Big Cat Green Island Trip - Great Barrier Reef

Carbon Neutral Certificate
Thursday, December 04, 2008

In recognition for its climate change initiatives, Cairns reef operator, Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises has received the highest level of certification under Eco Tourism Australia’s inaugural Climate Action Certification Program.

In a first among Great Barrier Reef cruise operators, Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises has not only implemented numerous emission reduction actions, but has elected to make its business totally Carbon Neutral by offsetting remaining emissions.

Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises is an award-winning reef cruise operator that was purchased by its owner-operators in 1990, the Wallace Family.  The company operates half and full day cruises to Green Island.

In making this announcement today, General Manager, Kim Thomas said “We are very excited to have achieved carbon neutral status. We understand our actions alone are not going to save the world from climate change.  As a company, we are committed to reducing emissions because it makes very good sense for the environment and our business.

“As far we are aware, Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises is the first major Great Barrier Reef Marine Park tourism operator to achieve carbon neutral status. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has co-sponsored this certification program and their Climate Change Group has been very supportive throughout the process,” said Mr Thomas.

Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises achieved carbon neutral status by offsetting emissions through Greenfleet Australia; who in turn plant native trees within Australia as part of its Federal Government certified offsetting program.

“We are currently working with Greenfleet to organise tree planting within our local GBR water catchment area in an attempt to directly improve the water quality of Far North Queensland reefs. This will improve the resilience of these reefs to climate change impacts,” said Mr Thomas.

Although Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises will fund all offsetting costs passengers too will be invited to offset their own carbon footprint at cruise check-in.

Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises was also recently certified under the Federal Government’s climate change initiative, the Greenhouse Challenge Plus.

“This program includes a formal agreement in which the company commits to ongoing emission reductions and annual emission and system audits,” concluded Mr Thomas.