Our Environmental Policy sets out the key elements of our approach. In addition to complying with all applicable standards and regulations, we maintain an ISO 14001:2015 certified environmental management system (EMS), which helps us set performance targets and pursue continuous improvement. Our reporting practices align with the ISO 14064 standard and the internationally recognized Airport Carbon Accreditation program (in which the GTAA has achieved Level 3 certification).
The EMS focuses on three areas: climate change, healthy environment and resources.
Climate Change
Climate change work at the airport falls into the categories of mitigation (reducing GHG emissions through energy reduction) and adaptation (ensuring that our facilities are ready for the expected future effects of climate change).
Toronto Pearson’s Greenhouse Gas program targets a 20 per cent reduction of emissions from 2006 to 2020, with a larger goal of an 80 per cent reduction by 2050. Program parameters can be found in our GHG Policy. Energy reduction projects, which focus mainly on switching to energy-efficient LED lighting and upgrading heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, enabled us to achieve our 20 per cent reduction target ahead of schedule; however, most of our gains are being offset by the airport’s growth.
Other aspects of our approach to climate change include investing in electric vehicles (EV) and EV charging stations; encouraging employees, passengers and visitors to use public transport; incorporating green building standards into our construction codes; and working with airline partners to promote processes and technologies that lower fuel burn and emissions – for example, designing our airside infrastructure to minimize the time aircraft spend with their engines idling.
In pursuit of our 2050 target, we are looking to be even more aggressive with GHG reduction in the coming years. For example, by ensuring that all new buildings meet best-in-class standards for energy efficiency.
Learn more about our climate change approach and performance.
2018 highlights
- By the end of 2018, our continued emphasis on energy and GHG emissions reduction resulted in a 46% decrease in GHG emissions since 2006.
- We completed LED lighting conversions at both terminals – replacing Terminal 1 high ceiling pot lights and apron lights, and Terminal 3 curb lights and main terminal lights – installing a total of 6,000 LED tubes and 1,800 new fixtures. Together with a Terminal 1 heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) optimization project, these initiatives saved approximately 4,114 eMWh of energy and 165 tonnes of GHG emissions. The GHG savings are roughly equivalent to taking 35 cars off the road for a year.
- We have incorporated the ASHRAE 189.1 green building standard into our construction code, requiring all new builds to meet this best-in-class standard for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. This was the first year of applying the standard to our capital projects.
- Toronto Pearson was recertified at Level 3 in the Airport Carbon Accreditation program managed by Airports Council International, which requires us to measure our carbon footprint, set and achieve reduction targets, and engage third parties in our efforts.
- Toronto Pearson received a 2018 Airports Going Green Award for our Green Commuter Rebate Program. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to sustainability in the aviation industry. Our commuter program offers GTAA staff a $50 rebate for each month they carpool, walk, cycle or use transit to and from work at least 70 per cent of the time.
89,130 tonnes* of CO2e
Emitted an estimated 89,130 tonnes* of CO2e in 2018 compared to 75,186 tonnes in 2017.
Healthy environment
With grasslands, agricultural space and creek valleys making up about one-third of our airport’s land, mitigating the environmental impacts of airport operations and managing issues related to air quality, stormwater quality, ecology and wildlife is an ongoing priority.
A permanent air quality monitoring station has operated at the southeast corner of the airport property since 1994 and the concentrations measured on site are typical of large urban areas and other spots along Highway 401.
The airport lands are home to four end-of-pipe stormwater facilities and 13 stormwater retention ponds. The stormwater facilities normally represent the final control point prior to leaving airport property. All have the ability to divert the stormwater to the sanitary sewer system, enabling us to control the quantity and quality of stormwater leaving the airport. Water quality sampling is conducted weekly at key locations.
Managing the central deicing facility, where most of the storage, spraying and recovery of glycol-based deicing fluid occurs, is part of our stormwater management system. The entire facility has a high-density polyethylene liner installed underneath to collect any fluids that weep through the surface. Used fluid is collected for recycling.
1,950 pounds of honey
That’s how much Toronto Pearson’s honeybee apiary harvested from its 24 hives in 2018. Our YYbeeZ program, which operates along a trail near the Etobicoke stormwater facility, helps support food security and sustainable agriculture in areas near our airport.
2018 highlights
- We invested $2.1 million in upgrades to our air quality monitoring station that will enable real time testing of air quality and improved reporting capabilities.
- A $4.8-million refurbishment of the Moores Creek stormwater facility, the largest of our four facilities, will extend its life and ensure that it continues to perform as needed.
- While our stormwater facilities have always done a good job of separating out small particulates and large debris from waste water, we improved their effectiveness and efficiency by installing trash racks that collect mid-sized trash, such as bag tags and floatable plastic pieces.
Resources
Tracking the resources we use and the waste we generate is part of a broader evolution toward a circular economy that minimizes waste and gets maximum value out of the materials we consume before disposing of them.
Waste management programs across the airport range from traditional paper, plastic and organics recycling to paper towel, shrink-wrap, battery, pens and even cellphone recycling. Construction contractors are required to have programs in place to recycle construction and building materials. We also donate used furniture and windows to Habitat for Humanity, and participate in an online materials exchange program through Partners in Project Green.
72% waste diversion rate
Achieved our targeted 72% waste diversion rate
We target an annual 72 per cent waste diversion rate. However, waste from inbound aircraft is not included in this target or in our diversion processes because it is considered international waste. This type of waste must be incinerated, in keeping with federal government regulations aimed at protecting and preventing the spread of disease and other threats to Canadian plants, wildlife and agribusiness, although recent trials aim to improve domestic aircraft waste diversion.
2018 highlights
- We started working with Partners in Project Green on a waste management master plan that will include aggressive waste reduction targets and improve customer service through actions such as adding more organics disposal options throughout the airport, sourcing alternatives to single-use plastics for customer-facing areas and consulting with stakeholders on emerging concerns.
- Paper Cut was an initiative implemented over the past two years to get people to think twice before printing and thereby reduce office paper consumption. Under the program, printers are shared by multiple users and print jobs are held in queue until the user scans his or her badge.
- With approval from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, we started trials with Air Canada for recycling waste from domestic flights arriving at Air Canada designated gates. Under the pilot, Air Canada separates waste at source and the GTAA collects and manages the separate streams. It’s estimated that the project could divert up to 10 tonnes of recyclables per month from incineration.
- Through a partnership with Diabetes Canada, we installed donation bins where employees can drop off their gently used clothing and cloth items. Diabetes Canada collects and sells the donations as a way of diverting textiles from landfill and generating revenue.
