World leader in event eco-responsibility
A worldwide pioneer in event eco-responsibility, the Bagotville International Air Show (BIAS) is implementing responsible management practices consistent with Quebec and international standards.
To achieve its goals, the organizing committee is partnering with the Environment Office at CFB Bagotville and is supported by several organizations: UNISFÉRA/Planetair and Eurêko! The Environment Office is the project lead for the responsible event management system at CFB Bagotville and is guiding BIAS in its progress toward becoming a green event.
Thanks to this collective effort directed at obtaining the ISO 20121:2012, BNQ 9700-253/2010 and Carbon Neutral certifications, BIAS 2019 will be the most eco-responsible air show in the world.
Certifications
ISO Standard 20121:2012 – Event sustainability management systems
The Environment Office, under the authority of the Commander of CFB Bagotville, is the organization responsible for developing, implementing and updating the responsible event management system. Its mandate is to provide advice and guidance for any event or part of an event held on the base that could be subject to the standard.
This international standard specifies requirements for an event sustainability management system. The goal is to provide guidance to ensure that events are managed based on the principles of sustainable development. Applying this standard involves taking on challenges designed to optimize the planning and operation processes and reflecting on how the performance of event sustainability management can be continuously improved.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent international non-governmental organization whose members are national standards bodies.
BNQ Standard 9700-253/2010 – Sustainable Development – Responsible Event Management
CFB Bagotville has applied to the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) for certification of its responsible event management system. BIAS 2019 will be the pilot event enabling CFB Bagotville to demonstrate that its management system meets the requirements for the BNQ 9700-253/2010 standard. The classification level expected for BIAS 2019 under this standard is Level 2. Until now, very few events on the scale of BIAS have been certified under the BNQ’s responsible event management standard.
The BNQ 9700-253/2010 standard sets requirements for responsible event management practices that an organizer must meet to demonstrate its ability to produce an event that follows through on its commitments and takes sustainable development principles into account.
The BNQ is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada as a standards development organization. It is a world-class organization and the only body representing Quebec’s interests in this field that has the capacity to follow these rules and develop standards on this basis.
Planetair – carbon neutral
A carbon neutral event is one that is organized and carried out in order to minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and offset non-reducible emissions by purchasing recognized carbon credits that neutralize the impact on the climate. For BIAS 2019, ALL greenhouse gases produced by the organizers’ and participants’ activities, before and during the event, will be offset through Planetair’s Gold Standard carbon credits.
Planetair’s carbon neutral logo is recognized throughout Quebec and Canada. Planetair certification attests that all GHG emissions have been quantified and offset. The organization offers the best carbon credits on the market. This is the most stringent standard for carbon-offset projects. The credits selected by BIAS for its 2019 event come from reforestation projects in urban and semi-urban areas in Quebec.
Planetair, launched by the Unisféra International Centre, is a service that helps reduce and offset ecological footprints – specifically, the impact of human activity on the climate.
Our partner
The Environment Office at CFB Bagotville
The Environment Office is leading the way in protection and responsible management of the environment on CFB Bagotville property. It is making sustained efforts to comply with environmental laws and regulations, reduce the Air Force’s ecological footprint, resolve legacy environmental issues, implement all possible measures for recovery and protection of species at risk, and support the initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as set out in the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.
By becoming the manager of CFB Bagotville’s responsible event management system, the Environment Office is contributing to achieving Canada’s sustainable development objectives and to successfully implementing the new Defence Energy and Environment Strategy, which applies to the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.
Who we work with
UNISFÉRA
With support from the Unisféra International Centre, CFB Bagotville and the BIAS 2019 organizing committee have put in place the essential components of a responsible event management system. Unisféra’s expertise also enabled CFB Bagotville and BIAS 2019 to make rapid progress toward achieving their objectives in terms of sustainable management.
Founded in 2002, UNISFÉRA is an international independent strategic advisory firm and think tank focused on innovation, sustainability, corporate responsibility, international development and governance. In 2006, UNISFÉRA created the Planetair program for offsetting the climate impacts of greenhouse gase
Eurêko!
Since 2013, EURÊKO! has been ensuring effective execution of event eco-responsibility (green team management, environmentally responsible management of waste materials, compilation of data and awareness). BIAS 2019 has taken on a new challenge: recovering putrescible materials generated through composting in certain areas, particularly in the volunteers’ cafeteria.
On the strength of its industry-recognized solid expertise, EURÊKO! offers citizens and other community, private, institutional and government actors various activities based on defending and promoting a healthy environment and improving quality of life in the community.
SAIB’s social involvement in the community
BIAS promotes wider distribution of positive spinoffs in the community. To that end, approximately 75% of BIAS’s suppliers are located within 100 km of the event site. In addition, any unused food supplies will be redistributed free of charge to organizations such as the Maison d’accueil (a homeless shelter) and the Soupe populaire (soup kitchen), both in Chicoutimi.
