Carbon Management in UK Higher Education Institutions: An Overview

Ebiyon Idundun,Andrew S. Hursthouse,Iain McLellan

doi:10.3390/su131910896

Ebiyon Idundun, Andrew S. Hursthouse + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su131910896

Copy DOI

Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Sep 30, 2021
Citations: 4	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of the West of Scotland

Abstract

The paper presents a review of carbon management in relation to UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), forms part of a wider study on the ongoing reliance on fossil fuels in Scotland’s public sector with a focus on Universities and Local Government Authorities. It compares the CF (carbon footprint), emission sources, and the fossil fuel contribution to the CFs reported in 3 identified articles relating specifically to the estimation of CF for HEIs. The consumption of fossil fuels results in human induced climate change however, fossil fuels boosted the industrialization process and remains the dominant source of global energy consumption. Action in tackling climate change has led to organizations coming under increasing pressures to monitor and report their CFs. HEIs have a key role to play in reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and reducing GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions through delivery of scientific research and innovative carbon management solutions, increase in its uptake of renewable energy technologies, educating and training future leaders, and raising public awareness, in contribution to a sustainable society. This paper highlights the need for a shift of focus to reducing fossil fuel reliance in response to climate change and demonstrates how HEIs can impact GHG reductions.

Highlights

It is recognized that climate change, and its associated issues, is a global environmental and social concern, impacting our mental health and well-being, poorer nations, and economic growth [1,2]
This section briefly looks at the reported carbon footprints of 3 UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and compares emission sources, footprint by Scope, and fossil fuel contribution to emissions where this can be identified from the list of emission sources reported within the articles
The large-scale use of fossil fuels boosted industrialization and today it remains the principal source of energy consumption

Summary

Introduction

It is recognized that climate change, and its associated issues, is a global environmental and social concern, impacting our mental health and well-being, poorer nations, and economic growth [1,2]. The issues associated with fossil fuel use continue to be a global growing concern, with the burning of fossil fuels as the largest known contributor of Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere [5], and the apparent continued global reliance on fossil fuel energy sources [6]. Public sector organizations like Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) consume fossil fuels directly or indirectly in their day-to-day activities. They often face the dichotomy between maintaining organizational standards and ethos and reducing organizational emissions. Zealand [109]; Varón-hoyos et al quantified the carbon footprint of the Technological University of Pereira, Colombia [110]; Ridhosari and Rahman measured the carbon emission associated with electricity, transportation, and waste generation only, for the generated at the Universitas Pertamina, Indonesia [111]; Larsen et al investigated the carbon footprint of the Norwegian University of Technology and Science, Norway [74]; and Clabeaux et al.

Methods

Results

Conclusion