Wine Australia has today announced new investment in the industry’s roadmap towards net zero emissions, partnering with sustainability specialist consultants, Edge Environment.
Edge Environment will work with Wine Australia, and the wider wine and grape sector, to develop an Emissions Reduction Roadmap. This framework will put in place realistic carbon emissions reduction targets, and provide actionable information and tools for producers.
Wine Australia General Manager Research, Development and Adoption Dr Liz Waters stated that the roadmap is aligned with the organisation’s wider commitments to sustainability.
“Wine, like other agricultural industries, is seeing increasing social, regulatory and market pressures to respond to climate change,” Dr Waters said.
Dr Waters also believes that this roadmap will help the industry to reach its targets ahead of time.
“The Australian grape and wine community collectively set a goal to have net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and the roadmap is essential in helping achieve this while also supporting the commercial needs of grape and wine businesses. With the right advice and support, we believe that the wine sector can have net zero carbon emissions well before 2050.
“The threat of climate change to the global wine sector was recognised some time ago and the response requires multiple solutions in both adapting to the impacts of climate change and taking action to reduce the emissions that cause climate change,” Dr Waters added.
Emissions Reduction Roadmap will be developed with ‘extensive engagement with stakeholders across the entire production chain’ to make sure that it is ‘not just ambitious, but also clear, practical, and well-supported, with wine businesses and bodies clear on their roles and responsibilities.’ This engagement and consultation will occur over the next six months.
Olivia Tyler, Edge Environment Managing Director for ANZ, also commented on the partnership.
“We’re delighted to be supporting Wine Australia and Australian Grape & Wine on this key project. The criticality for developing and adopting a net zero emissions roadmap for the sector has never been clearer,” Tyler said.
“Our team brings deep experience in both wine and agriculture, having worked with a number of wine producers locally and internationally, and we’re looking forward to continuing to provide that practical support and insight.”
This roadmap forms part of Wine Australia’s larger sustainability initiative, which is being overseen by Rachel Triggs, Wine Australia General Manager, ESG and Market Access. This program is being created to the ‘triple bottom line’ principle, which works towards sustainability in ethical, economic and environmental terms.