GeelongPort quits carbon neutral, offset commitment

GeelongPort has quit plans for carbon neutral certification less than two years after first achieving the milestone.

GeelongPort at the North Geelong Port. Picture: Brad Fleet

GeelongPort has quit plans for carbon neutral certification less than two years after first achieving the milestone.

The port announced it would not apply for the certification in the 2023 financial year and would stop buying offsets to reduce emissions.

A statement revealed the company was working on a “long-term carbon reduction plan” but did not elaborate on the reasons behind the switch.

“Offsets for the financial year 2021-22 will be the last offsets we purchase as we work on delivering a realistic and achievable medium- and long-term carbon reduction plan,” it read.

“This plan will be established by December 2024.”

It comes less than a year after the port was sold off in a $1.1bn deal between US infrastructure investor Stonepeak and Australian fund Spirit Super.

“Carbon reduction is a complex process – and at GeelongPort we want to get it right,” the statement read.

“We will keep everyone updated as we continue on our decarbonisation journey.”

It’s understood the port has already submitted its certification information for the 2022 financial year, and is awaiting review.

In 2021, GeelongPort was lauded by environmental groups when it became the first in Australia to achieve carbon neutral certification in its business operations.

The process was first pitched under the company’s environment strategy released in 2019.

Under the plan, all energy was to be drawn from renewable resources and carbon emissions were to be offset.

At the time, GeelongPort chief executive Brett Winter said he was “thrilled” to achieve the milestone.

“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”.

As part of emissions-reduction efforts, the port moved toward paperless offices, installed data loggers on major water meters and installed shore power instastructure for Spirit of Tasmania vessels to reduce engine usage while at berth.

Originally published as GeelongPort quits carbon neutral, offset commitment