![]() While UCT has been tracking carbon emissions since 2012, this report is the first to consider construction-associated emissions, mainly embedded greenhouse gases in building materials, forming part of Scope 3 emissions. “Seeing that emissions from electricity did not drop as significantly as expected during lockdown implies that there are a lot of inefficiencies in how the university uses electricity while mostly unoccupied, although there are many research operations, laboratories, cold rooms and other specialised pieces of equipment that cannot be switched off and have to continue operating during such restrictions.” “Although emissions from bought electricity represents a carbon management challenge, it also provides the biggest opportunity for UCT to implement reduction initiatives that will significantly impact our overall carbon footprint,” said Braune. “Seeing that emissions from electricity did not drop as significantly as expected during lockdown implies that there are a lot of inefficiencies in how the university uses electricity.” The next largest consumers were the Health Sciences campus and satellite residences. Of this, electricity used on main campus contributed 54%. ![]() This emissions source contributed a significant 64% of UCT’s total carbon footprint in 2021. Diesel-generated emissions rose a further 26% in 2021, even though these are a small portion of the overall carbon footprint.Įmissions from bought electricity followed a similar trend, dropping 28% in 2020 and rising by 17% in 2021. The exception was diesel-generator emissions, which rose by a whopping 245% in 2020 because of growing loadshedding. “These dropped 94% from 2019 because of COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown.” “Reduced emissions from air travel contributed significantly to the initial decrease,” added Braune. UCT’s combined direct emissions showed a decline of 54% between 20 as almost all UCT activities slowed during lockdown. Indirect emissions linked to purchased electricity contributed the most to the overall footprint, accounting for about two-thirds of total emissions per year. However, UCT’s emissions profile reflected that of previous years. ![]() Scope 3 considered other indirect emissions. Scope 2 examined indirect emissions from bought electricity. Scope 1 considered the combined direct emissions from all UCT’s operationally controlled activities, such as the shuttle and vehicle fleet, travel, diesel and liquid petroleum gas combustion and refrigeration top-ups. “Reduced emissions from air travel contributed significantly to the initial decrease.” But this was followed by a 25% increase in 2021, the result of “partially stabilised activities” on its campuses. Three scopes of direct and indirect emissions were conducted and show that total emissions dropped 30% between 20, when COVID-19 restrictions were at their most stringent. The assessment is undertaken applying the International Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the most widely recognised global methodology for greenhouse gas accounting and reporting, said Braune. Rising and falling with COVID-19 lockdowns It details the emissions-generating activities of UCT’s 35 700-strong community across all six campuses. Monitoring and reporting on carbon emissions is critical to UCT’s sustainability drive, said Manfred Braune, the director of environmental sustainability in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, and leader of the report project team. Since then, the call for reduced emissions has been loud. An “unprecedented time in UCT’s history”, the pandemic reduced campus activity and saw carbon emissions decline sharply to below those of 2012, when consistent reporting began.Īwareness of the link between climate change and carbon emissions has been heightened in the wake of COP27, the 27th United Nations Climate Change conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) recently launched Carbon Footprint Assessment Report for 20 reflects the direct impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns on its carbon emissions.
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