The CO2 emissions of KLM and Schiphol

Keen for a better understanding of the CO2 emissions of the Schiphol Group and KLM, Greenpeace asked CE Delft to do a fact-finding study on the magnitude of the respective emissions, on which there is only limited data at present. KLM only has a duty to report on the emissions of intra-EEA flights, as stipulated by the provisions of the EU ETS. Emissions from flights to and from destinations outside Europe are not covered by the EU ETS and so are not reported. In its annual report, the Schiphol Group report its own CO2 emissions associated with the terminal’s passenger and freight handling operations, but not those due to aircraft take-off and landing or on-site bunkering and burning of kerosene.

The aim of this project was to provide an as complete picture as possible of:

• the CO2 emissions of the Schiphol Group and KLM, and the volume of kerosene fuel bunkered
• how these emissions are to be seen in relation to standing monitoring protocols like the EU ETS.

With respect to the Schiphol Group and KLM the following activities were performed:

• Study of annual reports, focusing on relevant activities and emissions data reported there, with due attention to the precise scope of these emissions data.
• Study of CBS, IEA, PBL and EUTL statistics relevant to KLM and Schiphol Group emissions: both CO2 emissions and other relevant quantities, such as amount of fuel bunkered and numbers of passengers carried.
• Examination of data gaps and other hiatuses via a supplementary ‘quickscan‘ of other potential data sources and literature, as a means to nevertheless compute emissions and validate the available statistics.

In this report ‘Schiphol Group’ refers to the Group’s activities on Dutch territory. The Royal Schiphol Group is an airport corporation that owns and operates three airports in the Netherlands: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Rotterdam The Hague Airport and Lelystad Airport. It also has a majority share in Eindhoven Airport.