Port of Newcastle has released its annual report measuring the organisation's
progress towards achieving its sustainability targets.
Port of Newcastle's CEO Craig Carmody said the 2020 Sustainability Report
examined the Port's efforts to embed the principles of sustainability across its
operations.
"In a year that was defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, Port of Newcastle
continued to pursue a diverse range of initiatives to create sustainable social,
environmental and economic benefits for the Hunter and NSW," said Mr Carmody.
"I am especially proud to see the Port's new fleet of electric vehicles on the road
and the establishment of our first Indigenous STEM Scholarship in partnership
with the University of Newcastle.
"These are just some of the initiatives that we are progressing today to create a
safe, sustainable, and environmentally and socially responsible port of the future."
The release of the 2020 Sustainability Report follows the April announcement of
a landmark loan for Port of Newcastle (PON) that aligns financing for Australia's
largest east coast seaport with long-term environmentally and socially responsible
outcomes.
This is the first sustainability-linked financing by an Australian seaport and the first
such loan in Australia to include a modern slavery assessment metric addressing
all of the borrower's suppliers.
The other four metrics focus on emissions reduction, mental health first aid, diversity
and inclusion and achieving certified recognition against the NSW Government
Sustainability Advantage Scheme.
The 2020 Sustainability report uses Port of Newcastle's sustainability framework to
highlight the achievements made in 2020: Our People, Our Planet, Our Prosperity
and Our Partnerships.
Click here to read the report.
Highlights of the 2020 Sustainability Report
Our Planet
- Significant reduction in operational carbon emissions from previous years.
- Port operations on track to be powered by 100% renewable energy by 2021,
with 90.5% of our electricity supply transitioned to renewables in 2020. - By the end of 2020, approximately 70% of PON's vehicle fleet switched to
electric. - Port of Newcastle's positioning as a critical gateway for renewable energy
technology was bolstered in 2020 with the continued shipments of wind and staff members who identify as Aboriginal. Our Prosperity
- 4,414 vessel movements.
- 165 million tonnes of trade worth $26 billion to the NSW economy.
- Continued efforts to progress diversification projects and the growth of existing
diversified trade. About Port of Newcastle's sustainability commitments
In driving long term value creation for the Hunter region and New South Wales,
sustainability is at the core of Port of Newcastle's culture and business strategy. As part
of its sustainability framework, Port of Newcastle is focused on:
- Improving and growing existing supply chains and diversifying trade to ensure
continued economic growth for the Hunter Region and NSW; - Minimising and offsetting the Port's environmental footprint, as well as maintaining
the status of being the world's largest energy port by supporting the global movement towards the use of renewable energy; - Partnering with our employees, customers and community on initiatives that ensure
the Port continues to support thriving, prosperous communities for generations to come.
Read more about the Port's sustainability commitments.
Commitments and goals for 2021 and beyond
As the Port continues to embed sustainability principles across its operations, it is also
pursuing a diverse range of initiatives to create sustainable social, environmental and
economic benefits for the Hunter and NSW.
In 2021, some of these include:
- Reduce and maintain PON's Scope 1 and 2 emissions in line with the Science
Based Target initiative (SBTi) well below 2°C scenario; - Achieve 100% renewable power for our electricity needs by 2021;
- Transition entire vehicle fleet to electric by 2023;
- Achieve Silver Partner recognition under NSW Government Sustainability
Advantage Program; - Develop a Diversity and Inclusion Strategy;
- Develop an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander internship program;
- Assess 100% of our suppliers for modern slavery risk;
- Develop a sustainability financing framework; and
- 100% of staff undertaking mandatory cultural awareness training.