San Diego County Regional Airport Authority Releases Sustainability Report
The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (Airport Authority) is pleased to release the organization’s 2019-2020 Sustainability Report which can be viewed at sustain.san.org. The Sustainability Report serves as a useful barometer for San Diego International Airport’s (SAN) relationship to the environment, the traveling public, its stakeholders and the greater San Diego community.
“This annual report re-affirms our commitment to continuous improvement and transparency in social, economic, and environmental performance, which has been especially important as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In so doing, we recognize and celebrate our accomplishments, as well as emphasize areas where we can make improvements.”
The report is organized in three sections: Social, Economic, and Environmental. The yardsticks for measuring progress include the Airport Authority’s Organizational Strategic Plan (OSP), which sets forth goals and strategies for the next five years; and its Sustainability Management Program (SMP), which provides a framework for creating a more enduring and resilient airport.
Social: Building a Strong and Diverse Talent Pipeline
Building a diverse and robust talent pipeline within the Airport Authority is an essential factor in establishing an employee workforce that is committed and invested in the Airport Authority’s long-term goals and strategies.
Section goals discussed include:
- Develop leaders and a workforce aligned to the needs of the Airport Authority’s OSP and an inclusive environment that reflects the diversity of the community.
- Exceed our customers’ expectations by introducing innovative service and facility enhancements.
Economic: Leading the Way as a Regional Economic Driver
For nearly a century, San Diego International Airport has been one of the foremost economic drivers in the region, bringing millions of visitors to the region while providing opportunities for San Diego companies to do business all over the world.
Section goals discussed include:
- Enhance community understanding of SAN as an economic engine and a portal of prosperity that enhances the region’s quality of life.
- Grow and efficiently manage capacity for future demand, both landside and airside, including international facilities.
- Providing opportunities for small, local, disadvantaged and veteran-owned businesses.
- Develop a plan for transportation to and at the airport by 2022 that anticipates technological changes and advances connectivity to the regional public transit network.
Environment: Establishing a Sustainability Imperative for SAN
The Airport Authority has long established itself as a leader in the aviation industry by incorporating sustainability into its operations and development. Recognizing that innovation is no longer a choice, but an imperative, the Airport Authority has chosen to further integrate sustainability by identifying seven core elements for inclusion into a detailed SMP.
Section goals discussed include:
- Identify seven core elements for inclusion in a detailed SMP.
- Achieve Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 3+ by 2022 and reduce airport-wide emissions per passenger by 30 percent by 2035 (2015 baseline).
- Transition to 100 percent renewable electricity and decrease energy use intensity by 30 percent by 2035 (2015 baseline).
- Decrease potable water use by 30 percent by 2035 (2016 baseline).
- Zero reports of customer or operational impacts from flooding and extreme heat events by 2035.
- Work with state and federal wildlife agencies to address operational growth and California Least Tern habitat management.
- Advocate for continued federal sound insulation grant funding to help reduce the number of community members affected by aircraft noise.
- Facilitate safe airport planning throughout San Diego county.
The Airport Authority consulted the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) G4 guidelines in the production of the report. The index lists the social, economic, and environmental criteria that the GRI guidelines suggest, as well as certain specific criteria from the GRI Airport Operators Sector Supplement. The report was developed in accordance with the GRI G4’s “Core” standards.
To view the 2019-2020 Sustainability Report, please visit sustain.san.org.
This article was originally published by San Diego International Airport.
