DENR: Holy Week is also time to lessen carbon footprint

CEBU, Philippines -  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 urged the public to be watchful of one's carbon footprint as a way of observing the Holy Week.

Reducing individual's carbon footprints, DENR-7 regional executive director Isabelo Montejo said, can be done by avoiding food wastage and wasteful consumption of energy and water.

Montejo, in a statement said that an increase of carbon emissions in the atmosphere will increase global warming effects.

Montejo said carbon footprint refers to the totality of the impact or effect of all activities done by an organization, group or individual on the environment.

It covers all greenhouse gases that each individual or organization may emit in the atmosphere as a result of its activities.

 Montejo cited a new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which shows that global emissions of greenhouse gases have risen to unprecedented levels despite a growing number of policies to reduce climate change.

Montejo added that garbage problem remained as a serious environmental issue among the local government units due to the amount of methane gas released from open dumpsites.

Methane is produced by the rotting of garbage in dumpsites and is 21 times more lethal than carbon dioxide, he said.

Montejo further said that waste segregation should be a policy in every LGU or at home or every office, wherein garbage bins should be properly labeled with non-biodegradable and biodegradable wastes.—  (FREEMAN)