THE Port of Newcastle has been named as a finalist in the Banksia Foundation’s 2021 NSW Sustainability Awards in the categories of Net Zero Action and Small and Medium Enterprise Transformation Award.
The awards will be presented on 9 December and winners will go forward to the Banksia Foundation’s National Sustainability Awards.
Port of Newcastle CEO Craig Carmody said both nominations in Australia’s longest running sustainability awards is a welcome acknowledgement of the port’s sustainability journey following the launch of its first ESG strategy in 2019.
“It is a privilege to be recognised as a finalist.. amongst organisations who, like the Port of Newcastle, are leading the way in making progress toward creating a sustainable future for the communities they support, the state and the nation,” he said.
“We are proud of our sustainability achievements over the past 12 months despite the challenges faced globally.”
Achievements include gaining a GRESB ranking of 92 and ranking first in Oceania; gaining Silver Partner status in the NSW Sustainability Advantage Program; the transition of 75% of the vehicle fleet to electric vehicles; and securing a 100% renewable energy contract for 90.5% of electricity usage, the remainder to be fully renewable by end of 2021.
Port of Newcastle’s ESG strategy lays out its long-term commitment to net zero by 2040 and also defines its medium term SBTi approved target for Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
Port of Newcastle’s CFO Nick Livesey said the port has extended its approach to sustainability to innovative financing for its planned diversification investments which will support new industries such as green energy and future career pathways.
“Through our innovative sustainability financing frameworks, Port of Newcastle has established itself as a global leader in the industry by demonstrating the use of financial instruments to support credible, ESG-compliant business diversification,” he said.
“Our planned investment over the next five years is aimed at enabling the immediate diversification of our business, improving our existing operations and further expanding our portfolio of 26 trades that currently come through the port.”
