Embarking on a journey towards environmental consciousness, the Noosa Festival of Surfing (NFOS), in collaboration with sustainability partner Ecovantage, is excited to declare the 2024 Festival as a certified carbon-neutral Climate Active event.
Off the back of Australia’s first Climate Active certified surfing event - 2023 Byron Bay Surf Festival - Ecovantage was engaged to measure and mitigate NFOS’ carbon footprint. NFOS now stands as a symbol of environmental responsibility and ingenuity within the surf festival realm.
As surf enthusiasts gather to witness the event unfold at Noosa Heads, the Festival charts a course towards a greener and more vibrant future, both for the sport and our planet.
Ecovantage General Manager Aaron Jenkins said: “After working with the Byron Bay Surf Festival last year and helping them achieve their Climate Active Event status, Ecovantage was thrilled to be approached to work with the team behind the even bigger surfing festival in Noosa.
"Working
together, Ecovantage were able to measure and mitigate the Festival's
emissions and obtain carbon-neutral certification.”
The application process included a comprehensive Public Disclosure Statement (PDS) which outlines the Festival’s purpose, anticipated emission sources, implemented reduction measures, justification for Climate Active accreditation, and details about the chosen carbon offset projects.
Through an investment in Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) sourced from Sea Trees by Sustainable Surf, NFOS actively offsets the remaining carbon emissions identified through Ecovantage’s assessment.
These carbon credits will be derived from commendable projects: the Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project in Cambodia and the Colombia Pacific Watershed Projects.
Both initiatives have been selected for their contribution to regenerating vital ecosystems, aligning with the Festival's commitment to environmental stewardship. NFOS acknowledges the community's value for ecosystem regeneration and has chosen projects that resonate with the local ethos.
NFOS Chairman John Finlay said: “Having worked with Ecovantage on the much smaller Byron Bay Surf Festival, we knew that they were the right sustainability partner for the Noosa Festival of Surfing. The sustainability expertise, environmental understanding and commercial competence that Ecovantage provides makes them an absolute pleasure to work with on what is a vitally important component of all our Festivals.”
Ecovantage is set to unveil a new initiative - Offset My Gear (OMG) - to address the carbon footprint associated with surfing gear, particularly surfboards. An OMG stand at the Festival’s competitor registration and merchandise tent will offer information about the program.
The Festival is proudly sustainable, plastic-free and carbon-neutral.
