Al-Ghanim, flanked by Beatty and Thomson, speaks about the carbon offset achievement yesterday
By Bonnie James/Deputy News Editor

The carbon offset target of 6,270 tonnes of estimated CO2 emissions for the 20th World Petroleum Congress was deliberately pegged higher, estimating that each delegate arrives and departs the venue by individual transport.
 “In reality, we have reduced the actual CO2 emissions, considering that many delegates were transported in our fleet of buses,” international law firm Baker & McKenzie’s partner Andrew Beatty told Gulf Times yesterday.
The WPC organising committee and Baker & McKenzie have acquired sufficient carbon credits to offset the anticipated emissions associated with the event, currently on at Qatar National Convention Centre, a green-technology venue.
“This is a very significant carbon offset project, one of the largest in the world,” described Beatty while recalling that the WPC organising committee gave very strict criteria in February this year.“WPC in general and the organising committee in Qatar demonstrated their leadership and commitment in this regard,” he said.
Organising committee chairman Issa bin Shahin al-Ghanim said that working with the specialist carbon consultancy, Perenia, a suitable carbon offset project was identified in a power project in Andhra Pradesh, India, that has switched from naphtha to cleaner natural gas.
 This has reduced emissions and generated internationally verified, monitored and registered credits, while keeping the strict requirements set by the organising committee.
 The project is registered with and certified under the voluntary carbon standard and externally audited as compliant. It also demonstrates a contribution to human development through donations to the Lanco Institute of General Humanitarian Trust. “It is taking place in a member country of the World Petroleum council and it is not where permanence of emission reductions is at risk,” al-Ghanim added.
 Perenia regional manager Tiffany Thomson explained that the expected CO2 emissions were calculated on the basis of fuel and electricity consumed on site and transport to and from the venue. “A post-event CO2 emissions audit will also be carried out and remedial measures taken if required,” she added.
The five-day event which concludes tomorrow is being attended by 5,000 delegates, 500 speakers and 50 ministers.
 It was announced earlier that a detailed recycling plan has been developed in conjunction with Qatar Foundation to replicate at the QNCC, the material waste generated by the event.

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