A GUIDANCE document to help Australian ports work their way through measuring and managing emissions has helped Ports Australia to a spot in the prestigious International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) Sustainability Awards.
The nomination in the 2025 award recognises Ports Australia’s leadership in decarbonisation through the development of its Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Guidance for Ports.
Developed in partnership with Worley Consulting and with expert input from Ports Australia's Climate Change and Decarbonisation Sub-Committee, the guidance document provides practical, sector-specific guidance for ports to measure and manage emissions across Scopes 1, 2 and 3.
This guidance is the first of its kind and is designed to support ports of all sizes in developing practical plans to decarbonise.
Ports Australia CEO, Mike Gallacher, said he was proud to see the port’s work celebrated on a local stage.
“As Australia moves toward a net-zero economy, it’s important for our ports to have alignment and clarity on emissions inventories. While undertaking this project, we found that there was nothing else like this in the world, so our ports have come together to develop this guidance that will not only benefit port operators, but also other key stakeholders, such as tenants and service operators.”
A Ports Australia media release announcing the nomination said the IAPH Awards, run through the World Ports Sustainability Program, celebrate projects that contribute meaningfully to the long-term resilience, sustainability and innovation of the global ports sector.
“Since its release, the guidance has fostered collaboration among ports, sparking new conversations across sectors on national, coordinated efforts on the net-zero journey. The resource has also gained international recognition and holds potential to be adapted across other elements of the supply chain,” the release said.
Port of Brisbane’s Head of Sustainability, Craig Wilson, is the Chair of Ports Australia’s Climate Change and Decarbonisation Sub-Committee and along with other committee members, provided input into the project.
“Australia’s port industry recognised a clear need for dedicated guidance to navigate the complex challenges of emissions data collection and reporting,” Mr Wilson said.
“Through a highly collaborative effort led by Ports Australia, we have developed a practical, fit-for-purpose guidance document to suppot ports nationwide and with potential for adoption across the sector.”
The guidance was developed with the support of Worley Consulting, who hold international expertise in sustainability solutions.
Dr Allison Hanly, APAC Senior Director of Environment and Sustainability at Worley Consulting said they were pleased to have helped Ports Australia address the need for emissions guidance, while appreciating that no two ports operate the same.
“A practical approach with principles that can be applied widely means that ports across Australia can benefit from the guidance, while also acting as an example to other regions. Ports are a critical part of our economic infrastructure, and it is vital that stakeholders show leadership when it comes to making them more sustainable,” she said
The guidance is freely available to download via Ports Australia’s website.
The IAPH Sustainability Award winners will be announced in October 2025 at the World Ports Conference in Kobe, Japan.
