Ten years ago, we committed to a 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (from a 2006 baseline) by 2020. As of the 2019 year-end, we’d well exceeded that target, having shrunk our carbon footprint by nearly half. We’re proud of this initial progress by the Toronto Pearson community – in part due to the elimination of coal-fired generating plants in Ontario. But when every day brings further evidence of the drastic effects of climate change, there can be no doubt about the need to maintain momentum.
In our latest sustainability planning, we’re determining how we can help fulfill the commitment embraced by governments, communities, businesses and organizations around the globe to significantly reduce carbon emissions. The following stories show the scope and impact of our efforts to date:
Level 3 carbon rating
Toronto Pearson participates in the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program, which provides a common framework for active carbon management at airports around the world. We first achieved Level 3 certification in 2016 and have maintained our standing ever since. Certification at this level requires that we measure the carbon footprint of our operations, set and achieve reduction targets, and engage third parties in our efforts. To date, only two airports in North America have moved from Level 3 to the highest tier: 3+ or carbon neutrality.
When every day brings further evidence of the drastic effects of climate change, there can be no doubt about the need to maintain momentum.
As the global focus shifts to net zero carbon emissions – which, unlike carbon neutrality, does not allow for offsetting through the purchase of carbon credits – the ACA program is also evolving. The GTAA is part of an ACA working group developing new initiatives, such as a potential Level 4 certification requiring deeper reductions in direct emissions from airport facilities.
Toronto Pearson is also one of a handful of North American hubs participating in a regular Airports Council International forum focused on setting reduced emissions targets for airports.
Pearson has installed electric charging stations for our electric fleet vehicles, and also in our employee parking lots.
Emissions reduction
Since we embarked on our climate change journey more than a decade ago, capital projects aimed at reducing energy use and associated carbon emissions have been a consistent part of Toronto Pearson’s annual plans. The biggest gains continue to come through two initiatives: switching from fluorescent lighting to energy-efficient LEDs in our buildings; and upgrading the airport’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems so they operate more efficiently. Lighting and HVAC projects implemented in Terminals 1 and 3 during 2019 will save over 4.1 million kWh annually.
The electrification of our vehicle fleet is also helping to reduce emissions. There are currently 32 electric vehicle charging stations around Toronto Pearson, all of them available free of charge to airport employees and the general public. These complement a more extensive network of 137 charging stations (and another 22 nearing completion) that are used by electric baggage tugs and other service vehicles in our airside operations. Since the public chargers were installed, utilization has risen from 169 unique users in April 2017 to about 800 by year-end 2019.
Investing in electric vehicles is a practical and effective way for Canada to reduce pollution, fight climate change and make sure we have clean air. Canadians want to be part of the solution to fight climate change by travelling more efficiently.
The Hon. Catherine McKenna, then Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada, announcing the federal government’s support for electric vehicle charging stations at Toronto Pearson on July 29, 2019
We introduced two electric shuttle buses for passengers in 2019 and expect to add three more as existing gas vehicles are retired. Thanks to a $491,000 grant from Natural Resources Canada, we’re also testing an innovative fast-charging hub for these buses. The project will identify strategies and potential barriers in electric bus adoption, providing a model for airports across the country.
(kilograms per passenger)
* The total stated in our 2018 Annual Report was an estimate; exact figures were not available at the time of publication. The figure has been restated here to reflect actual 2018 CO2e emissions.
** CO2e emissions in 2019 were significantly lower than in previous years due to planned downtime at Toronto Pearson’s Cogeneration Facility. We do not expect that similar reductions will be sustainable once the facility returns to normal operating capacity.
We celebrated the 10th anniversary of Partners in Project Green by planting enough native trees and shrubs in local communities to offset the GTAA’s annual paper consumption.
United for climate action
Combatting the negative impacts of climate change requires action on many fronts. Wherever we can, we involve employees, business partners, local municipalities and community members in our efforts. For example, to encourage more people who work at Toronto Pearson to take public transit, we’re funding an innovative GO Transit fare pilot. Employees who choose GO buses and/or trains for their daily work commute as an alternative to driving can save 50 per cent off the regular fare.
In 2018, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of Partners in Project Green by planting enough native trees and shrubs in local communities to offset the GTAA’s annual paper consumption – and thereby help mitigate climate change. The campaign was such a success that we decided to do it again in 2019. Not only does tree planting serve an important environmental purpose, it’s also a great way to engage with our employees and neighbours. We hosted two tree planting events in the spring for GTAA employees and their families, and two more in the fall for local schools. In total, more than 400 volunteers planted 830 trees and shrubs, helping to offset our total paper usage of more than 2.18 million sheets in the previous year.
