The Ottawa Airport Authority (the Authority) is committed to improving environmental performance and reducing the impact the Ottawa Airport (YOW)’s operation has on the environment.

In 2022, the Authority introduced its first Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report. Sustainability features prominently in the ESG program, with this Report informing the inaugural and subsequent ESG reports.

The Environmental Performance Report tracks YOW’s progress through the following key performance indicators:

STORMWATER QUALITY

For safety reasons, aircraft require de-icing during the winter months. The Authority monitors all stormwater property outlets for glycol and other parameters resulting from de-icing activities. Early in the 2022-2023 season (end of April), glycol readings exceeded the acceptable limit at one property outlet during the spring melt. This exceedance was reported to the Ontario Spill Action Centre. A study will be undertaken in 2023 / 2024 de-icing season to isolate the source of glycol in the spring runoff.

2023 Goals

• Continue to monitor the outlets to identify and mitigate issues.
• Expand the understanding of glycol flows with an extended sampling plan.
• Emphasize repairs and maintenance of the sampling stations as more components reach end of life.

Type I and Type IV Glycol application (in litres)

2022-2023 de-icing season: 3,164,868**
2021-2022 de-icing season: 1,626,458*
2020-2021 de-icing season: 516,170*
2019-2020 de-icing season: 3,019,859
2018-2019 de-icing season: 3,535,468
2017-2018 de-icing season: 3,551,589

*Significant decrease in air traffic due to the pandemic significantly reduced the amount of glycol used at YOW.

** Gradual return to pre pandemic traffic.

SPILL RESPONSE

Accidental spills typically occur due to human error or equipment malfunction, mainly during aircraft servicing. The Authority and operators work to minimize the impact when spills occur. Most spills occur on hard surfaces, and the responsible parties clean them immediately before any environmental impacts are incurred. In 2022, 66 spills were reported, and all spills were contained and prevented from entering the environment.

2023 Goals

• Continue to promote employee awareness.
• Continue to promote regular equipment maintenance to reduce the number of spills.
• Update the spill kit map and procedure to mitigate small and big spills.

Significant spills

(Large enough to require being reported to Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks)

2022: 0
2021: 0
2020: 0
2019: 0
2018: 0
2017: 0
2016: 1

AIRCRAFT NOISE

Although the Authority abides by Transport Canada approved Noise Abatement Procedures, we are aware that some members of the public feel that aircraft noise is a nuisance. As residential development continues close to the Airport, the Authority continues to work with the City of Ottawa to discourage non-airport compatible land uses to minimize disturbance for future residents.

Summer airside infrastructure projects can disrupt commercial aircraft traffic patterns and can impact the community. To raise awareness and mitigate impacts, the Authority executes comprehensive communications plans in Ottawa-Gatineau, including media outreach and communication with stakeholders, the municipal and federal governments, and impacted communities.

In 2022, we received 75 noise complaints as compared to the 114 received in 2021. The complaints broke down as follows:

• 10 attributed to North Field operations (flying school)
• 50 attributed to commercial jet movements
• 2 attributed to turboprop aircraft
• 1 attributed to a Pilatus aircraft
• 3 attributed to NRC Cessna operations
• 5 attributed to civil helicopter movements
• 3 attributed to military jet movements
• 1 attributed to a military helicopter movement

The Authority logs all aircraft noise complaints and investigates them to ensure compliance with noise abatement procedures and the Canadian Aviation Regulations. Flight information concerning possible procedural deviations is provided to Transport Canada for investigation and enforcement purposes.

2023 Goals

• Continue to monitor and respond to noise complaints, discuss findings with residents, and identify recurring issues and solutions, where possible.
• Work with NAV CANADA and the aviation community to ensure compliance with proper procedures to minimize impacts to populated areas.
• Simplify the process for publishing a noise complaint to the Airport Authority and make it more accessible to citizens.

HAZARDOUS WASTE

The Authority recycles hazardous waste whenever possible. In 2022, we continued to recycle hazardous waste.

2023 Goals

• Continue to minimize and recycle hazardous waste.
• Continue to replace hazardous product with more environmental alternatives such as replacing Metal Halide bulbs with LED light bulbs.

AIRPORT CARBON ACCREDITATION

YOW joined Airports Council International’s Airport Carbon Accreditation program in 2016 and achieved Level 1 – Mapping. Since then, the Authority has implemented a Greenhouse Gases (GHG) Management Plan, engaged its stakeholders in the process, and purchased carbon offsets from Canadian Forests to reach Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 3+ - Neutrality from 2019 to 2021.

2023 Goals

• Continue to map all airport-related carbon emissions as per the Level 3+ accreditation process.
• Continue to offset the airport’s emissions with local carbon offsets.
• Where feasible, reduce GHG emissions as per the Net Zero Comprehensive Plan.
• Certify YOW for 2022 emissions under ACA Level 3+ or better.

Direct GHG emissions in tonnes of CO2e /1000 passengers

2022: 4,371 tCO2e = 1.45
2021: 3,853* tCO2e = 3.29
2020: 4,002* tCO2e = 2.93
2019: 5,232 tCO2e = 0.996
2018: 4,777 tCO2e = 0.934
2017: 4,987 tCO2e = 1.022
2016: 5,354 tCO2e = 1.129

*Covid-19 pandemic: While the pandemic significantly reduced passenger activity, minimum operational requirements for the Airport did not change materially. As such, the emissions per 1000 passengers increased significantly. Figures should stabilize over the next years as recovery continues.

VEHICLE EFFICIENCY

The Authority’s operational vehicle fleet includes various equipment types; from small hand-held equipment to light-duty fleet vehicles, all the way to large industrial 1000 HP snow blowers. Fuel consumption varies considerably depending on the vehicle and its intended use, and the duration and severity of winter weather events. To aid in lowering fuel consumption and emissions, the Authority has a strict “no idling” policy that dictates that vehicles not in use are to be turned off and plugged in where applicable. The Authority also aims to replace all internal combustion engines (ICEs) with electric or low-emitting fuel alternatives, as part of its Net Zero plan.

Fuel use (in litres)

2022: 442,069
2021: 353,090 
2020: 452,969
2019: 666,140
2018: 721,472
2017: 641,254
2016: 698,257

2023 Goals

• Reduce consumption by continuing to monitor for new technology that improves efficiency.
• Maintain a proactive maintenance schedule, enhancing the fleet’s overall efficiency.
• Replace each end of life vehicle and equipment with low-emitting alternative.

BUILDING EFFICIENCY

Electricity

Electricity use is expected to increase significantly in the future with the electrification of heating systems and the adoption of electric vehicles. That being said, heating the building using a hybrid model with electric heat-pumps as the main heat source with natural gas as back-up, heating appears to be the best ecological solution due to the oversized fossil-fuel generator required for a fully-electric model.

Electricity use (in 100,000 kW/h)

2022: 22.2
2021: 19.7
2020: 20.4
2019: 26.2
2018: 25.1
2017: 27.7
2016: 27.8

2023 Goals

• Continue to retrofit lighting to LED.
• Optimize the Building Automation system (BAS) to define more efficient equipment schedules.

Water

Water use varies yearly based on factors such as passenger volume and weather. In 2022, water use for the airport was 33,284 m3.

Water consumption (in m3)

2022: 63,156*
2021: 29,366
2020: 36,255
2019: 75,627
2018: 83,692
2017: 79,483
2016: 83,030

* Increase is due to return to pre-pandemic passenger traffic levels.

2023 Goals

• Monitor water fixture ratings to start benchmarking water use.
• Follow WaterSense recommendations for maximum water fixture ratings for future repairs and retrofits.
• Continuously monitor water usage and implement a water leak detection procedure.

Natural gas

As with electricity, natural gas has an emission factor of 1.89 kg/m3 of CO2e. It is used almost exclusively for heating buildings, but a natural gas generator will also be installed in the near future.

Natural gas use (in m3)

2022: 1,257,000
2021: 1,201,077
2020: 1,136,306
2019: 1,404,277
2018: 1,241,535
2017: 1,178,395
2016: 1,244,191

2023 Goals

• Retrofit heating systems to switch to electricity as the primary source of heating.
• Investigate on the procurement of renewable natural gas (RNG).

WASTE DIVERSION

The main contributor to emissions from waste sent to landfill comes from buried organic material that decomposes, under anaerobic conditions, into methane. Methane captures heat 84 times more effectively than CO2 in the first twenty years after it is emitted in the atmosphere. Therefore, diverting organic material from landfill abates most of the emissions, while it can also be reused as compost.

Our last waste audit for all waste generated from the passenger terminal building in 2017 indicated a global diversion rate of 30-35% away from landfill. With the main waste sorting room retrofit, better sorting posters at the source, more environmental training and the addition of new waste streams such as e-waste, refrigerants and scrap metal, we are confident these measures will help us achieve our diversion rate target of 60%.

Future Goals

• Divert all organic waste from landfill
• Reach an overall waste diversion rate of at least 60%