DECEMBER 20249 ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS REVIEWduring the COVID-19 pandemic. While the world abruptly came to a halt and our operations faced a severe drop, our environmental compliance obligations remained the same. Our team relies heavily on operational employees to inspect and keep records on environmental assets, such as storage tanks or hazardous waste areas. We immediately identified this issue in stations that were shut down due to the pandemic or where staffing was significantly reduced and faced the challenge head-on. We carried out a system-wide risk review of potential compliance gaps and developed station-specific action plans to ensure we remained in compliance with all environmental requirements. For example, sending a technician to a closed station on a weekly or monthly basis to carry out mandatory environmental inspections and maintain compliance records. Sustainable Future: Emerging Trends in AviationAn emerging trend that is already shaping environmental compliance in aviation is more legislation surrounding emissions reductions and the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). We are beginning to see new regulations emerging in Europe, and more countries are sure to follow. Establishing a SAF supply chain and other low-carbon fuel initiatives in Canada is essential for the future of the Canadian aviation industry. Additionally, many countries are starting to publish legislation on sustainability initiatives that were not regulated in the past, such as single-use plastics and stewardship programs. A Coordinated Approach in Aviation OperationsGiven that we run a large and complex business with many moving parts, we plan for a wide range of potential incidents, including inadvertent spills. We have a well-established spill response procedure that operational employees across all regions are trained to follow. Our frontline personnel are fundamental in ensuring spills are contained, cleaned up in a safe and timely manner and reported internally. Our environment team provides 24/7 monitoring of spill incidents across the Air Canada system, both within Canada and internationally and reports spills to external authorities as per regulatory requirements. Air Canada operates in a continuous improvement environment, and all such events are tracked and analyzed to identify mitigation and incident reduction measures that can be implemented. Integrating Compliance with EfficiencyEnvironmental compliance is a core component of our operations, and all employees are accountable for maintaining due diligence in their work area. Instead of treating environmental obligations as separate or additional work, they are embedded into daily operational procedures and task management tools. This ensures employees are prompted to carry out environmental inspections and keep records within prescribed timelines. We also have a mature internal audit program to monitor the environmental performance of each station, which helps us identify areas of improvement and implement practical corrective actions. A Guide for Young Professionals in Environmental Compliance My advice for young professionals is to educate yourself on the industry's environmental challenges and be adaptable to change. Stay open to new opportunities, as you never know where they might take you. Emerging legislation around emissions reductions and sustainable aviation fuel is already reshaping the future of aviation. Establishing a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply chain is critical for the industry's sustainability
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