Global sustainability solutions provider, South Pole, has achieved official climate neutral certification for its Australian operations against the federal government's National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS) (now the Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard).
The move to secure certification under the NCOS marks a significant milestone for South Pole's business in Australia, and is a natural continuation of its global emission reduction and carbon offsetting efforts, which are undertaken annually according to the company's own PAS 2060-aligned climate neutrality standards.
South Pole's Senior Carbon & Energy Manager - Australia, Jay van Rijn, says that rising regional interest in climate and sustainability solutions meant that achieving carbon neutrality against the NCOS was a clear next step for South Pole Australia.
" We're working with a growing number of organisations, businesses and government authorities in Australia that are looking to offset their environmental impact and embark on their sustainability journeys, so it's important that we're leading by example," says van Rijn.
South Pole's market presence in Australia has grown in recent years; early last year the company launched EcoAustralia™, a carbon credit product aimed at Australian biodiversity protection, and more recently achieved Best Advisor for renewable energy certificates in Australia in the 2018 Environmental Finance Annual Market Rankings.
To achieve certification, South Pole Australia identified emission sources and implemented reduction activities, with a focus on behavioural change among employees and using renewable energy where possible. Remaining emissions were offset through South Pole's Kariba REDD+ project, a community-based forest conservation project in Zimbabwe.
The sustainability solutions provider joins a growing number of organisations seeking carbon neutral certification against the NCOS, which currently has 81 certifications across 67 organisations.
Managed by the Department of the Environment and Energy, the National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS) is the Australian Government's voluntary carbon offsetting program, which is available to organisations, buildings, precincts and events looking to manage their greenhouse gas emissions and achieve carbon neutrality.
Other NCOS-certified carbon neutral organisations include the Sydney Opera House, National Australia Bank and Frasers Property Australia.
You can read more about South Pole Australia's climate neutrality certification against NCOS on the Department website, or learn more about South Pole's own best-in-class climate neutrality labels here.
Article updated: 15/11/2019
