Sustainability and carbon reduction
The Airport Authority has joined Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)’s Net-Zero Challenge. While the Net-Zero challenge targets full decarbonization by 2050, we have set a loftier goal of 2040 or earlier.
By participating in the ECCC Canada’s Net-Zero Challenge, we plan to reduce our in-house carbon emissions by:
- Electrifying our fleet;
- Moving away from natural gas, which is carbon intensive, to electricity, which is less carbon intensive.
- Optimizing our building automation system to be more efficient;
- Providing incentives to our tenants and customers, such as installing EV charging stations;
- Diverting waste from landfills; and
- Educating our workforce and that of our campus partners about the impact of their daily actions.
The Airport Authority maintains Level 3+ of the international Airport Carbon Accreditation program.
While the Authority has more control over the requirements of Scope 1 and 2, Scope 3 includes tenant activity. The Authority can only encourage third-party (tenant) carbon reductions by assisting in the development of infrastructure to support green technologies.
Scope 1: Direct emissions under Airport Authority’s the control
- Authority-owned vehicles;
- Authority-owned buildings (heating); and
- Emergency generator operation
Scope 2: Energy used from an external supplier
- Electricity purchased from utility (Hydro Ottawa)
Scope 3: Emissions related to third-party activities (tenants)
The Airport Authority has little control over these emissions.
- Aircraft landing, take offs, auxiliary power usage while at terminal, sevices (de-icing, fueling);
- Tenant buildings and fleet operations; and
- Passenger/employee travel to and from YOW.