Australia’s adventure cruise company Aurora Expeditions has been certified 100 percent carbon neutral as part of its long-term sustainability strategy. The key milestone is achieved in partnership with South Pole, an emission reductions project developer and global climate action expert.
The South Pole Climate Neutral Company certification has been achieved by a combination of key sustainability initiatives across the company’s business operations. In a three-step plan in partnership with South Pole, Aurora Expeditions calculates all GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions across its business operations annually. It then compensates for these emissions by purchasing carbon credits from climate action projects, and sets must-reach goals, targets and timelines.
Aurora Expeditions has chosen to support two climate action projects. It is investing in InfraVest Tongyuan Wind Farm, a renewable energy project in northwest Taiwan harnessing wind power for a sustainable and secure energy future.
In addition to supporting an emissions reduction project, Aurora also supports a biodiversity conservation project in Australia. Mount Sandy Conservation on South Australia’s Limestone Coast promotes conservation partnerships between the traditional Ngarrindjeri landowners and non-Indigenous Australians through vital conservation work.
The program ensures permanent protection of a regionally and culturally important pocket of biodiversity-rich land. Birds, animals, and plants flourish undisturbed, while native plants for revegetation are supplied by the local nursery at Raukkan Aboriginal Community, a self-governed Indigenous community 31 miles northwest of the project site. Raukkan community members are also employed for onsite works, including vegetation monitoring, fencing, and pest and weed control.
Carbon Neutrality is just one of the actions Aurora is taking. The company says it is aiming to create a positive impact by “continuing to build both guest and staff legacy for the benefit of the planet; deepening connection and understanding of the profound and unique places that we explore; enriching the guest experience through onboard lectures and participative Citizen Science programs; creating our new sustainable food program; and championing women in conservation.”
On its newest ship, the Sylvia Earle, the decks are all named and themed after seven global ocean conservationists from plastics pollution campaigner Jo Ruxton and coral conservation champion Dr. Carden Wallace to young conservationists Hanli Prinsloo dedicated to conserving and protecting the world's oceans through human experience and Dr. Asha de Vos, marine biologist, ocean educator and pioneer of blue whale research. Each deck has a curated gallery experience honoring these women and importantly, shining a light on their crucial global environmental causes.
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