Airport among leaders in reducing carbon emissions

Airport among leaders in reducing carbon emissions

Nanaimo Airport’s (YCD) performance on reducing carbon emissions ranks among the best of its Canadian counterparts.

For several years, YCD has been committed to achieving Net Zero carbon emissions by 2030. It has already hit several milestones and is on target.

“This is an ambitious goal and one we take very seriously,” says Dave Devana, President and CEO of Nanaimo Airport. “We’re showing that a regional airport can grow and serve its community while also reducing its environmental footprint.”

YCD started tracking carbon emissions in 2019 and since then has been carbon neutral. The airport has converted parts of its vehicle fleet to electricity from fossil fuels, upgraded equipment to improve energy efficiency, and converted much of its lighting to energy-efficient LED systems.

“Many of these initiatives happen behind the scenes,” Devana says. “But together they add up to meaningful progress toward our Net Zero target.”

Any remaining emissions were then balanced using carbon offsets, which allowed the airport to reach carbon-neutral status.

Over the last five years YCD has gone even further. The airport has become net climate positive, meaning it offsets more emissions than it produces. And it plans to do even more.

Airports worldwide measure and reduce emissions using Airports Council International’s Airport Carbon Accreditation program. In early 2024, YCD achieved Level 2 certification. It reduced its year-over-year carbon emissions by 23.6%, to 130.5 tonnes in 2024 from 170.8 tonnes in 2023.

Next up: Reaching Level 3. That will place it fourth among all Canadian airports leading the aviation industry’s transition to lower emissions. Only Vancouver International (YVR), Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) have a better rating.

The airport has also strengthened the systems that guide its environmental work. Its Climate Change Action Plan and Environmental Management System help ensure sustainability is built into infrastructure planning, operations, and future development.

Visit YCD.ca for more information on Nanaimo Airport’s sustainability practices.