YQM Achieves Carbon Accreditation Programme – Level 3 Certification

Greater Moncton, N.B. – After successful achievement of its Level 2 accreditation just last year, the Greater Moncton International Airport Authority Inc. (GMIAA) is proud to announce that it has been successful in achieving Level 3 of the Airport Carbon Accreditation worldwide program led by Airports Council International.

Level 3 – the “optimization” step of Airport Carbon Accreditation – requires third-party engagement in carbon footprint reduction. Third parties include airlines and various service providers, for example, independent ground handlers, catering companies and others working on the airport site. It also involves engagement on surface access modes (road, rail) with authorities and users.

“This is another step in our unwavering commitment to reducing and managing the airport’s carbon footprint,” said Bernard LeBlanc, President and CEO of the Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport (YQM). “There are only four other airports in Canada to achieve this level of accreditation – all of them significantly larger than our own, including Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, so this is clearly excellent news for us and proof of our ongoing strong commitment to responsibly managing our carbon footprint. Even in the U.S., relatively few airports have achieved Level 3. I must sincerely thank and commend YQM’s third-party partners and our employees for making this impressive achievement possible. Who knows, with continued progress we may eventually reach level 3+ of carbon neutrality!”

The GMIAA’s target is to reduce carbon emissions by 5% by 2020 from the baseline year of 2015. It should be noted that the airport strives to reduce its carbon footprint despite rising passenger numbers, larger aircraft and enhanced facility requirements to mark ever-growing needs.

This has been achieved with the airport’s own efforts combined with those of third parties who share our environmental goals, including airlines, service providers and suppliers. Examples of some related achievements over the past year include:

• Initiatives to reduce our electricity consumption, including LED upgrades and building system improvements
• Development of a Carbon Management Plan and a Stakeholder Engagement Plan
• Further expanded the scope of our carbon footprint tracking to not only include GMIAA emissions but the wider YQM community.
  Increased communication and awareness among employees and tenants in an effort to further reduce emissions through training sessions, enhanced communications (i.e. meetings, newsletters) and procedural changes).

With initiatives planned for 2019 and beyond, the airport is confident that it will successfully continue to proactively improve its carbon footprint.

About Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport (YQM)

YQM is a progressive airport and the leading airport in the central Maritimes. 24/7/365 – everyone associated with the airport strives to provide superior air service to passengers travelling all over the world and to the global cargo industry -safe, convenient, efficient, bilingual and businesslike.

YQM also strives to maximize its contribution to local and regional economic and community development – it currently drives over $665 million of economic activity annually, making it one of the top private-sector economic contributors to New Brunswick’s economy.

Your economy. Your airport.

For more information:
Julie Pondant, Corporate Communications Specialist
506-856-5459 or 506-962-2830
jpondant@cyqm.ca