Net Zero

Net zero emissions refers to achieving an overall balance between greenhouse gas emissions produced and greenhouse gas emissions taken out of the atmosphere. Establishing a net zero target requires identifying all types of direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions that are related to an organisation. Net zero targets, such as Port Authority’s, typically relate to greenhouse gas emissions split into 2 categories: 

• Scope 1 emissions are those generated directly by an organisation such as fuel burned in company vehicles and vessels and natural gas burned at facilities. As an example, for Port Authority, this mainly consists of the fuel used in our working vessel fleet.
• Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy, such as electricity. For example, for Port Authority, this consists primarily of the emissions generated to produce the electricity we consume at all of our sites. 

Not part of Port Authority’s current net zero targets but still a key focus area in terms of partnerships, collaboration and Port Authority’s Shore Power project, Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions that occur in the value chain of an organisation, both upstream and downstream. For Port Authority this would include emissions from activities such as employee business travel or employee commuting, plus those from commercial vessels visiting our berths and certain operations of our port tenants. 

By identifying all the emissions related to Port Authority, it allows us to create a tangible and actionable plan to reduce those emissions. In setting out a Net Zero Roadmap, this creates a way for us to communicate our actions for change and measure our progress towards the targets. 

The purpose of setting a net zero target is to: 

• Act proactively to address climate change to help future-proof our organisation, community and operations   
• Demonstrate leadership within the sector, including the critically important international shipping sector, and joining a select few port organisations nationally and regionally to have set a net zero target 
• Play an active role in the required cooperation between ports and shipping to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships  
• Join the groundswell of corporate and government entities making net-zero commitments 
• Build community and stakeholder trust and respect for setting meaningful targets and following through with meaningful action 
• Drive innovation within the organisation  
• Improve staff retention and attraction  
• Save resources through implementation of efficiencies.

Update July 2024

As of 1 January 2024, Port Authority achieved full State-wide offsetting of all its ‘large site’ electricity consumption with renewable generation under the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) via the purchase of equivalent electricity generated by renewable energy projects in the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) and sourcing 100% renewable electricity for all ‘small sites’ through the State government electricity contract.

Port Authority’s renewable energy purchase has significantly reduced Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for FY24, bringing them down to zero as of 1 January 2024 under the market-based method. Accounting for the full FY24 period, a reduction of 74% was observed from 2019, dropping from 2,665 tCO-e to just 686 tCO2-e.

Port Authority’s calculated Scope 1 and 2 emissions for FY24 were 3,786 tCO2-e using the market-based method, with 3,101 tCO2-e of Scope 1 emissions. For FY25, Port Authority will continue working towards its net zero targets, with a primary focus on initiatives aimed at reducing Scope 1 emissions and improving the transparency and accuracy in emissions data collection.