In conjunction with the “Katumbalikwasan” exhibit, Green Convergence (GC), through its Ako Ang Bukas (AAB) Advocacy Program, kickstarted the first seminar-workshop session on greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting titled “Climate Change and Your Carbon Footprint” last July 21, 2025, at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila.
GC President Victoria Segovia opened the session and acknowledged that collaborating with museums in serving as a platform for addressing climate change issues is important.
As partners in the initiative, Senior Museum Researcher of the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) Zoology Division Rolly C. Uriza said on behalf of the OIC – Director II of the National Museum of Natural History, Maileen P. Rondal that the collective climate action will help foster partnership and establish commitment towards significant progress.
On the other hand, the National Coordinator of Aksyon Klima Pilipinas (AKP), John Leo Algo, reiterated the vital role of the Katumbalikwasan exhibit in showing the interconnectedness of people, climate, and nature.
The Katumbalikwasan exhibit was launched last April 28, 2025, and can be viewed at the National Museum of Natural History for the whole year.
Moreover, as one of the sponsors of the seminar-workshops, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) Grant Management and Implementation Manager Amanda Bacani also delivered her welcome remarks and highlighted their intent to help businesses in their decarbonization efforts. Sponsors also include the First Philippine Holdings (FPH) and the Philippine Network for Educators on the Environment (PNEE).
AAB Program Director and GC Trustee Dr. Angelina Galang started the session-proper by discussing the seven environmental principles and their fundamental link to GHG accounting.
Dr. Galang highlighted the interconnectedness of ecosystems and how human activities have deviated from natural processes, leading to environmental degradation. With this, she urged to consider these principles in personal and collective actions to address environmental challenges.
On the renewable energy (RE) landscape in the Philippines, Senior Science Research Specialist of the National Renewable Energy Board Technical Services Management Division of the Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB) Angelica Delos Santos highlighted the country’s progress in installing RE projects, achieving 3,753 megawatts since 2009, as well as the target to increase the share of RE to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2050.
Delos Santos also discussed investor-friendly policies such as 100% foreign ownership and offshore wind promotion, consumer programs such as net metering and green energy options, and upcoming RE auctions and voluntary remarketing of RE certificates.
Subsequently, FPH Chief Sustainability Officer Agnes de Jesus discussed climate change in-depth—its impacts and how GHG accounting can help mitigate these. She highlighted the Philippines’ commitment to reducing emissions under the Paris Agreement and introduced the AAB calculators as tools to raise awareness and determine the households’ and entities’ emissions. She discussed the GHG emissions’ boundaries, mitigation hierarchy and strategies, and carbon offsetting to meet the 2030 and 2050 climate targets.
NMP Zoology Division Senior Museum Researcher Merlyn F. Geromiano shared the museum’s commitment to the 13 Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), and showcased their research initiatives to study the effects of climate change on biodiversity. She reiterated the importance of the use of a carbon footprint calculator to raise awareness about climate change.
The workshop on the use of the entity and household-level AAB calculators was led by AAB Program Leader Milagros Serrana. She gave a brief walk-through of the calculator. With the use of dummy data for schools and a manufacturing company, she demonstrated how to input data and how the calculator presents graphically the results which show the users’ hotspots.
Participants of the first session were from diverse sectors—mostly from businesses and academic institutions; socio-civic organizations, government offices, and more.
The next session will be on September 29, 2025, at the same venue. Interested participants may register through this link: bit.ly/GCAABSeminarWorkshop2025.
Ako Ang Bukas (or “I am the future”) is a movement with a central campaign, “Quantum Leap NOW: Climate Neutrality 2050.” It seeks to involve all sectors and levels of society nationwide in taking urgent, concerted action to address the climate crisis facing the country and the world.
Be part of a bigger change by signing the pledge and joining the AAB program through this link: bit.ly/AKOANGBUKAS. Moreover, calculate your carbon footprint using the AAB household GHG calculator through this link: aab-household-ghg.web.app.