Assurance and verification

ERM Assurance Statement for BAA Scotland

Scope and Activities
BAA engaged ERM to assess whether the seven UK airports, including the three Scottish airports (BAA Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh), accurately reported within BAA achievement of their sustainability targets. As part of this process ERM:

• Reviewed self-assessment reports provided by the Scottish airports on the extent of achievement of their 27 sustainability targets; 
• Undertook site visits to Edinburgh and Glasgow airports to interview management about a sample of eight of the targets, relating to noise, surface access, energy use, waste, water quality and socio-economic issues; 
• Undertook a telephone interview with one senior manager at BAA Aberdeen in relation to overall target achievement.

ERM did not review the Scottish Airport’s 2005/06 Corporate Responsibility Report (in which this statement is presented) to evaluate the accuracy of external reporting on target achievement. 

ERM Findings
Subject to the scope of ERM’s assessment and based on information provided by BAA Scotland, ERM believes that BAA Scotland’s internal monitoring process fairly states target achievement.

BAA Scottish airports achieved the targets set on water quality, water consumption, surface access, diversity and community.  In addition, Glasgow completed the waste target and Edinburgh achieved the energy use (climate change) target.

Through the target assurance activities set out above, ERM identified the following highlights in target achievement:

• Surface transport: The number of passengers using public transport to and from Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh airports increased this year as a result of efforts to tackle surface transport issues.  
• Economic development: Each of the airports established and tracked a set of measures to understand the economic value provided by the airport.
• Energy use (climate change): All of the Scottish airports made progress implementing energy efficiency technologies, with Glasgow and Edinburgh airports reducing carbon dioxide emissions against the business as usual forecast.
• Water quality: Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports continued to implement activities to improve water quality management and ensure compliance with the surface and foul water discharge consents.
• Water use: All three airports reduced water consumption compared with their business as usual forecasts.

ERM also noted that BAA Scottish airports experienced some challenges in achieving targets during the year:

• Noise: The Scottish Noise Strategy was drafted however it was not published by the target date of April 2006.
• Energy use: Aberdeen Airport did not reduce carbon dioxide emissions below the business as usual forecast because the airport introduced two new developments that were not accounted for when the business as usual forecast was calculated.
• Waste: The Scottish airports found it difficult to increase the amount of waste recycled through the BAA waste contract, at Edinburgh this was partly due to the availability of space to segregate waste and an increase in passenger numbers. Also, Glasgow airport amended its waste target during the year as business circumstances changed, however the decision by senior management to amend the target was not clearly documented.
• Economic development: The study to understand the economic value of the new routes at all of the airports was not completed. 

Recommendations
ERM recommends that BAA Scotland:

• Complete the work required to publish the Scottish Noise Strategy and report on economic value of the new routes, then develops improvement targets that align with the strategy and findings.
• Continue to work with airport tenants to encourage higher levels of waste recycling and reduced waste generation.
• Enhance change management procedures to provide evidence of senior management decisions to change targets and ensure clear communication of these changes to interested stakeholders.

ERM
May 2006

BAA management has prepared BAA Scotland Corporate Responsibility Report and is responsible for the collection and presentation of the information in it.  Our responsibility in performing our work is to BAA management in accordance with the terms agreed.  We do not therefore accept or assume any responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person or organisation.

Environmental Resources Management Limited (ERM) is an independent, global environmental, social and corporate responsibility. ERM has experience in the design, development and assurance of sustainability/ corporate responsibility reports in a wide range of industry sectors, and operate strict conflict checks to ensure complete independence of our assurance activities.