Inventário de emissões de Gases de Efeito Estufa (GEE): estudo de caso na Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Campus Sertão

Abstract

In the context of mitigating climate change and global warming, it is essential to highlight the role of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the environmental landscape and their ongoing commitment to sustainability. A key aspect is the accounting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their activities through the creation of emission inventories. This research aimed to develop a GHG emissions inventory for the activities of the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL) at the Sertão Campus in Delmiro Gouveia for the years 2018, 2020, and 2022. The chosen historical series of 2018, 2020, and 2022 allows for a comparison that considers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, facilitating the proposal of an emissions reduction plan.The methodology followed four distinct stages: literature review, characterization of the study area, production of the GHG emissions inventory, and development of an emissions reduction plan. The inventory and plan were based on the methodology of the GHG Protocol Program (2023.0.3) and the guidelines of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for wastewater treatment (septic tanks). The estimated GHG emissions from UFAL Sertão Campus averaged approximately 83.84 tCO2e, with 69.30% direct emissions and 21.56% indirect emissions. The main sources of emissions were mobile combustion and electricity consumption, representing an average of 44.58 tCO2e and 18.08 tCO2e, respectively. The study presented an emissions reduction plan with mitigation and compensation proposals that could reduce emissions by up to 68,03%. Replacing fossil fuels with biofuels in the official fleet will reduce direct emissions from 28.27 tCO2e to 17.36 tCO2e, a 38.59% reduction. Implementing a designed 167 kWp photovoltaic (PV) system, along with an economic feasibility analysis for the Sertão Campus, demonstrated economic viability and the potential to fully offset electricity consumption, saving approximately R$ 13,435,196.61 over 25 years, with a payback period of 3 years and 8 months. Reforesting with 135 native trees will offset the remaining emissions, and involving the scientific community of the campus in a collective planting effort can generate a carbon credit of approximately 412 tCO2e, significantly advancing climate mitigation efforts at UFAL Sertão Campus.