Why sustainability is important for Canadian airports

Airports function like small cities: they operate large buildings, heating and cooling systems, roads, vehicle fleets, water and drainage infrastructure, waste systems and extensive land holdings. They also coordinate airlines, ground handlers, caterers, fuel suppliers and transportation providers. Consequently, airport sustainability covers much more than aircraft emissions.

1. Meeting national climate objectives

Canada’s Aviation Climate Action Plan establishes a vision of net-zero aviation emissions by 2050 and includes an aspirational goal of 10% sustainable aviation fuel use by 2030. Airports must therefore reduce emissions from the facilities and equipment they control while helping airlines and fuel suppliers decarbonize aircraft operations.

An important distinction is that an airport authority’s net-zero commitment normally applies primarily to its own Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, such as fuel used by airport vehicles and energy consumed by terminal buildings. Aircraft, passenger transportation and many tenant activities are generally Scope 3 emissions and require cooperation with airlines, governments and other partners.

2. Protecting airports from climate-related disruption

Canadian airports must operate during snowstorms, extreme cold, heat, flooding, wildfire smoke, hail and other severe weather. Sustainability therefore includes climate adaptation and resilience, not only carbon reduction.

Measures can include:

Enlarged stormwater systems and improved drainage.
More resilient runways, terminals and electrical systems.
Emergency energy and water supplies.
Assessments of flooding, heat, drought and severe-weather risks.
Using construction materials capable of handling future climate conditions.

YYC, for example, upgraded stormwater infrastructure beneath its reconstructed West Runway to improve climate resilience. Edmonton International Airport publishes climate-risk disclosures alongside its net-zero planning.

3. Reducing operating costs

Airports consume significant quantities of electricity, heating energy, fuel and water. LED lighting, efficient heating and cooling, electrified vehicles, water reuse and better waste management can reduce long-term operating costs.

These initiatives can require substantial initial investment, but airports evaluate them on a life-cycle basis, considering:

Capital cost.
Energy and maintenance savings.
Expected asset life.
Carbon-price exposure.
Reliability and resilience benefits.
Availability of grants and green financing.

4. Maintaining community support

Airports create jobs and economic activity, but nearby communities experience aircraft noise, road traffic, air emissions and development pressure. Managing these effects is essential to maintaining the airport’s “social licence” to operate and expand.

Sustainability programs therefore include noise monitoring, community consultation, flight procedures, land-use planning and transparent environmental reporting. Pearson, for example, uses noise-exposure forecasting to support municipal land-use planning, while YVR maintains a comprehensive noise-management program.

5. Protecting water, land and wildlife

Fuel storage, aircraft de-icing, road salt, construction and stormwater runoff can affect surrounding waterways and ecosystems. Airports manage these risks through water-quality monitoring, spill-prevention systems, stormwater treatment, contaminated-site management and habitat programs.

YVR uses surface-water monitoring, integrated pest management and Salmon-Safe practices to protect the ecosystems surrounding Sea Island. Pearson’s environmental strategy similarly covers clean water, soil, land conservation and emergency-spill management.

6. Remaining commercially competitive

Airlines, governments, lenders, corporate travelers and investors increasingly consider environmental performance when selecting partners and approving infrastructure projects. Recognized systems such as Airport Carbon Accreditation allow airports to measure emissions, set reduction targets and demonstrate progress independently.

Pearson has achieved Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 4, while Montréal–Trudeau has also obtained Airport Carbon Accreditation certification as part of its emissions-reduction program.

How Canadian airports manage sustainability

Vancouver International Airport — YVR

YVR has been carbon neutral for its airport-authority operations since 2020 and is targeting net-zero operational emissions by 2030. Its approach includes terminal energy efficiency, electrification, renewable energy, electric ground-support equipment and collaboration on sustainable aviation fuel. YVR reported that its emissions footprint declined by 19% in 2024 compared with 2023.

YVR is also targeting a 60% waste-diversion rate by 2027 and has a longer-term objective of becoming a zero-waste airport by 2040, defined as diverting at least 90% of Main Terminal waste.

Toronto Pearson International Airport — YYZ

Pearson is targeting net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2050, as well as net-zero waste from terminal buildings by 2050. Its strategy covers seven main areas: climate resilience, emissions, energy, water, the natural environment, waste and noise.

Specific measures include LED lighting, cleaner airport vehicles and equipment, electric-vehicle charging, renewable-energy evaluation, water management, waste reduction and participation in the development of a Canadian sustainable aviation fuel market.

Calgary International Airport — YYC

YYC manages sustainability through a formal strategy that integrates environmental, social and economic considerations into airport planning and capital investment.

Its $200-million West Runway rehabilitation provides a practical example. The project:

Reused close to two million liters of water.
Recycled more than 90% of materials, including asphalt, concrete and electrical fixtures.
Upgraded stormwater infrastructure.
Became one of Canada’s first airport projects to receive Envision sustainable-infrastructure certification.

YYC has also developed drought and water-shortage planning that allows stormwater to replace treated water for appropriate activities, including some construction work.

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport — YUL

Aéroports de Montréal has established a target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. YUL uses Airport Carbon Accreditation to measure and independently document its progress in reducing emissions.

Its broader sustainability management includes energy and emissions, water, waste, responsible construction, noise, biodiversity and cooperation with airport tenants and transportation partners.

Edmonton International Airport — YEG

Edmonton Airports has committed to net-zero operations by 2050 or earlier. Its comprehensive plan establishes interim Scope 1 and Scope 2 reduction targets of 30% by 2035 and 50% by 2045, relative to a 2023 baseline.

YEG is also testing emerging technologies, including hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and hydrogen-diesel runway snow sweepers. This illustrates how airports can serve as testing centres for technology that may later be used in aviation, freight and heavy-duty transportation.

Performance and ESG Benchmarking Analysis of Canadian Airports

Benchmarkia published Performance and ESG Benchmarking Analysis of Canadian Airports. Please contact Benchmarkia (https://benchmarkia.com/contact/) to learn more about this study.