BC airports commence carbon emissions inventory as a step toward net-zero

Airports: Getting down to earth with greenhouse gas emissions

BC airports are working together to become the world’s first net-zero regional airport system. The project is the first phase of an initiative to eliminate surface emissions within the province’s airport industry. 

It began with a single question back in 2022 when the leaders of several BC airports convened at a BC Aviation Council (BCAC) conference. How, they asked, can our airports reduce our carbon footprints on the ground? Not surprisingly, there is no single answer, but today BC’s largest airports, the provincial government, and the private sector are working to identify the solutions.

OEI is working to support BC’s government-backed Net-Zero Airport Action Plan that will support up to 35 BC airports to assess GHG emissions, find reduction opportunities, and develop a program to achieve net zero in the next five years. The project is using the Airport Council International’s (ACI) endorsed Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program to measure and track airport emissions. Vancouver International Airport (YVR) contracted the project; the project lead is Deloitte.

“This isn’t just a study that will sit on the shelf,” BCAC Executive Director Dave Frank told OEI. “This is the first step in becoming the first major airport system in the world that is carbon neutral, by 2030.”

Frank said BC airports don’t just see reaching net-zero emissions as an environmental goal but also as a competitive advantage that will advance the province’s standing in the global economy.

“All of the high-value major trends in tourism, and company location decisions, and quality of life decisions are being driven by sustainability,” said Frank. “So, if we are out there promoting green tourism, for example, part of that has to be that the entrance gateways through our airports are also green. Or else we’re hypocritical, like the rest of the world.”

In March 2024, the BC government and YVR signed a partnership agreement to develop projects that would reduce pollution in BC’s aviation sector, grow investment, and support clean sustainable jobs. Out of this emerged the Net-Zero Airport Action Plan, led by the BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit, YVR, BCAC, Victoria International Airport, Kelowna International Airport, and Nanaimo Airport. The Province has provided funding to support net-zero carbon-reduction measures consistent with CleanBC’s objectives. (CleanBC is the government’s plan to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030. To achieve this, BC is partnering with all levels of government, provincial utilities, transit authorities, and industry.)

Representatives of 35 BC airports participated in a start-up call in late November 2024. The project is to be completed by the end of March 2025. 

Asked how likely it was that the airports would meet their short deadline and that they would, indeed, become net zero by 2030, the BCAC’s Dave Frank did not hesitate: “It’s extremely doable.”

First measure, then cut

While YVR is a global leader in running a clean and energy efficient airport and an innovator in reducing carbon emissions, many of BC’s smaller airports must first assess their sources of emissions before implementing any new systems or technologies. Similar to the carpenter’s adage, BC’s airports will measure first, then cut. ACI’s Level 1 of airport carbon accreditation is mapping, which requires measuring and taking inventory of the airport’s carbon footprint by:

  • Determining emissions sources within the operational boundary of the airport
  • Calculating the annual airport carbon emissions, and
  • Compiling a carbon footprint report.

Identifying emissions sources at airports are made within three distinct groups or scopes. Scope 1 consists of emissions from airport-controlled sources, such as vehicles and ground support equipment, on-site waste management, on-site power generation, boilers and furnaces and de-icing materials and refrigerant losses. Scope 2 accounts for emissions from purchased electricity for heating, cooling, and lighting. Scope 3 covers flights, aircraft ground movements, auxiliary power, third-party vehicles and ground support equipment, passenger travel to the airport, and staff commutes. BC’s Net Zero Airport Action Plan will address Scopes 1 and 2.

Second measure, reduce, reduce, reduce

ACI’s Level 2 of accreditation is reduction. Once Level 1’s requirements have been met, the airport must take measures to reduce its carbon footprint, including providing evidence of effective carbon management procedures and showing quantified emissions reductions. An independent program, it assesses and endorses airports’ work to reduce carbon emissions through seven levels of certification: Mapping, Reduction, Optimization, Neutrality, Transformation, Transition, and Level 5. (There are five levels of accreditation with two sub-levels within this approach.) See the ACI’s website to learn what each of the seven levels of accreditation entails.

The ACA is the only institutionally endorsed, global carbon management accreditation for airports. Worldwide, more than 600 airports in 92 countries are enrolled in the program. According to ACI, these airports account for 54% of global air passenger traffic. See the list and map of accredited airports around the world.

Opportunities

The Net-Zero Airport Action Plan will uncover actions that BC’s airports can take to not only reduce and eliminate carbon emissions but also create local energy hubs and support emerging sustainable aviation technologies.

Beyond the technical achievements, Frank and others representing BC’s airports see long-term benefits to earning the net-zero badge. Noted the BCAC Executive Director, “It is very important to the overall BC brand. Whether it’s for ecotourism, corporate location decisions, or individual quality of life location decisions, sustainability matters.”

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