Top marks for Newcastle, NSW in global sustainability rating

(Posted on 02/10/25)

Port of Newcastle, the largest on Australia’s east coast, has reaffirmed its position as a global leader in sustainability, scoring 100 per cent in the coveted Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB), while maintaining its 5-star rating for a fifth consecutive year.

The Port was also ranked first in the world for its management score, which recognises PON’s mature approach to governance and how it manages Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks and opportunities. Port of Newcastle CEO, Craig Carmody said the result was a phenomenal achievement.

“To receive the highest GRESB score of 100 is a testament to the efforts of our Port of Newcastle team to embed ESG best practice processes across the business and to make sustainability a part of not just our culture, but the broader port supply chain through stakeholder collaboration,” Mr Carmody said.

“Port of Newcastle has set ambitious targets and KPIs for decarbonisation, diversity and inclusion, and safety, and we have been making efforts to improve our internal systems and increase the transparency of our reporting. To go from a score of 40 in our first GRESB assessment in 2019 to a score of 100 six years later demonstrates our commitment to ESG and to ensuring our business remains safe, efficient, and sustainable.

“We have made no secret of our diversification strategy, which we believe is key to developing the port of the future. Central to this are our three strategic priorities – a Clean Energy Precinct, Renewables Terminal and Deepwater Container Terminal – which together will deliver generational change, providing employment opportunities and driving economic growth for the Hunter region and the state.

“As a global trade gateway, the Port has also welcomed initial shipments of an expected 30,000 wind farm components, which will be the cornerstone of NSW’s clean energy transformation over the next decade.”

GRESB is an international sustainability benchmarking tool, providing quantitative insight into the ESG performance of major infrastructure assets.

A 5-star GRESB rating is the highest obtainable rating, which recognises industry leaders in sustainability and is reserved for the top 20 per cent of all companies surveyed globally.

“Achieving a top score does not mean we will be resting on our laurels. Port of Newcastle is committed to continuous improvement, so we see this as an opportunity to reassess and find new and better way of doing things,” Mr Carmody said.

“We are actively working towards establishing biodiversity targets and are striving to be a nature-positive organisation by reporting against the Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures.”