Carbon Footprint Analysis of Ege University within the Scope of Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

Universities play a leading role in promoting sustainability in society. Besides their technical roles, they have important social responsibilities and should be a leader for their stakeholders. Therefore, there is an important need to manage and reduce carbon emissions in universities to ensure environmental sustainability. Ege University (EU) has the vision of being a sustainable campus. In this context, in order to reduce carbon emissions, a carbon footprint study has been carried out primarily to determine carbon emission resources. The life cycle assessment (LCA) tool was used to analyze the Ege University carbon footprint. The study was based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard and ISO14064/1-2 standards. In the study, the EU campus was evaluated as the main campus and the medical faculty campus. Total carbon emissions of Ege University in 2016 were analyzed as a total of 40.608 tCO2e within the Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3. As a result of the study, it was revealed that 37% of total emission was caused by constant and mobile combustion, 39% from electricity usage, and 24% from travel and staff transportation. In the discussion, it was emphasized that EU should turn to energy conservation and efficiency, awareness activities, and renewable energy resources in its short, medium, and long term plans in order to reduce carbon emissions.