Fira Mediterrània offsets its CO2 emissions by collaborating with a wind energy project

Fira calculated the carbon footprint of last year’s event to offset the emissions it was unable to minimise.

Fira is working to integrate the 2030 Agenda into its event and to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs, creating a space for connection between culture and sustainable development.

During last year’s event, with the aim of contributing to reducing greenhouse gases, Fira Mediterrània de Manresa calculated the carbon dioxide emissions produced by its activities and offset the emissions that could not be minimised. Fira benefited from the support of Anthesis Lavola, a company that specialises in driving sustainability in organisations, with headquarters in Catalonia, as well as other parts of the world. The project that was selected to offset emissions, a wind energy project being undertaken at the Edincik Wind Power Plant in Turkey, is part of the Clean CO₂ portfolio (Anthesis Lavola’s carbon management and offsetting brand). This measure falls within Fira’s commitment to the environment, and as proof of this offsetting of emissions, it has been awarded the Clean CO₂ Certificate which certifies that the emissions generated during last year’s event have been compensated for.

Wind energy project

After conducting the study, Anthesis Lavola found that the 24^th Fira Mediterrània generated 67 tonnes of carbon dioxide. To offset these emissions, Fira has purchased credits from a wind power project located in Turkey.

The Edincik wind power plant is a 56.4 megawatt wind farm located on the south coast of the Sea of Marmara (Turkey). The electricity it produces is transferred to the national grid, thereby reducing the need to generate electricity from fossil fuel sources such as coal. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the project also contributes to social and economic development through education, sanitation, job creation, technology transfer and improved agricultural production. As a result, it contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production; SDG 13 – Climate Action, and SDG 15 – Life on Land.

Where do the greenhouse gases produced by the Fira come from?

The greenhouse gas emissions produced by the Fira are mostly (60%) generated by the journeys made by professionals, journalists and artists. 51% used private transport to travel by road to Manresa, 37% used air travel and only 11% travelled on public transport. 21% of the emissions were due to energy consumption (electricity and fuel for the equipment and generators that supply the spaces where the scheduled activities take place), while overnight stays and subsistence for performing artists and accredited professionals generated 15% of the emissions. Publicity and promotional materials such as banners, programme broadcasts, merchandising bags etc. accounted for 4% of emissions.

Other measures to promote sustainability

Fira Mediterrània de Manresa understands that sustainability objectives are now more vital than ever. This measure is part of the efforts it is making to integrate the 2030 Agenda into the event and to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs by creating a space for connection between culture and sustainable development, over and above the climate emergency and environmental sustainability.

With this goal in mind, every year since 2019 Fira Mediterrània’s artistic programme has chosen one of the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals to highlight. It reflected on gender issues in 2019, on cultural sustainability in 2020, and last year on the inseparable relationship between culture and education, featuring these issues as a prominent part of the activities of the Professional Conferences and also of the performances included within the Firaescoles programme.

As part of its commitment to the environment, Fira Mediterrània implements other measures to ensure that its management is as sustainable and respectful as possible. It therefore promotes sustainable mobility for professionals, artists and the attending audiences; it has reduced the volume of printed materials it produces; it promotes the use of recycled, reusable and minimally polluting materials; it encourages recycling among the participants; it works with local suppliers whenever possible; it assesses the level of user satisfaction with regard to sustainability; it takes into account the challenges of society when putting together the artistic programme, and it promotes accessibility and inclusion with incentives for facilitating access to culture for groups at risk of exclusion and working to create a website that is 100% accessible.