Australia’s award-winning adventure cruise company is today certified 100% Carbon Neutral as part of its long-term and far-reaching sustainability strategy.
This key milestone – achieved in partnership with South Pole, a leading emission reductions project developer and global climate action expert – is the latest step in Aurora’s ongoing commitment to help protect and preserve the planet.
“For more than 30 years, Aurora Expeditions has been deeply committed to responsible and respectful travel,” says CEO Monique Ponfoort.
“As one of the world’s leading polar expedition operators, we are always seeking ways to innovate, educate and create a positive impact for our planet, and we will continue our active sustained efforts to help preserve the beauty and majesty that Mother Nature possesses.”
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.
Aurora Expeditions then compensates for these emissions by purchasing carbon credits from climate action projects that meet the highest international standards and sets must-reach goals, targets and timelines to ensure its emission reduction and sustainability programs are best-in-class.
Voted the ‘World’s Leading Polar Expeditions Operator’ in the 2020 World Travel Awards, Aurora Expeditions has chosen to support two climate action projects.
Aurora Expeditions invests 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 programme 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 50 kilometres 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.
“We plan to accelerate meaningful changes in our active care programmes that will make a lasting difference for our people, our expeditions and importantly the future of our planet,” adds Monique.
Image: Polar Bear Nunavut Canada, Johannes Becker
