Vancouver outlines its roadmap to net zero carbon emissions

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) today unveiled its roadmap to net zero carbon emissions, which it claims balances innovative approaches with practical actions that will see the gateway’s operations become net zero by 2030.

Earlier this year, YVR was the first airport in Canada to commit to net zero emissions by 2030, accelerating its original climate commitment by 20 years from 2050.

“At YVR, we have a long history of innovation and sustainability and are proud to be at the forefront of creating a greener, more resilient future for aviation as well as our community and the economy that supports it,” said Marion Town, director of climate and environment for Vancouver Airport Authority.

“For many years, we have developed and followed an Environmental Management Plan to guide our efforts to reduce YVR’s impact on the environment. Our Roadmap to Net Zero Carbon is an extension of this overarching plan and will ensure we achieve our ambitious goals.”

YVR’s new Roadmap to Net Zero Carbon outlines four decarbonisation pathways that are necessary for the airport to reduce emissions from its direct operations, referred to as Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Pathways include green fleets, energy conservation and electrification, replacing fossil fuels with renewable alternatives, and strategically purchasing carbon removals to close the gap.

Actions under the decarbonisation pathways also leave room for new capabilities and operational efficiencies that will be realised through emerging clean technology and YVR’s Digital Twin— a replica of the airport’s physical assets, processes and services and part of the airports’ s broader Innovation Hub.

“Our roadmap moves us forward in decarbonising our operations using what we know is possible to implement today along with built in flexibility to evolve in the future,” said Town. “For example, we’re confident that that we’ll discover new opportunities to reduce emissions as we bring our Digital Twin online and explore clean technology advancements.”

With the largest building in British Columbia and Canada’s second busiest airport, YVR is uniquely positioned to play an outsized and immediate role in reducing emissions beyond its direct operations (i.e. Scope 3 emissions).

To do so YVR is also working with our airport community partners to help them reduce their emissions, which supports provincial and federal government climate action commitments and are an important factor of the International Air Transport Association’s ambitious emissions reduction goals for the aviation industry.

YVR is sharing its Roadmap to Net Zero with business and industry as they look to find ways to decarbonise. Through collaboration, YVR and its partners will advance ideas and action that will result in lasting solutions for reducing emissions and creating a greener future.