Manila - Over 150 businessmen and residents of the Subic Bay Freeport in Zambales participated in a day-long forum on green financing and carbon credit before the celebration of Earth Hour, the worldwide initiative that enjoined millions of people to turn off their lights for the environment on March 27.
Part of the Art+Environment Festival, the forum was held at the Lighthouse Marina Resort in Subic Bay.
Sponsored by the British Embassy and organized by Greenergy Resources, Contemporary Art Philippines Magazine, and the Lighthouse Marina Resort, the Earth Day event engaged small and medium enterprises (SME), which comprise 96 percent of all registered businesses in the Philippines and employ 70 percent of the local workforce.
Businessmen and citizens participated in the forum (themed “SMEs: Leading the way to a low carbon pathway”), which promoted models for low carbon economy, sharing information on how SMEs can move toward green practices and mitigate the effects of a changing climate.
The first of its kind to be staged outside Metro Manila, the forum featured speakers from the British Embassy Manila, Climate Change Commission, the Department of Science and Technology, Phillip Morris, Aboitiz Power and more.
Focusing on low carbon economy, the event presented available technologies and financing options for SMEs, who would choose to employ green practices in their operations. The DOST presented how companies are able to save on energy just by adopting cleaner production programs that minimize waste.
Nestle served as an example of how going green makes good business sense as seen in the numerous awards the company has received. Korean-based FAWOO showed the benefits of switching to environment-friendly LED lights over CFL and incandescent versions.
Green financing
Landbank as a financing institution responded to the green revolution by helping shoulder the costs of SME programs that will address climate change. The Climate Change Commission also presented various carbon-financing schemes.
After the forum, a ribbon-cutting ceremony opened an art exhibit, another vehicle to raise awareness of the environment. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
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