Carbon Neutral airport

GANDER International Airport is North America’s first Carbon Neutral airport.

The Gander International Airport Authority (GIAA) and its tenant companies are implementing a comprehensive carbon emissions reduction program that involves a number of infrastructure and employee initiatives. The remaining emissions have been reduced by the purchase of carbon offsets through The CarbonNeutral Company.

In early 2008, the Gander International Airport Authority engaged InterVISTAS Consulting to quantify its annual greenhouse gas emissions. Gary Vey, Gander International Airport Authority president and chief executive officer, explained that the airport has set a goal of reducing its carbon emissions by 33 per cent by 2020.

“The bulk of the airport’s emissions are from fossil fuels usage to power our facilities and mobile vehicle fleet. We are working to identify an alternative system which meets our needs and budget,” said Vey.

“We are looking at a number of things – reducing paper consumption, a procurement policy that gives preference to green vendors, reducing electricity use, more comprehensive recycling, anti-idling policies, energy retrofits and more. A carbon neutral culture will eventually become an intrinsic part of our workplace culture, operations and planning.

“The airport’s authority’s decision to become Carbon Neutral is like any other business decision we make. Positive environmental choices are also positive business choices,” said Vey.