ADM has maintained its efforts to improve its environmental performance and minimize the environmental impact of its activities. Between 2013 and 2016, the Corporation invested close to $47 million in capital projects related to the environment, including the installation of equipment to recycle glycol, the installation of Boom-Air to ease the connection of preconditioned air (PCA) hoses to aircraft, the replacement and installation of oil interceptors, ensuring compliance of the petroleum storage tank systems, various energy-saving projects linked to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, the expansion of the airside snow dump, the installation of an organic-materials compactor, the installation of additional charging stations for electric vehicles, as well as landscaping of the roads network, the creation of a living wall in a public area of the terminal and a green roof.
As part of its commitment to being proactive in environmental matters, ADM has developed and implemented a number of tools.
Environmental Management System (EMS)
Aéroports de Montréal has an integrated environmental management system (EMS), which has been ISO 14001-certified since 2000. That certification is proof of the Corporation’s commitment to reducing the size of its environmental footprint. It also certifies that ADM has implemented responsible practices along with continuous improvement programs when it comes to environmental performance.
As part of its EMS implementation, ADM is committed to a process of continuous improvement. To that end, it sets objectives and develops action plans to ensure they are met. In 2016, ADM was one of the very first companies to have its environmental management system re-certified under the new standard ISO 14001 (2015).
Employee training
To ensure ongoing protection of the environment and to meet its environmental objectives, ADM has an employee awareness and training program. The training component of the program targets such varied topics as environmental management of construction projects, preventive, watercourse maintenance, hazardous-materials management, and so on. Employees acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to do their jobs in a manner that ensures environmental protection.
Project environmental assessment
To ensure compliance with its environmental-performance and sustainable-development objectives, ADM takes environmental impacts into account in the design, construction and operation of its various infrastructures. In keeping with that commitment, ADM encourages all of its business partners to contribute to the achievement of its objectives and, generally, to mitigate the environment impacts of construction work.
To that end, all facilities alteration projects put forward by ADM as well as by tenants and concession operators are subjected to evaluations to ensure that environmental-protection criteria are included.
Emergency Response Plan
As part of airport operations, ADM is at risk for certain kinds of incidents that can have environmental consequences. Particular attention is thus paid to the Emergency Response Plan (ERP) at both Montréal–Trudeau and Montréal–Mirabel airports. Various plans and directives have been developed to ensure rapid response and environmental protection in the event such incidents occur.
To guarantee an effective response in an environmental emergency, ADM regularly conducts drills involving the relevant personnel. Incidents are simulated using practical field exercises as well as theoretical (“table-top”) exercises, enabling employees who are assigned emergency-response roles to learn and put into practice the required skills.
Environmental indicators
Aéroports de Montréal publishes in its annual report a number of key environmental indicators that determine the ecological footprint of its airports and that attest to its efforts to manage the environmental impact of its activities.
