Consistent with its goal of becoming the premier LCA studies center in the country, UPLB-ILCAL is currently venturing into a research project that is deemed as one of its biggest visions for UPLB. Entitled “Establishment of a Roadmap towards making UPLB a Net Zero or Low Carbon University,” this project is envisioned to highlight the university’s efforts in the mitigation of climate change by lowering its carbon footprint, in support of the Philippines’ initiative toward sustainable development. The project’s phase 1 already ended last December 2022, with phase 2 ongoing and targeted to be completed by March 2024.

After successfully conducting collaborations with various industries and organizations outside the university, the time is now ripe for UPLB-ILCAL to walk the talk and practice what they preach in its home university.

In partnership with the UPLB Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Extension (OVCRE), a training workshop on LCA, data gathering, and carbon footprint accounting was initially conducted with their staff to familiarize them with the LCA methodology. To effectively establish the roadmap towards making UPLB a low-carbon university, the participation of all UPLB units is vital. Thus, by virtue of OVCRE Memorandum NB No. 22-017, a series of online workshops were conducted with the representatives of all UPLB units, including all colleges, independent units, and executive offices, as part of the laboratory’s capacity-building project.

A total of 411 UPLB staff were trained by the laboratory to take part in this initiative. Along with these, the data gathering from different units for the establishment of the baseline carbon footprint of the university is already rolling and technically complete. This will serve as a basis for the establishment of the roadmap toward achieving a lower carbon footprint status for the university, including the identification of hotspots and recommendation of possible strategies and interventions.

The laboratory has also developed a University Carbon Footprint Calculator (specific to UPLB) which can be used by all UPLB units to calculate and report their respective carbon footprint. The Beta version of the calculator was launched on October 21, 2022, through a training workshop with all UPLB units to culminate the series of trainings and commence the start of a larger work. At the end of the training workshops, each unit was already able to calculate their GHG emissions, and some have already submitted their GHG inventory report.

The laboratory remains laser-focused on its goals and vows to continue what it has started. Aside from the development of the UPLB Carbon Footprint Calculator, it is also looking at the creation of the UPLB Carbon Footprint Dashboard and hosting of the Low Carbon or Net Zero University Conference. Successful implementation of this program will make UPLB a model university in the country, and the laboratory is hoping to extend this initiative to other universities and colleges as well.

Indeed, what was once a dream is now slowly turning into reality.