| 9 Leading the way in reducing emissions Richard Loader CIAL Initiatives include switching to electric vehicles, ground source heating to replace diesel generators, sustainable procurement guidelines, LED lighting, waste minimisation and internal carbon budgets to drive behavioural change. DEVELOPMENT Christchurch Airport - Sustainable Business Network Awards P 03 365 4328 E christchurch@rubix.nz W rubix.nz We have enjoyed a long standing relationship with CIAL and have navigatedmany key projects with them. We seek to unlock project potential across any sector, scale, complexity and vision. From strategic planning tomanagement and delivery, we work with a highly relational style across every phase of the project lifecycle from inception to handover. Greater Project Possibilities Entering the highly regarded Sustainable Business Network (SBN) awards last year provided Christchurch Airport (CIAL) the opportunity to share its sustainability journey. The company was rewarded with being selected Finalist in three categories — Climate Change Leader, Climate Action Innovator, and CEO Malcolm Johns aptly acknowledged as Sustainability Superstar Finalist. Sustainability Transition Leader Claire Waghorn says being selected as Finalist in not one but three categories was one of those ‘shivers’ moments. “Each award notification came through in a separate email,” Claire says. “When the first one came through I got up and told the whole team. By the time I got back to my desk the next one had come through. It was very exciting. Reading through the other Finalists in the same categories was phenomenal. - to sit alongside these wonderful groups was a privilege.” Selection as Climate Action Leader finalist recognises the leading role CIAL is playing to help airports reduce emissions. In 2020 Christchurch became the first airport in the world to be awarded the highest standard of Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA). Since then it has run decarbonisation workshops for airports around the globe, including USA, Europe, Asia, Pacific and Australia, as well as assisting local regional airports. Claire says decarbonising the aviation industry is critical to the future prosperity of primary produce exports, the tourism and health sectors and is intertwined in the supply chains of almost every business in New Zealand. “It has been a privilege to talk to colleagues around the world about what we’re doing in our small part of the world.” The airport plans to get its own operations to zero emissions by 2050. It is currently tracking 52% ahead of its science-based target for Scope 1 and 2 emission reductions. Scope 1 refers to onsite use of fossil fuels, while Scope 2 refers to purchased electricity. Initiatives include switching to electric vehicles, ground source heating to replace diesel generators, sustainable procurement guidelines, LED lighting, waste minimisation and internal carbon budgets to drive behavioural change. “Scope 3 refers to supply chain, and our projects now look at how we can expedite the decarbonisation of airlines,” says Claire. “For example, we’ve installed electric chargers for planes.” Finalist in the Climate Action Innovator category reflects CIAL’s switch to clean energy for industrial heating and cooling, which has dramatically reduced its energy consumption, emissions and operational costs. CIAL has replaced its diesel-powered generators with ground source heat systems that harness artesian water flowing underneath the Canterbury plains to both heat and cool its buildings. Claire explains this has been the single biggest carbon reduction project undertaken by the airport. “The technology was first created for our Integrated Terminal Building in 2014 and later introduced into the International Arrivals area of the terminal, where it has been fully operational for more than eighteen months. In just twelve months, the system eliminated about one thousand tonnes of emissions. That means the airport has reduced its Scope 1 emissions by 85 percent — a target it has hit fourteen years ahead of schedule.” Various Christchurch projects are following the airport’s example and are now incorporating artesian-based heating and cooling systems. Claire says convincing CEO Malcom Johns to put his name into the hat for the Sustainability Superstar award was no easy task and he took quite some convincing. “Malcolm is very good at talking about what his team does and how wonderful we are, but quite reserved in terms of his own piece. It really was a great moment when his selection as Finalist came through, and clear affirmation it was not just us who think he does a great job. Malcolm demonstrates extraordinary leadership at the airport, and sustainability is a core part of what we do as a business. He is firm that all decisions and projects have to be good for people, planet and prosperity — all boxes must be ticked.” Malcolm is a founding signatory and member of the Climate Leaders Coaltion Steering Group, an influential group of large Kiwi businesses primed for action on climate, and the Chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council Climate Leadership for Businesses Task Force. Claire says there were three key reasons why the airport team entered the SBN awards. “The aviation industry is a challenging sector for sustainability. If we can achieve sustainability, everyone can and should. Sustainability only works if everybody gets on board to address our climate to regenerate our planet. Which is why we take an open source approach and offer other businesses everything we have learned, so we can all benefit.” Entering the awards was also a way of recognising CIAL’s core value of sustainability and looking after the planet. “The people who work here are primarily big lovers of the South Island and the outdoors. They all really believe we live in the greatest place on the planet and need to love and protect it. Being part of decarbonising aviation and ensuring we leave the planet in a better state for future generations is a big motivator for why people come to work here every day.” Finally, Claire says the awards ceremony is such a positive celebration of genuinely lovely folk across New Zealand, all doing wonderful things to contribute towards sustainability and a better world.
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