Girmenia, Francesca | Canada

Francesca Girmenia is pursuing a Bachelor of Environmental Studies in Honours Environment and Business at the University of Waterloo. Her previous work in sustainability includes roles such as Sustainability Integration Co-op at Definity Financial Organization, as Communications and Outreach Assistant at the University of Waterloo Sustainability Office, and as Sustainability Assistant at the Toronto Zoo. Recently, Francesca was awarded the 2024 Co-op Student of the Year Honourable Mention for the Faculty of Environment. The award acknowledges her co-op term as the Tiny Home Project Coordinator with Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin. Francesca seeks to leverage the power of business to create positive social and environmental change. She is particularly interested in concepts in ecological economics such as circular economies, community wealth building, and social enterprises.

Project at IAS-STS: Investigating Microsoft’s Carbon Removal Strategy
This research project analyzes Microsoft’s carbon offsetting strategy with a focus on the certificates it uses to neutralize its residual emissions. It will investigate the underlying methods, costs, and emissions removal potential of certificates as well as identify key stakeholders in the offsetting market. The final report will support TU Graz’s objective of climate neutrality by 2030 by offering insights into best practices of residual emission compensation.