In order to continue learning from the course provided by the EARTH on Carbon Neutrality in May, a working group comprising representatives of organizations that are in the process of achieving carbon neutrality was established.
The first meeting was held on May 19 in the office of the Monteverde Community Fund (FCM). We discussed the progress of the participants' organizations into achieving Carbon Neutral.
In addition, issues related to the need to integrate to the group other people that are directly related to the emissions quantification and therefore the process, which include: managers, members of the Board of Directors and accountants. Likewise, the collaboration of 'Ingenieros Forestales' is required to determine the ability of carbon dioxide removing from some of the areas with forests that are at different stages of maturation.
During the second meeting, held on June 09 in the facilities of the Hotel Belmar, we reviewed the progress of organizations in the preparation of a draft report of Greenhouse Gases (GHG). Special emphasis was placed on developing an information system for the emissions inventory and the importance of having all data documented in physical, digital or with photographs for the fulfillment of the requirements in the verification process.
It was mentioned that the purchase of Costa Rican compensation units (UCC) have a cost of $7.5 per ton. This information was obtained through Mrs. Carmen Roldan, director of the Agency for Development and Commercialization of Environmental Services FONAFIFO.
The third and final meeting took place on July 07 at the Monteverde Friends School. The main objective was to practice the collection of data for the quantification inventory of GHG emissions, to unify the format used and to check that the formulas are applied correctly in each case.
We also discussed some aspects of the existing legislation for the purchase and sale of UCC, and the participation of FONAFIFO as issuer or as intermediary entity between the people who have areas for GHGs removal and companies interested into compensating emissions due to their economic activity.
The next meeting will be held August 7 and it is expected to resume the emissions inventory topic, specifically the comparison data and formulas among the participants.
