Bellingham Marine Receives Low Carbon Certification

Bellingham Marine, Australia’s largest marina manufacturer and international industry leader, is the world’s first marina manufacturer to embrace carbon reduction and become certified under the Low Carbon Marina Initiative. The Initiative is administered by the Carbon Reduction Institute and the Marina Industries Association of Australia.

Bellingham Marine, proudly Australia’s largest marina manufacturer, can now also claim to be the world’s first marine manufacturer to take action on climate change and become LowCO2 certified. This comes as a result of the recent launch of the Low Carbon Marina Initiative, designed to provide the marina industry with an action plan against global warming. The Initiative is a joint venture between Carbon Reduction Institute (CRI) and the Marina Industries Association of Australia.

Bellingham Marine had its climate change impact assessed by CRI and implemented measures to reduce its carbon emissions. The marina manufacturer also offsets emissions with certified carbon credits.

As international industry leader and builder of the current Marina of the Year in Australia (Soldiers Point Marina, which incidentally is NoCO2 Certified) and in Asia (Keppel Bay Marina Singapore), Bellingham Marina issues a strong environmental message with its move towards low carbon practices.

“Something is happening to our climate and it is time that we wake up and realise that we, as humans, may be the cause”, Bellingham Marine General Manager John Spragg said. “At Bellingham, we firmly believe that we have to leave the planet in a better shape than we received it when we were born.”

He continues: “I have never been to an ugly place where a marina has been built, they are generally built in stunning locations, and we need to make sure the planet is looked after so we can still see these facilities and use them in the future.”

Rob Cawthorne, Managing Director of the Carbon Reduction Institute, says Bellingham’s LowCO2 certification means that the Australian marina industry is now a global leader towards more environmentally sound practices and cleaner waters. “This is not just another business reducing its carbon footprint; it is the beginning of a whole new era where climate change action is taken to a higher level. The Australian marina industry will be recognised internationally for their leadership on such an important issue”, he said.

John Spragg commented: “We have always been environmentally conscious. That’s why we didn’t hesitate when we were given the chance to lead this important global movement which will determine our future. Most of our clients are still getting their heads around the low carbon concept, but those who have embraced it are extremely supportive. We are proud that we have become a low carbon business even before our head office in the US, who are still going through the assessment process.”

With over 50 years of industry experience, and having built more marinas than anyone else in the world, Bellingham Marine believe that leading the Low Carbon Marina Initiative will help the environment on a large scale. “Carbon Reduction is a very beneficial initiative as it may help every person on the globe”, John remarked. “We all need to ensure our environment is improved for those who follow us, and we see the reduction of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere a project for each and every one of us. I sincerely hope our competitors in the marina manufacturing industry follow our lead”.

Bellingham Marina is now prominently featured on the CRI website www.noco2.com.au. Other marinas and industry associates are recognising the advantages of taking part in the Initiative and have signed up to have their carbon footprint calculated.

For more information about Bellingham Marine, please visit their website www.bellingham-marine.com.au.

Australia's Marinas Reduce Carbon Footprint

The Low Carbon Marina Initiative was launched yesterday at the Australian Marine Innovation Conference on the Gold Coast. Keynote speaker Senator The Hon Kim Carr, Australian Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research said, 'Climate change is pressing to our marine industry. The Low Carbon Marina Initiative to be launched today is one example of how the marina industry is responding to this challenge.'

The initiative is part of the Marina Industries Association of Australia (MIAA) vision to be a leader in marina environmental programs. MIAA has set a goal of a 20% reduction in the operational carbon footprint of Australian marinas by 2015.

MIAA has partnered with the Carbon Reduction Institute to develop and manage the Low Carbon Marina Initiative. The initiative provides a simple certification system to enhance the sustainability of marinas and related businesses. It allows for participation at varying levels of carbon reduction. Participating businesses go through a three step process. Firstly there is an assessment of the carbon footprint; then development of strategies to reduce carbon emissions and finally the offsetting of unavoidable carbon emissions by purchasing carbon credits.

The initiative provides marina and related operators with real cost savings and marketing benefits at a time of rapidly growing consumer awareness of the need to act on global warming.
As part of the development and lead up to the launch marinas, in Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland are already participating in the Carbon Marina Initiative. Bellingham Marine and Superior Jetties are also participating and MIAA expect over 40 businesses will be involved in the initiative within eight months.

About Low Carbon Marina Initiative
The Low Carbon Marina Initiative is a national, voluntary certification programme for marinas, yacht clubs, boat clubs, slipways and other associated industry operators across Australia.
Marinas participating in this programme reduce the impact their operations have on the environment while gaining the ability to promote their marina as one that is part of the solution for climate change. This helps attract new customers and prepares the marina industry for future legislations on climate change.
There are many more benefits involved in becoming a carbon neutral certified marina:

• Improves the marina’s public image and increases patronage


• Provides expert advice on the sustainability of renewable energy, energy efficiency and waste management onsite a marina


• Demonstrates leadership and commitment to EPA objectives


• Delivers cost savings and increases sustainability of the operations


• Decreases the impact on the environment and helps protect marine life


• As operator of a Low Carbon or Carbon Neutral Marina, the marina will benefit from using the Low Carbon Marina Initiative logos, flags and materials. This programme will be promoted across Australia.

Further details on the Low Carbon Marina Initiative can be found at www.noco2.com.au/marinas

This article was taken from Sail World.

How to offset your carbon emissions

Many carbon credit providers in Australia suggest carbon offsetting as the way to reduce your impact on climate change. However, it is nowadays widely accepted that measuring and reducing your carbon footprint should be the first steps to consider before you purchase carbon credits.

One of Australia's most reputable carbon offset providers, the Carbon Reduction Institute, points out that measuing and reducing should always come before offsetting. "There are many ways how you can lower your personal carbon footprint, which is in most beneficial for the environment; and after you've reduced everything you can you should buy carbon credits to offset your unavoidable carbon emissions." sayd Berenike Hartmann, marketing manager at the Carbon Reduction Institute.

Once you decide to buy carbon credits, you should look carefully at the schemes and company you go with. Not all carbon offset providers are accredited under any scheme and just hope to make quick money from the new emerging carbon credit market. The Carbon Reduction Institute calculator gives you the option to purchase accredited and properly certified credits, from projects that are environmentally and financially additional and permanent, resulting in a true carbon emissions saving.

For more information on carbon credits and what to look out for when you buy them can be found on the CRI website.

Australia can cut emissions by 30% for less than $1 a day

Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) today published that a new report by consultants McKinsey & Co has found Australia could reduce emissions by 30 per cent by 2020, and it would cost Australian families less than $1 a day.

“Emission reductions of at least 30 per cent by 2020 – the sort of cuts the scientists are saying we need to avoid dangerous climate change – are achievable and affordable,” said ACF’s climate change program manager Tony Mohr.

“The cost per person is about the same as the cost of one local phone call per day – a small price for saving the Great Barrier Reef, our water supplies and the agricultural sector.”
The results are consistent with those of the Australian Business Roundtable on Climate Change which found deep cuts could be achieved by 2050 “while maintaining strong economic growth”.
“The 2002-03 drought cost Australia $10 billion. The total cost of a 30 per cent cut in emissions by 2020 is less than a third of this at $2.9 billion,” Mr Mohr said. “If we fail to reduce emissions, the CSIRO says by 2030 Australia will experience drought 20 per cent more often than we do now.

“Not only are these cuts achievable and affordable, they are in Australia’s national interest.”
The McKinsey report found Australia could cut emissions by 60 per cent by 2030 – a full 20 years ahead of the Federal Government’s commitment to 60 per cent reductions by 2050.
The report also found Australia’s opportunities to reduce emissions are better than the global average and that we can do it “without major technological breakthroughs”.

“Cutting emissions by 30 per cent by 2020 can be done without using technologies that are yet to be proven or resorting to drastic, risky options like nuclear,” Mr Mohr said.