GeelongPort goes carbon neutral

GEELONGPORT has become the first port in Australia to achieve Climate Active carbon neutral certification for its business operations.

Reaching carbon neutrality was one of the long-term objectives in GeelongPort’s 20-year Environment Strategy, released in 2019.

The port is delivering on this objective by sourcing renewable energy and offsetting all residual carbon emissions.

GeelongPort chief executive officer Brett Winter is thrilled that GeelongPort has become the first port in Australia to get the Climate Active certification.

“At GeelongPort we acknowledge that climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing communities globally, and we are committed to doing everything we can to reduce our impact,” he said.

“We know we have a long way to go but it is important we start investing in renewable energy and carbon offsets now while we continue investigating and developing longer term decarbonisation initiatives, including future clean energy opportunities.”

Climate Active is a government-backed carbon neutral certification, which includes an independent audit and encourages businesses to drive voluntary climate action.

The certification is awarded to businesses and organisations that have credibly reached a state of achieving net zero emissions, otherwise known as carbon neutrality.

To become carbon neutral, businesses and organisations calculate the greenhouse gas emissions generated by their activity, such as fuel or electricity use and travel, and reduce these emissions as much as possible by investing in new technology or changing the way they operate. Any remaining emissions can be cancelled out by purchasing carbon offsets.

“It is exciting to have GeelongPort as the first port in Australia to become Climate Active carbon neutral certified for its business operations and to know they are doing their bit to drive voluntary action,” Climate Active’s Katrina Maguire said.

GeelongPort says it is committed to becoming Australia’s most sustainable bulk port, and as an infrastructure asset and key regional gateway for Australia’s supply chains, is playing a key leadership role in responding to the impacts of climate change and helping to transform Victoria’s supply chains toward a clean energy future.

The port’s Environment Strategy has four focus areas:

• Minimising resource use
• Eliminating waste and emissions
• Nurturing port land, and
• Supporting an appealing and healthy Corio Bay and environs.

For more information, head to the GeelongPort website.