Zagreb Airport sets net zero target by 2050

Zagreb Airport has successfully upgraded to Level 4. Having joined the programme in 2012, the airport has now set a long-term absolute carbon emissions reduction target in line with the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change guidance and aims to achieve net zero by 2050. At this level, the airport is also required to implement a Stakeholder Partnership Plan, actively engaging third parties on site to deliver meaningful emissions reductions across the wider airport community. Key initiatives include reducing electricity consumption by replacing halogen lighting with LEDs and expanding solar infrastructure, improving thermal efficiency in legacy buildings, and reconstructing boiler systems. The airport is advancing the use of solar energy for hot water production and is committed to the phased replacement of diesel generators with hydrogen-ready systems. The implementation of a lifecycle plan will ensure the systematic replacement of outdated equipment, while energy efficiency is further promoted through ongoing staff and stakeholder training.

In 2025, a 250-kW solar power plant was installed at the airport, with further expansion planned. Since 2022, the airport has sourced all its electricity from renewable providers, resulting in the complete elimination of Scope 2 emissions. By 2050, more than 64% of the vehicle fleet will be replaced with electric and low-carbon alternatives, delivering an estimated reduction of 795.61 tonnes of CO₂. In collaboration with the Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar, an energy renovation study for five buildings predicts annual savings of at least 67.6 tonnes of CO₂.

Carbon accredited airports in the former Yugoslavia also include: Belgrade, Sarajevo, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Podgorica, Tivat, Skopje, Ljubljana and Pristina.