heat and fuel consumption to a level as close to zero as possible; and secondly, neutralising emissions that cannot be reduced by capturing CO2. The key steps in Riga Airport's Net Zero plan are purchasing renewable energy resources and producing renewable energy, replacing heating equipment and combustion engine technology with alternative modes of transport, and increasing energy efficiency. It is planned that the volume of green energy purchased by the airport will increase by an average of 10% annually, and solar energy production in the airport's solar panel parks will reach 14% of the total electricity required by the enterprise in 2026. The airport noted that this year, diesel-powered buses transporting passengers around the airport will be replaced by electric buses, and in 2025, it is planned to start replacing fossil diesel fuel with synthetic fuel, increasing its volume annually by at least 10% in order to completely abandon the use of fossil fuels by 2035. At the same time, Riga Airport is participating in an international project funded by Interreg to study and introduce hydrogen technologies in aviation, cooperates with public and other transport service providers in reducing CO2 emissions, as well as in the direction of developing sustainable aviation fuel. As reported, in 2023, Riga Airport served 6.631 million passengers, which is 23.2% more than the previous year (5.381 million), but 15% less than in 2019 (7.798 million). Riga Airport is the largest air traffic hub in the Baltic States.
