Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Mitigation Strategies in Universities Under ISO 14064-1: Lessons for Global Higher Education Sustainability

Abstract

In alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the global pursuit of net-zero emissions, higher education institutions (HEIs) are increasingly expected to demonstrate robust climate accountability and effective decarbonization strategies. This three-year longitudinal study presents a comprehensive assessment of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at a higher education institution, employing the ISO 14064-1:2018 framework to strengthen inventory design, boundary delineation, and data governance protocols. Findings indicate that purchased electricity constitutes the largest share; however, fugitive refrigerant leakage and Scope 3 activities—particularly commuting and business travel—represent substantial and often underestimated components of the institution’s carbon footprint. Methodological refinements, including the incorporation of updated emission factors coefficients and enhanced data verification, have revealed the sensitivity of GHG inventories to both policy reforms and behavioral changes, as well as institutional policy reforms. The study also demonstrates that targeted refrigerant management and low-carbon mobility initiatives can generate measurable mitigation effects, even under conditions of expanding campus activity. Beyond the institution-specific results, this research proposes a replicable framework that integrates ISO 14064-1 compliance with data quality assurance and digital verification tools. This framework provides HEIs globally with a structured pathway to enhance reporting credibility, develop evidence-based mitigation strategies, and accelerate progress toward carbon neutrality. These insights underline the strategic role of universities in advancing sector-wide climate leadership and contributing to sustainable development transitions.