By
Rebecca Gibson |
Australia-based operator Aurora Expeditions is prioritising people and the planet to achieve its vision of becoming the “global leader in sustainable expedition travel”, according to its first-ever Impact Report.
Titled Protecting the world’s wild places, the report provides a comprehensive overview of Aurora Expeditions’ strategy to implement sustainable practices in all areas of its business, including its progress to date and its future targets.
The operator, which received climate neutral certification from climate consultancy South Pole in 2021, aims to achieve net-zero emissions and is supporting seven of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. It is also on track to achieve B Corp Certification by 2024. This will certify that the business meets the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability.
Some of Aurora Expeditions’ planet-related initiatives include reducing emissions, using renewable energy, decreasing plastics, improving waste management and water conservation, and participating in biodiversity conservation projects.
Meanwhile, highlights of its people-related projects include educating employees about sustainability, honouring female conservations, delivering information to passengers via expert teams and Citizen Science projects onboard its two vessels, and supporting access to climate change education for young people globally. In addition, it is also collaborating on projects with individuals and organisations, such as marine biologist and oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle and Ocean Geographic.
“We are incredibly proud to release our first Impact Report, which outlines our commitment to sustainability and our vision to be the global leader in sustainable expedition travel,” said Michael Heath, CEO of Aurora Expeditions. “This is about transparency and accountability for us as a business, and acknowledging where we are on our sustainability journey.
“We are acutely aware of the planet’s rapidly evolving climate crisis and the urgency with which we must all work together to help protect and regenerate our shared planet. Expedition travel holds a unique opportunity to educate and inspire people, which we believe is pivotal to safeguarding the wild and awe-inspiring places we visit.”
Read the full Impact Report: Protecting the world’s wild places