BAI announces $20m sustainability program

Broadcast services company BAI Communications Australia has committed a further $20 million towards meeting its sustainability targets, which include achieving net zero emissions by 2040.

Under the Towards Carbon Neutral program, the company will invest the funds in upgrading its aging FM antennas and transmitter equipment at several sites with more energy-efficient alternatives, as well as installing solar panels at 36 sites.

BAI has set a target of reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions by 65% from a 2010 baseline by 2030, and has already made strong progress towards this goal, according to BAI CEO Peter Lambourne.

“We’re making solid progress having already achieved a 55.8% emissions reduction from 164,005 tonnes CO2e since 2010,” he said.

“Our Towards Carbon Neutral program significantly expands this longstanding commitment to take meaningful action and we believe that our ability to set and demonstrate progress puts us on the right path to achieve our new ambition.”

The works program will commence in 2023 and run for five years. This will be followed by further investments in energy savings emissions as the company works towards its 2040 target.

“Towards Carbon Neutral is an investment in the future. It signals BAI’s commitment to responsibly futureproofing Australia’s vital communications infrastructure, taking demonstrable, long-term action to transition our network to a zero-carbon future,” Lambourne said.

BAI Australia provides the transmission services for the ABC, SBS and multiple commercial television and radio broadcasters, and also provides a portfolio of neutral host telecommunications services.

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