By GeelongPort
GeelongPort became the first port in Australia to make a voluntary commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in September 2020.
By signing up and committing to the SBTi’s, GeelongPort is doing its part to reduce its scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 from a 2018 base year and to measure and reduce scope 3 emissions. This target is consistent with greenhouse gas emission reductions required to limit warming to 1.5°C.
These targets are directly linked to the outcomes and objectives in our Environment Strategy and will help us achieve our environmental vision ‘to be Australia’s most environmentally sustainable bulk port.’
The SBTi, is a global collaboration between the Carbon Disclosure Project, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute, and the Worldwide Fund for Nature. This global body supports businesses to set emissions reduction targets in line with climate science.
Recently the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report released in August 2021 sent a clear message about the latest climate science: “Global warming of 1.5°C and 2°C will be exceeded during the 21st century unless deep reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions occur in the coming decades.”
Dr Lisa Mills, Environment and Sustainability Manager at GeelongPort said “The SBTi champions setting greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets in line with the level of decarbonisation required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – to pursue efforts to limit global warming to 1.5oC.”
“Here at GeelongPort, we have a long-term objective to draw all energy from renewable sources, and our commitment to the SBTi’s supports this strategic outcome. Currently, over 80% of our emissions result from purchased electricity.”
“We recently released our first SBTi report and are happy to have made a 15% reduction in our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions from a 2018 baseline year, which equates to one year of energy use from just over 50 homes.”
“We are investing in a number of initiatives in order to achieve our 50% decrease target, including an exciting project where we are looking at sourcing renewable energy for our operations through the Barwon Region Renewable Energy Project, a partnership with Barwon Health and Barwon Water,” said Dr. Mills.
GeelongPort, acknowledges its responsibility in providing and promoting a sustainable environment for all employees, contractors, customers, port users, visitors, and members of the public and is proud to have joined more than 1,000 companies worldwide who are leading the zero-carbon transition by setting emissions reduction targets through the SBTi’s.
Note: GeelongPort is a member of Shipping Australia.
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