This week, the Whitsunday Healthy Heart (WHH) project continued its good work with a new online workshop that inspired attendees to reduce the carbon footprint of their businesses.
Participants were taught how to implement sustainability principles into their
business, manage risks and get recognised for their efforts through innovative marketing tips.
The WHH Project is part of the Reef Islands Initiative, the largest reef habitat rehabilitation project of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
One of the key project activities is to assist the tourism sector to identify and measure their greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting activities within their operations.
Since 2021, 29 tourism businesses have completed measuring their GHG emissions and received their baseline GHG emissions footprint.
Climate Change Resilience Officer at Whitsunday Regional Council, Lee Hawkins said, “It is crucial that operators measure their business’s footprint.”
“What is measured can be managed. It allows targeted reductions in emissions and helps identify the source of emissions in each business operation,” she said.
At the end of March 2024, a total of 30,216 tonnes of CO2-e (carbon dioxide equivalents) emissions had been measured by tourism businesses, including Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions (waste only).
Scope 1 emissions are direct GHG from sources such as fuel combustion, in ships, cars and gas appliances.
Scope 2 emissions are indirect GHG emissions such as those associated with the purchase of electricity.
The project provides an opportunity for engaged partners within the local tourism sector to set higher and more ambitious targets for climate change mitigation, therefore
improving the health of our reef and leading the region in achieving a zero net emissions target by 2050.
Great Barrier Reef. Photo supplied
