ATNS recognises that as an ANSP, it has an influence on carbon emissions from aircraft, mainly relating to the efficiency of the ATM network. ATNS further recognises the need to address GHG emissions from aviation activities, and that this requires the active engagement and cooperation of the Company and its various stakeholders.

Climate change may contribute to a number of changes in weather patterns, including an increase in frequency and intensity of severe weather events. ATNS recognises the need to understand the potential risks associated with climate change and, therein, to ensure safe and efficient air transport. The risks of not doing so are very high as it directly impacts on safety.

ATNS pursues enhanced operational efficiency for the organisation and its customers through various initiatives, including the implementation of the International Civil Aviation Organization Aviation System Block Upgrades (ASBU) concept. The ASBU concept aims to ensure the following operational imperatives:

• Maintaining and enhancing aviation safety
• Harmonising air traffic management improvement programmes
• Removing barriers to future aviation efficiency and environmental gains at reasonable cost

The following initiatives are the centre of ATNS’s operational efficiency and contribute to environmental objectives:

• Performance-based Navigation (PBN)
• Airspace efficiencies
• Procedure design
• Oceanic random routing areas
• Reduced vertical separation minima (RVSM)
• ATFM tool (balancing demand and capacity)
• The INSPIRE Initiative

The INSPIRE initiative

The aviation sector has a long and distinguished record of environmental achievement.  Relative to other industries that emit global greenhouse gases (GHG), aviation’s contribution represents only 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Technological advancement has significantly reduced aircraft fuel consumption and emissions on a per passenger basis over the last 30 years, and the industry is committed to improving on this record. But we face a real challenge in the Asia Pacific region as air transport activity is expected to continue to grow steadily throughout the region. In order to meet the growing regional demand for air transportation, while maintaining the industry’s leadership position, it is essential for aviation partners to collaborate on environmental stewardship.

In February 2008, a multi-lateral partnership known as the Asia and South Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions (ASPIRE) was created in Singapore. The first air navigation service providers (ANSPs) to sign the ASPIRE joint statement were Airservices Australia, Airways New Zealand, and the Federal Aviation Administration. Since then ASPIRE has expanded to included Japan Civil Aviation Authority as a major partner. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore joined the programme in February 2010.

These flights incorporate techniques to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, such as flying the most direct and optimum route between departure and destination. This also includes using ground power (instead of the aircraft’s auxiliary power unit, which burns jet fuel), thereby minimising on-ground delays, utilising expedient taxi and preferential runways, and conducting uninterrupted climb and descent paths.

With positive results and the success with the ASPIRE model it was envisaged that the model would be expanded to other regions. Therefore, to complement this work, the Indian Ocean Strategic Partnership to Reduce Emissions (INSPIRE) was formed. INSPIRE is aimed at supporting operations in three distinct regions:

• Southern Africa – Australia / South East Asia
• Arabian Gulf – Australia
• South-West Indian Ocean – Arabian Gulf

The partners under INSPIRE are committed to work closely with airlines and other stakeholders in the region in order to:

• Accelerate the development and implementation of operational procedures to reduce the environmental footprint for all phases of flight on an operation-by-operation basis, from gate to gate;
• Facilitate world-wide interoperability of environmentally-friendly procedures and standards;
• Capitalise on existing technology and best practices;
• Develop shared performance metrics to measure improvements in the environmental performance of the air transport system;
• Provide a systematic approach to ensure appropriate mitigation actions with short-, medium- and long-term results; and
• Communicate and publicise INSPIRE environmental initiatives, goals, progress and performance to the global aviation community, the press and the general public.

Being mindful of energy is critical in determining alternative energy sources and promoting energy efficiency in all our activities. Our approach to managing energy requirements stems from the objective of minimising negative environmental impacts.

Our technology deployment for our Communication, Surveillance and Navigation (cns) operations centres around energy need, enabling us to provide a service to our customers and sustain our business. During our 2015 reporting period, electricity consumption accounted for 98% of the organisation’s emissions, whilst fuel usage accounted for 2%. The company’s energy consumption plan outlines the major sources of energy consumption within the energy footprint and provides high-level recommendations on energy management options.

Climate change is the biggest known natural threat to human existence; its effects are holistic and complex and require a coordinated, structured approach.  South Africa is a water scarce country and the quantity and quality of water is affected by the management of water resources and associated infrastructure. ATNS advocates the importance of water management and strives to integrate water management principles in our daily practices.

We believe that water resources should be protected, whether it is usage for potable requirements or operational purposes. We aim to be more environmentally conscious on all levels, from personal lifestyles right up to the way business is conducted. It is of critical importance that our practices aim to always be compliant with the appropriate measures to reduce, reuse and recycle water resources.

Being mindful of energy is critical in determining alternative energy sources and promoting energy efficiency in all our activities. Our approach to managing energy requirements stems from the objective of minimising negative environmental impacts.

Our technology deployment for our Communication, Surveillance and Navigation (cns) operations centres around energy need, enabling us to provide a service to our customers and sustain our business. During our 2015 reporting period, electricity consumption accounted for 98% of the organisation’s emissions, whilst fuel usage accounted for 2%. The company’s energy consumption plan outlines the major sources of energy consumption within the energy footprint and provides high-level recommendations on energy management options.

Noise and air quality management plays a vital role in the aviation industry globally. These have direct impacts on communities and ultimately contribute to the broader impacts of climate change.

The issue of noise abatement and emission reduction is critical in improving environmental quality in the global aviation industry. Reduction of greenhouse emissions, airspace air quality and aircraft noise constitutes critical objectives of ICAO’s Environmental Protection Agenda. ATNS supports the industry objectives by aligning to ICAO’s policies, guidance and SARPs documents.

ATNS participates in various committees to address issues of noise and emissions; these include ICAO’s Committee on Aviation Environment Protection, CANSO Environmental Working Groups and South African Civil Aviation Authority and Department of Transport Working Groups.

The following initiatives have been introduced to reduce noise in the air traffic environment:

• Flight procedure design to support compliance with noise-abatement requirements, as specified in the Environmental Impact Assessment Record of Decision. Noise profiling and noise contours are also being considered.
• Application of power setting and climb gradient restriction to support noise abatement.
• Compliance with specific noise abatement rules for individual airports.
• Design of ‘clean speed’ procedures.
• Continuous descent approaches.
• South African Air Force Baro-VNAV proposal to provide greater access to those air force bases for diversionary purposes.

ATNS’s approach to waste management is derived from the national objectives relating to waste management. These are outlined in the National Waste Management Strategy from the national legislative framework, Constitution of South Africa, 1996 section 24, National Environmental Management Act No 107 of 1998, National Environmental Management Waste Management Act No 59 of 2008.

ATNS’s approach to waste management is aligned to the Waste Management Hierarchy and our waste management programmes are governed by the Integrated Waste Management Policy.

South Africa has a wide range of different plant and animal species whose protection is important for maintaining the country’s rich biodiversity. It is important not only for economic growth and development, but also for traditional medicinal purposes. Biodiversity management is crucial for promoting sustainable use of the natural environment. As outlined in the NEM: Biodiversity Act No.10 of 2004, which is a regulatory framework that has been put in place to protect the country’s plant and animal species as well as ecosystems as a whole.

When designing procedures and operating sites and installing equipment, ATNS take into consideration the environment in which operations will be taking place and put in mitigation measures to reduce the potential negative environmental impacts.

When installing equipment and designing airspace procedures, we ensure that negative environmental impacts to the surrounding environment are minimised; this includes national protected areas (national parks and reserves).

During the South African Radar Replacement and Improvement Programme, in 2002, an ATNS radar system was placed in a conservation area in Blesberg Peak, Swartberg mountain range in the southern-western Cape. As the radar site was located in a conservation area, environmental stewardship had to be implemented and conditions of the environmental impacts assessment (EIA) has to be adopted. The latter included limited access to the site and subsequently laying underground cables to minimise the impact on birdlife and other sensitive flora and fauna. ATNS continues to monitor the site 12 years later to ensure that the conditions of the EIA are adhered to. This approach ensures that negative impacts are minimised and precautionary environmental elements are integrated into the Company’s decision making.

Sustainability forms the core of our approach to governance and initiatives relating to safety management, environmental protection, corporate social investment and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment addressed through the various governance committees.

Sustainability Reports:

• 2015 Sustainability Report
• 2014 Sustainability Report

ATNS’s sustainability framework is enhanced by the Materiality Assessment which is informed by stakeholder dialogue processes that keep the business focused on the relevant means to provide the greatest benefit to our stakeholders and our company.

‘Material impacts’ refer to those that denote established concerns for key communities, or that have been identified using established tools such as impact assessment methodologies, risk assessments, regulatory compliance audits or product/market life cycle assessments. These impacts are those considered important enough to require active management or engagement by ATNS.