People, companies and organizations emit Greenhouse Gases (GHG) on a daily basis. These emissions can originate from several sources, such as the burning of fossil fuels, industrial processes, deforestation, among others; and all this accumulation of gases has a direct impact on the destruction of the ozone layer, resulting in climate changes.

It is possible to identify the main sources of GHG emissions from a company, institution or activity, quantify the amount of emissions produced and evaluate them, through a tool called: Carbon Inventory.

Copaíba had the help of Empresa Química Jr, a partner of the Association, in the elaboration of its Carbon Inventory. To this end, a globally recognized methodology was used, The Greenhouse Gas Protocol- Brasil (GHG-Protocol Brasil), which delimits the types of emissions of an organization into three scopes: 1. Direct emissions (sources that belong to or are controlled by the company within defined limits), 2. Indirect emissions (related to external energy acquisition) and 3. Indirect emissions from other sources (sources that do not belong or are not controlled by the organization).

Through a data survey, proposed by Química Jr and answered transparently by the Associação Ambientalista Copaíba, it was possible to convert them, by multiplying them by the delimited emission factors, in absolute values of CO2 equivalent, and arriving at the total of 18,033 metric tons of CO2 emitted by Copaíba in the year 2021.

Having calculated the total value, a possible strategy is to offset CO2 emissions by planting trees that make it possible to recover greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere; strategy from which Copaíba is already benefiting.

According to a study carried out by Instituto Totum and a partnership between Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica and Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ), at the University of São Paulo, an Atlantic Forest tree has the capacity to sequester approximately 163.14 kg CO2 throughout its first 20 years of existence. Therefore, dividing the value of 18,033 tCO2 emitted by 0.16314 tCO2 from one tree, Copaíba arrived at the total number of 110.53 trees needed to be planted, to offset the volume of CO2 emitted by the Organization in 2021.

These trees will be part of a sequence of plantings throughout 2023, carried out at the headquarters, which may involve employees, visitors, birthday campaigns, etc., and have already started this February with the planting of 3 seedlings.

It is important to emphasize that CO2 offsetting should not be seen as a definitive solution to the problem of GHG emissions. The effective reduction of emissions should always be the main goal of organizations, with compensation being a complementary option. For this reason, internal campaigns within Copaíba already take place, such as turning off lights, devices and monitors when they are not in use and checking them before leaving; the adoption of more efficient and cleaner technologies, such as the construction of a biodigester; and proper waste management, with proper separation and disposal of recyclables.

The carbon inventory, measurement of GHG emissions and CO2 compensation are important tools for companies and organizations to assess and mitigate their environmental impact, even more so at this time when society is increasingly aware of sustainability in its activities. actions.

We live in the decade of commitments signed by companies, governments and nations to zero their carbon emissions. Copaíba is aware of this commitment to be a Carbon Neutral Organization and calls for people, companies and other organizations to also carry out their Carbon Inventories, offset their CO2 emissions and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in all their activities .

Would you like to calculate your carbon footprint?

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Would you like to offset your CO2 emissions?

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Or would you like to carry out your company/organization's Carbon Inventory and offset your CO2 emissions by planting trees native to the Atlantic Forest?

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