STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING CARBON NEUTRAL CAMPUS

The concept of Carbon Neutrality is gaining momentum in the recent years due to the raising awareness on climate change. Climate change can be related to environmental damage, which creates a pressing need to address the challenges posed. Various initiatives like the Paris Agreement at COP 21 and Glasgow Climate Change at COP 26 Conference to reduce the harmful emissions and carbon footprint.
 The aim of the initiative is to achieve net zero emissions and to sustain it for a longer period. Pune Knowledge Cluster works with academia and research institutes to address the local challenges using sustainable and innovative methods. Educational institute campus in Pune was selected to study and propose measures for becoming a carbon neutral campus. A detailed assessment, also known as carbon auditing, was conducted to identify the greenhouse gas emissions in scope 1, 2 and 3 occurring on the campus and strategies were put forth to reduce these emissions. Carbon neutral campuses will be one of the first steps taken by educational and research institutions towards the country’s goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. This report starts with studying the existing scenario of carbon emissions divided in three scope areas within the selected site. The emissions are quantified keeping in mind the inclusions and exclusions of the study. It further introduces offsets and sinks of the study and the impact that they have on the campus. After analyzing the above, the study moves towards comparisons across the timeline as well as across other campuses in the country and abroad. All this leads to recommending suggestions for campuses who aim towards the achievement of carbon neutrality. This study aims to act as a framework for similar studies for campuses who take a step towards sustainability.