Developing a Carbon Neutrality Roadmap for the University of Vavuniya: A Step Towards a Climate-Smart University

Abstract

This study aims to present a carbon neutrality roadmap for the University of Vavuniya, to make it a climate-smart institution. The research focused only on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, excluding other greenhouse gases, from university-owned vehicle fuel consumption (Scope 1) and purchased electricity (Scope 2). Emissions were estimated using the IPCC (2006) Tier 2 guidelines, applying nationally relevant emission factors derived from IPCC and national energy reports. Significant findings of this study are as follows: In 2024, emissions from purchased electricity were measured at 351.69 tonnes CO2 (88.74%) and fuel use by university vehicles at 42.93 tonnes CO2 (10.88%), totaling 394.62 tonnes CO2. These findings confirm that Scope 2 emissions are the dominant contributor to the university’s carbon footprint. The per-person emission, based on registered students and academic and non-academic staff, was 0.12 tonnes CO2. A seven year analysis (2018–2024) of electricity emissions showed temporal variations and helped identify pathways to reduce emissions. Remote sensing and biomass methods were used to estimate forest carbon stored on campus (2024), which amounted to 4,086.27 tonnes CO2. With its substantial carbon stock, the campus forest demonstrates a significant capacity to offset emissions, highlighting the university’s potential to serve as an effective carbon sink. The study faced challenges, including limited electronic data (with most records in hard copy) and time constraints. It is recommended to expand renewable energy capacity, building upon the existing 251 kW solar photovoltaic system, to enhance energy efficiency, promote sustainable transportation, and strengthen carbon management frameworks. The proposed roadmap emphasizes progressive reductions in carbon emissions while leveraging the potential for carbon removal, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality and establish the University of Vavuniya as a model for climate-smart higher education in Sri Lanka.