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Posted by David Sexton
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2 October, 2025
A “TESTAMENT to the efforts of the Port of Newcastle team” is how chief executive Craig Carmody has described the port scoring 100% in the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB)
The port not only earned top GRESB honours but also maintained its 5-star rating for a fifth consecutive year and was also ranked first in the world for its management score, recognises approaches to governance and environmental, social and governance management.
Mr Carmody said the result was a phenomenal achievement.
“To receive the highest GRESB score of 100 is a testament to the efforts of our Port of Newcastle team to embed ESG best practice processes across the business and to make sustainability a part of not just our culture, but the broader port supply chain through stakeholder collaboration,” he said.
“Port of Newcastle has set ambitious targets and KPIs for decarbonisation, diversity and inclusion, and safety, and we have been making efforts to improve our internal systems and increase the transparency of our reporting.
“To go from a score of 40 in our first GRESB assessment in 2019 to a score of 100 six years later demonstrates our commitment to ESG and to ensuring our business remains safe, efficient, and sustainable.”
Mr Carmody said they had made “no secret” of their diversification strategy, which they believed was key to “developing the port of the future”.
He highlighted three strategic priorities—a clean energy precinct, renewables terminal and deepwater container terminal—which together would deliver generational change, provide employment and drive economic growth.
“As a global trade gateway, the port has also welcomed initial shipments of an expected 30,000 wind farm components, which will be the cornerstone of NSW’s clean energy transformation over the next decade,” Mr Carmody said.
GRESB is an international sustainability benchmarking tool, providing quantitative insight into the ESG performance of major infrastructure assets.
A 5-star GRESB rating is the highest obtainable rating.
“Achieving a top score does not mean we will be resting on our laurels. Port of Newcastle is committed to continuous improvement, so we see this as an opportunity to reassess and find new and better way of doing things,” Mr Carmody said.
“We are actively working towards establishing biodiversity targets and are striving to be a nature-positive organisation."
Port of Newcastle has a target for net zero emissions by 2040.
The Port has also resolved to undertake GRESB benchmarking annually as a commitment to sustainability leadership within the ports sector.
