How Do Canadian Airports Reduce GHG Emissions?

Canadian airports reduce greenhouse gas emissions through two main approaches: decarbonizing airport-controlled operations and helping airlines, passengers and other airport partners reduce their emissions.

1. Improving terminal energy efficiency

Airport terminals consume considerable energy for heating, cooling, lighting, baggage systems and ventilation. Airports reduce this consumption by:

Replacing conventional lighting with LEDs
Installing intelligent lighting and building-control systems
Upgrading boilers, chillers and HVAC equipment
Improving insulation, windows and building envelopes
Using heat recovery, geothermal systems and heat pumps

Toronto Pearson’s Strategic Energy Master Plan, for example, identifies energy conservation and a transition toward cleaner sources such as solar and geothermal energy as important components of its net-zero strategy.

2. Replacing fossil fuels with cleaner energy

Airports are increasingly replacing natural gas, gasoline and diesel with:

Renewable electricity
Solar power
Renewable natural gas
Renewable diesel and biofuels
Electric heating and vehicle systems

Vancouver International Airport reported that its operational emissions in 2025 were 39% below its 2012 baseline. Its reduction program includes building-energy projects, electrification and renewable fuels.

3. Electrifying airport vehicles and ground equipment

Airports and ground-handling companies are replacing diesel-powered equipment with electric alternatives, including:

Baggage tractors
Belt loaders
Aircraft tugs
Catering trucks
Passenger buses
Maintenance vehicles
Airport-authority cars and vans

They must also install extensive airside charging infrastructure. Halifax Stanfield reported a 33% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2024 and installed charging facilities for airport ground-support equipment, in addition to expanding public EV charging.

4. Reducing aircraft auxiliary-engine use at gates

Aircraft normally operate an auxiliary power unit, or APU, while parked to provide electricity and cabin heating or cooling. Because APUs burn jet fuel, airports install:

Fixed electrical ground power
Electric ground-power units
Preconditioned-air systems

These systems allow aircraft to shut down their APUs while parked. Transport Canada identifies electrical gate power and preconditioned air as important measures for reducing airport-related aircraft emissions.

5. Reducing taxiing and aircraft delays

Airports work with airlines and NAV CANADA to reduce unnecessary aircraft fuel consumption through:

Shorter taxi routes
Improved gate allocation
Reduced runway waiting times
Single-engine taxiing where appropriate
Continuous climb and descent procedures
More efficient airspace and flight trajectories

These measures produce smaller reductions than sustainable fuel or fleet renewal, but they can be implemented using existing aircraft and infrastructure.

6. Supporting sustainable aviation fuel

Airport authorities generally do not select the fuel used by airlines, but they can facilitate sustainable aviation fuel—SAF by:

Providing storage, blending and distribution infrastructure
Coordinating fuel demand among airlines
Participating in SAF pilot projects
Supporting long-term purchasing arrangements
Working with governments and fuel producers

Canada’s Aviation Climate Action Plan identifies SAF as one of the principal pathways for reducing aircraft emissions and establishes an aspirational sector target of 10% SAF use by 2030.

7. Reducing passenger and employee transportation emissions

Travel to and from an airport can represent a substantial source of indirect emissions. Airports address it by:

Connecting terminals to rail and public transit
Operating electric or low-emission shuttle buses
Installing public EV chargers
Encouraging electric taxis and ride-hailing vehicles
Providing employee carpooling and transit programs
Improving pedestrian and bicycle access where practical

Transport Canada specifically identifies public transit, fleet electrification and public charging infrastructure as measures for reducing non-aircraft airport emissions.

8. Managing waste, construction and refrigerants

Additional reductions come from:

Diverting organic waste from landfills
Reusing construction and demolition materials
Purchasing low-carbon concrete and steel
Reducing refrigerant leakage from cooling systems
Using lower-carbon materials and suppliers
Incorporating lifecycle emissions into capital-project decisions

9. Measuring emissions and setting verified targets

Many Canadian airports participate in the Airport Carbon Accreditation program. They prepare emissions inventories, establish baselines, demonstrate reductions and gradually include airlines, tenants and ground-handling companies in their carbon-management programs. Pearson has achieved Level 4—Transformation accreditation, while Halifax reports Level 3 accreditation.

Important distinction

Airport net-zero commitments usually concentrate first on Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions generated by airport-owned buildings, heating systems, vehicles and purchased electricity. Most emissions from aircraft, airline equipment, tenants and passenger transportation are classified as Scope 3 and cannot be eliminated by the airport authority alone.

Transport Canada reported that Canadian airports’ combined Scope 1 and 2 emissions were approximately 221,040 tonnes of CO₂e in 2022—about 15% below 2012 levels. Reducing total aviation emissions, however, requires cooperation among airports, airlines, NAV CANADA, ground-handling companies, fuel suppliers and governments.