Carbon footprint assessment for university campuses using corporate accounting and reporting standard protocol

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: During the escalating global climate crisis, higher education institutions have emerged as pivotal actors in the multi-sectoral transition toward carbon neutrality. The study objectives were to present a comprehensive carbon footprint assessment for Phase I of a multi-campus initiative at the Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, evaluating emissions across seven urban campuses from ۲۰۱۹ to ۲۰۲۲ to align with national sustainability targets and global climate action goals. METHODS: Following the Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard Protocol (۲۰۰۵), the research quantified Scope ۱ (direct), Scope ۲ (indirect electricity), and selected Scope ۳ (staff air travel) emissions for the period ۲۰۱۹–۲۰۲۲. Data collection used standardized virtual forms to compile institutional records, including fuel receipts, utility bills, and air travel logs provided by the Aviatur travel agency. Emissions were calculated by multiplying activity data by city-specific and international emission factors, reporting all values in ton carbon dioxide equivalents. FINDINGS: For campuses in cold climatic zones, ۲۰۲۲ CF values were ۱۷۴.۹- ton carbon dioxide equivalents (۰.۰۱۴۳- ton carbon dioxide equivalents/person) in Bogotá and ۷۵.۴- ton carbon dioxide equivalents (۰.۰۱۵۲- ton carbon dioxide equivalents/person) in Pasto, representing reductions of ۱۵.۹۳ percent and ۲۷.۷۲ percent relative to ۲۰۱۹. In mild climatic zones, ۲۰۲۲ emissions were ۱۴۷.۵ ton carbon dioxide equivalents (۰.۰۱۶۳ ton carbon dioxide equivalents /person) for Ibagué–Espinal, ۲۰۰.۸ ton carbon dioxide equivalents (۰.۰۲۷۰ ton carbon dioxide equivalents/person) for Medellín, ۲۵۸.۸-ton carbon dioxide equivalents (۰.۳۸۳۹ ton carbon dioxide equivalents/person) for Nacional, ۲۳۹.۱-ton carbon dioxide equivalents (۰.۱۱۱۱-ton carbon dioxide equivalents/person) for Pereira–Cartago, and ۶۷.۷ ton carbon dioxide equivalents (۰.۰۳۷۵-ton carbon dioxide equivalents /person) for Popayán, with percentage variations of +۸.۷۸ percent, +۳۳.۰۶ percent, +۶۰.۷۵ percent, +۵.۱۸ percent, and +۳۷.۵۶ percent from ۲۰۱۹ baselines, respectively. CONCLUSION: Across all campuses, Scope ۲ electricity consumption was identified as the primary emission source, followed by Scope ۱ fugitive emissions and Scope ۳ staff travel. Key mitigation initiatives included the installation of solar-powered luminaires in Bogotá and energy-efficient light-emitting diode in Pasto. The results underscore the need for energy-efficiency programs, improved air-conditioning maintenance, and reduced travel to mitigate emissions. These findings provide Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia with actionable insights for its ۲۰۲۵ carbon neutrality goal and offer a replicable model for higher education institutions to standardize carbon accounting frameworks in alignment with international protocols.

کلیدواژه ها:

Carbon footprint (CF) ، Cold Climate ، emissions ، Greenhouse gas (GHG) ، Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). ، ">