At our airports we set annual targets to improve our business performance. We do this by reviewing previous years’ performance measures and our longer term strategic goals. Performance against our targets is tracked, audited and published every year.

2006/07 corporate responsibility report: recommendations and our response
ERM (independent CR consultants) provided external assurance over whether, on the basis of the agreed scope of work, progress against selected airport-level environmental targets has been appropriately reported. In response to BAA Scotland’s 2006/07 corporate responsibility report, ERM issued a number of recommendations:

• Climate change: It was felt that the climate change impacts and influences of BAA Scotland are much broader than the current scope of the target. ERM called for clearer differentiation between energy management and the implications for BAA Scotland’s climate change impacts and BAA’s wider climate change strategy in the CR Report; and Clearer definition or explanation of the climate change target and possibly additional reporting of absolute CO2 emissions, as well as eco-efficiency KPIs.

  Our response: We have included more detail about BAA’s climate change strategy, but have largely focused on what we can deliver at a local level, which is primarily energy management. As we develop our plans for challenging climate change impacts and influencing partners on climate change we will include these as part of a more holistic approach.
  

• Water use: ERM noted that the main meter used to set the target at BAA Glasgow was not working correctly and that, as a result, the target that was set was based on erroneous baseline. ERM recommended that BAA Glasgow include details about the absolute consumption of water at Glasgow Airport.

  Our response: The main meter is now working correctly. We decided against reporting exact figures of consumption of water as this would provide little meaning to the general public.

• Waste performance: ERM observed that BAA Scotland failed to meet its waste target and, moreover, would  have to make a step change in the way wastes are managed to ensure its 2010 recycling target of 40% is met. It recommended that BAA Scotland:

  Engage with other airports and identify ways to learn from one another and share ideas. The Environment Managers at the Scottish airports should work with the waste contractors, business partners and third parties to understand where the big wins in relation to recycling will arise and focus resources, time and effort on these solutions.

  Our response: We will continue to work with the waste contractors, business partners and third parties to improve our performance on recycling. The BAA Waste Manager co-ordinates learning between BAA and other airports.

• Target setting: ERM observed that targets do not always address or reflect the key stakeholder concern regarding the issue they have been set against, and that progress against some of the targets is difficult to measure, track and justify. ERM recommended that future targets have clearly defined outputs.

  Our response: In order to set a target which is deliverable within a year and suits BAA business objectives, it is necessary to set targets which do not always meet stakeholder concerns in one step. The process has to be a gradual one when, particularly when there are so many stakeholders with differing views involved.

• ERM also observed that certain targets changed during the course of the year. They recommended that  if changes are made to published targets during the year, these are effectively managed, communicated and agreed by management.

  Our response: We try to minimise any changes to targets throughout the year, but when necessary we will publish any changes from this point forward.

• ERM also noted that their recommendations for improvement from 2004/05 were not responded to in the 2005/06 CR report. They suggested that it was good practice to report management’s response to the previous years assurance recommendations.

  Our response: We have responded to the 2006/07 recommendations in this report.