Port of Newcastle chosen to host international leaders at inaugural GreenPort Congress Oceania

Port of Newcastle will showcase its sustainability achievements to the world when it brings the first GreenPort Congress to be held in Oceania to Newcastle from 15-17 February 2023.

The conference will be first time the long-running GreenPort Congress is held in the Southern Hemisphere, bringing together port professionals, industry representatives and academia from around the world to discuss the latest in sustainable environmental practices and emerging legislation, alongside practical ways ports can reduce their carbon footprints.

Port of Newcastle CEO Craig Carmody said the GreenPort Congress Oceania 2023 will provide a key collaboration and learning opportunity for port leaders who are also committed to leading the way in environmental management and sustainably operated ports.

“Forming partnerships and sharing knowledge are critical to our ability to create a safe, sustainable, environmentally and socially responsible Port for the future,” Mr Carmody said.

“At Port of Newcastle we pride ourselves on not just talking about what we can do, but in taking action, and to date we have made great inroads in delivering against our ambitious environmental, social and governance targets and objectives.

“The inaugural GreenPorts Congress Oceania provides an exciting opportunity for the Port, as the host, to share our learnings and collaborate with a broad group of like-minded stakeholders, while showcasing beautiful Newcastle to the world.”

The GreenPort Congress, now in its 17th year, attracts more than 200 attendees from 30 countries and is expected to further enhance Newcastle’s reputation as a green, global city and destination of choice for business-related tourism.

City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes congratulated the Port of Newcastle for securing the GreenPort Congress as a further commitment to the city’s shared environmental sustainability goals.

“Both the City and the Port are now powered by 100% renewable energy in our operations, and we are firmly committed to working as key partners to continue to drive environmental sustainability outcomes for our community,” Cr Nelmes said.

“The GreenPort Congress provides a wonderful opportunity to further highlight our strong partnership on the global stage and to provide our significant insights into the economic and social benefits of embedding sustainable practices into our operations.”

Port of Newcastle was the first port in Australia and New Zealand to become a member of the international EcoPorts network and continues to be a strong advocate for the benefits of the EcoPorts initiative.

The Port is also considered a global leader in sustainability best practice, having recently retained its five-star GRESB rating and increased its overall score to 95 out of a possible 100 points in 2022.

Chief Financial Officer Nick Livesey said the conference follows the latest successful GreenPort Congress meeting in October hosted by the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium.

“Port of Newcastle is committed to driving the principles of sustainability in all aspects of our business, so to be able to facilitate an international forum that focusses on practical options for addressing the challenges facing ports will benefit not just ourselves but ports around the world.”

The GreenPort Congress Oceania 2023 will be chaired by Science Coordinator EcoPorts, EcoSLC and current chair of GreenPort Congress and Cruise, Christopher Wooldridge and will conclude with a half-day port tour.

Port of Newcastle will also be hosting GreenPort Oceania live on the 14 November 2022, a live online forum, which looks at the risks of climate change in the maritime sector. Panellists will discuss and respond to questions on potential risks and opportunities associated with climate change for ports.

For more information, visit www.portstrategy.com/greenport-congress-oceania

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