Silliman University hosted the 3rd quarterly assembly of the Net-Zero Carbon Alliance, a pioneering multi-sectoral consortium seeking to achieve collective carbon neutrality beginning in the Philippine private sector.
The University, a hundred percent powered by renewable energy, shared its best practices in sustainability and decarbonization, through presentations by SU Student Government President Dignity Lagunay, and University Vice President for Development Jane Annette Belarmino.
Dr. Nida Calumpong talked about mangrove carbon stock assessment, one of the carbon strategies that NZCA partners considers in their carbon neutrality roadmap.
Ava Taniajura, managing director for the Philippine operations of the leading global assurance body, British Standards Institution, presented a talk on the difference between carbon-neutrality and net-zero, and the role of carbon capture strategies in both programs.
NZCA was established in 2021 by renewable energy leader, and geothermal energy producer Energy Development Corp. to encourage and support as many Philippine enterprises as possible to commit to attaining net-zero greenhouse gas emissions (carbon-neutrality) by 2050.
NZCA is also EDC’s response to its renewed mission under the Lopez Group of Companies to forge collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future, being the full RE subsidiary of Lopez energy arm First Gen Corp.
Its assemblies are held every quarter for its partners to discuss best practices related to each component of the NZCA framework for carbon neutrality that centers on reducing carbon emissions and offsetting residual carbon emissions that can no longer be removed.
Among its partners who participated in the internal hybrid event were real estate developer Arthaland, sustainable cement company Cemex, leading fiber internet service provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc., global leader in water, sustainability communications agency Drink; hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services Ecolab, Lopez Group affiliate First Balfour construction company, air transport firm INAEC Aviation Corp., leading eco-friendly, boutique property developer Menarco Development Corp., renowned multidisciplinary professional services firm SGV & Co., and the local offices of leading multinational firms Knowles Electronics, Mondelez International, Monde Nissin, and Unilever.
EDC is First Gen Corp.’s 100-percent RE subsidiary with over 1,480 megawatts total installed capacity, which accounts for 19 percent of the country’s total installed RE capacity. Its 1,188-megawatt geothermal portfolio comprises 62 percent of the country’s total installed geothermal capacity, and is the third largest geothermal producer in the world. (SU OIP, with reports from EDC)
