ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Working towards lowering our impact

We acknowledge that we, as an airport, impact the local environment as well as the wider environment. Our programmes addressing environmental impacts are our way of taking responsibility.

Environmental compliance is our license to operate as mandated by law and overseen by regulatory authorities. We are committed to working beyond regulatory demands and take into consideration our impact on the environment both close to and beyond Copenhagen Airports.

Striving to become an airport with a lower impact

We are aiming to become an airport that continually focuses on reducing our impact on our surroundings. We are actively working on reducing our impact across key areas, especially in relation to pollution, which we have been addressing for a long time. For example, our first report on air quality was published in 1990.

Furthermore, we are working strategically on our impacts on nature and on climate adaptation.

permanent monitoring stations measure noise levels

monitoring stations measure particle levels

water treatment plants prevent PFAS from spreading

The pollution programme

This is our effort to acknowledge the impact of daily airport operations and the pollution they generate, whether it affects air quality, water and soil, or contributes to noise.

As part of the pollution programme, we are working to reduce air pollution, minimise noise affecting the local area, and protect soil and water through pollutant containment, water reuse, and the ongoing development of technical solutions for collecting and treating water from various airport activities.

Our nature programme

The focus on nature is a new initiative for Copenhagen Airports, and we are still in the early stages of our work in this programme. It encompasses considerations of the natural surroundings and an understanding of the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem functions.

We will, as part of the nature programme, address our impacts on nature, both directly and through our value chain, to understand our dependencies on nature. The first step in this endeavour will be to promote more diverse planting in our own areas, in collaboration with the Danish NGO Vild med Vilje. The first area has been established, and during 2025, we will develop a plan for the expansion of these areas, with a dedicated focus on maintenance. We hope this initiative aids in furthering the message of the importance of biodiversity to our many passengers and employees

Climate adaption

Our strategic focus on climate adaption sheds light on Copenhagen Airport as a critical piece of Danish infrastructure, which necessitates that we consider the impacts of climate change, leading to the need for climate adaptation—especially given our location in such close proximity to the coast.

Scenario planning for both near-future impacts, such as increased precipitation and extreme heat, as well as more distant-future impacts, such as rising sea levels, is an integral part of our considerations. Therefore, plans will be further developed to ensure that we can operate effectively and safely in changing climates.

In the period of 2022-2024, we have contributed to a preliminary study of a comprehensive storm surge protection plan for the capital of Copenhagen. The Ministry of Transport has been the overall coordinator of the preliminary study.

Visit the joint storm surge protection site