Resort retains unique carbon status

Emirates’ Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa has maintained its world-beating carbon neutral status for the second year running with a carboNZeroCertTM recertification.

Wolgan Valley is the first – and still the only – hotel in the world to achieve carboNZero certification by an internationally accredited greenhouse gas certification scheme.

The announcement comes after a full year of operations.

A three-hour drive from Sydney and nestled between two national parks bordering the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Wolgan Valley was selected by Emirates after an extensive search for a location that could satisfy world class conservation practices.

“Maintaining our status as carbon neutral is important and aligns with Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa’s philosophy and values. We’re completely accountable for our environmental impact and reducing our carbon footprint,” said resort general manager Joost Heymeijer Wolgan.

The carboNZero certification, developed at Landcare Research New Zealand, indicates that the greenhouse gas emissions associated with Wolgan Valley’s operations have been independ-ently measured and verified in accordance with international standards. It also recognises the resort’s commitment to continuously manage and reduce its emissions.

Wolgan Valley’s carbon neutral status was achieved through a combination of initiatives, including large-scale environmental rehabilitation programmes, removal of cattle from the property and the protection of existing vegetation areas.

To date, over 175,000 indigenous trees have been planted in wildlife corridors and along creek banks on site.

Emirates flies daily from Malta to Dubai with a stopover in Larnaka, Cyprus.