The two-day exhibit held in observance of the National Climate Change Consciousness Week is the first ever activity in the country to be carbon neutral.

This was revealed by Sec. Mary Ann Lucille L. Sering, Vice Chair of the Climate Change Commission. The Commission is the lead agency in this annual event which is held from November 19-25.

Carbon neutral refer to a net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset, or buying enough carbon credits to make up the difference. It is used in the context of carbon dioxide (CO2) releasing processes, associated with transportation, energy production and industrial processes.

As major activities of the Consciousness week were held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, the Commission collected all data and information related to the CO2 emissions associated with the holding of the event.

One of the approaches used to collect relevant data was through the accomplishment of a survey form where guests were asked to identify the mode of transportation they used to get to the exhibit venue.

The Commission also gathered information relevant to emissions from electricity consumption for the two-day event.

The data collected will be sent to Enel Trade, a carbon trader and represented in the Philippines by Endesa Carbono, which will make the calculations of the carbon dioxide emissions. The company will then neutralize the event by annulment of an amount of Voluntary or Verified Emissions Reductions (VERs) which is equal to the carbon dioxide emissions prior to the start of the event. The offsetting for the event will be done through Enel’s other projects.

“This is a good exercise as we can use the findings of this survey in planning or designing future activities that will result in less carbon dioxide emissions,” Sering said. “Aside from reducing carbon dioxide emission, planning of an activity towards a zero or low carbon emission will result in savings in terms of transportation cost, for instance, as we will look for a venue that is near to most participants or guests,” she said.

“We just hope that other government agencies as well as those in the private sector will undertake measures to cut down or reduce their carbon emissions when they hold events or other activities,” Sering said.