Carbon footprint of Gümüşhane University: Identification and evaluation

Since the early 1990s, the concept of a carbon footprint has held a significant place in the literature on global warming and climate change. Many studies in this field emphasize that institutions and organizations should measure their own carbon footprints in order to identify and reduce their environmental impacts. Building on this premise, the carbon footprint of Gümüşhane University was calculated and evaluated for the years 2017–2023. In this study, the Tier-1 approaches recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the DEFRA method were employed. The analyses revealed that natural gas consumption had the largest share in the university's carbon footprint. In addition, electricity consumption was found to play a significant role in the university's overall carbon footprint. During the COVID-19 pandemic period, specifically in 2020 and 2021, there was a marked decrease in carbon emissions, which can be explained by the transition to remote education and reduced campus usage. In 2017, emissions amounted to 4667.09 tons of CO₂e according to the DEFRA method and 4786.16 tons of CO₂e according to the IPCC method. In 2020, total emissions were determined to be 3902.08 tons of CO₂e according to the DEFRA method and 4207.08 tons of CO₂e according to the IPCC method, reflecting a significant decline compared to previous years. However, in 2022 and 2023, as the university fully returned to on-campus activities, carbon emissions once again increased. In 2023, the total carbon emission was calculated as 5020 tons of CO₂e according to the IPCC method and 4042.4 tons of CO₂e according to the DEFRA method. In conclusion, it is emphasized that in order for the university to reduce its carbon footprint, it should shift toward renewable energy sources, improve energy efficiency, and optimize consumption.