Ports of Auckland has an ambitious goal to become a zero emissions port by 2040 and has recently completed the first step toward that goal by accurately measuring their emissions and developing a plan to reduce them.

To achieve this POA partnered with Enviro-Mark Solutions and is using the Certified Emissions Measurement and Reduction Scheme (CEMARS) to measure and manage their greenhouse gas emissions. They are the first port in New Zealand to become a CEMARS certified organisation.

POA has measured the direct and indirect emissions associated with their business and those of their subsidiaries (their diesel and electricity usage, air travel etc). They have not (yet) measured emissions produced by third parties over which they have no control, for example the ships, trucks and trains which come to the port, but these will be included at a later stage.

In the 2017 financial year POA generated 16,208.47 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e). To reduce that total they have created an Emissions Management & Reduction Plan that sets out the projects and interim targets that will enable the delivery of the long-term goal of a zero emissions port by 2040.

“This is a big step for us,” says Ports of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson. “It is easy to set goals, but another thing to actually start delivering. We are now in a position to deliver. We know the scale of the challenge and we have a clear plan and achievable milestones to tackle it.” 

Gibson says this is the first initiative of many and POA looks forward to announcing more work in this area in the near future.