Assessment of Carbon Footprint in Higher Education: A Case Study of Addis Ababa Science and Technology University
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65555/qkftyb78Keywords:
Carbon Footprint; GHG Protocol; Climate Change Mitigation; Carbon Sequestration; Higher Education; Sustainability; EthiopiaAbstract
This research estimates the annual carbon footprint (CFP) of Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU), a higher education institution with 8,000 students, using the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol. The total annual CFP was calculated as 1,136 tons of CO2e, with transportation (55%), emergency generators (24.4%), and student cafeteria cooking (20.6%) as primary sources. Compared to similar institutions, AASTU’s CFP is relatively low due to institutional size and energy usage patterns. Future projections based on geometric progression indicate a potential increase to 1,464 tons
of CO2e within ten years. Two mitigation strategies were evaluated: afforestation with 58,562 eucalyptus trees over 23.42 hectares for carbon sequestration, and replacement of diesel vehicles with electric vehicles. A comprehensive cost-benefit analysis adjusted for Ethiopia’s inflation rate was conducted, with afforestation costs estimated at 3,251,417.6 ETB (plug seedlings) or 670,807.8 ETB (field-grown seedlings), and vehicle electrification
requiring a net investment of 3,430,000 ETB. The study establishes a sustainability baseline and provides actionable recommendations for achieving carbon neutrality in higher education institutions.
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