UND’s Carbon Footprint: Working Towards a Greener Tomorrow

In the article to follow, Dr. Soizik Laguette discusses her past research and how she, and many of her colleagues and students would like to use their knowledge of the past and present to continue researching and directing the school towards a more positive environmental stance.

Background

The first Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) inventory of the University of North Dakota (UND) was conducted in 2008 after former UND President Charles Kupchella signed the American Colleges and University Presidents` Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), displaying UND’s commitment to understanding and addressing the Campus impact on climate change and the environment. A greenhouse gas inventory is to estimate UND’s carbon footprint by measuring, tracking, and assessing the greenhouse gases emitted from the campus’ activities and their sources.

By signing the Climate Commitment, UND joined a network of educational institutions dedicated to tackling global climate disruption and promoting sustainability actions. UND set ambitious goals for emission reduction, targeting a 7% decrease from 1990 levels by 2020 and a significant 51% reduction by 2050. Acting already as “Leaders in Action”, UND was the first and only institution in North Dakota to have signed the commitment.

The withdrawal of UND from ACUPCC in 2017, marked a shift in the university’s stance on sustainability and resulted in the abandonment of its previously established Climate Action Plan. The decision to withdraw from ACUPCC not only ended UND’s commitment to carbon neutrality but also left North Dakota without any colleges or universities actively participating in the Climate Leadership Network.

UND’s Carbon Footprint

Following the withdrawal of UND from ACUPCC in 2017, no additional GHG inventory has been completed. However, in the meantime, UND has been experiencing significant changes with multiple new buildings being constructed as well as substantial re-models and teardowns.

Which leads to the bigger picture: How are all these changes affecting UND’s carbon footprint? Is UND still on track with the emission reduction trend projected in 2010 and the UND pledge, or has the University fallen short? This question could be answered by updating the 2016 GHG inventory and running a new GHG inventory with 2022 data.

The data comparison between the previous publications and the current inventory suggests that UND is still moving in the right direction towards achieving net-zero emissions. In 2022 UND emitted about 104,550.97 MTCDE (Metric Tone Carbon Dioxide Equivalent). This is an 8% emissions decrease compared to 2016, and a 31% decrease compared to the University’s peak emissions in 2001.

The 2022 emissions from the steam plant are down 13,710 MTCDE compared to the one of 2016. This is a 24.3% emissions reduction over a one-year period, and the direct outcome of the old coal steam plant being replaced with a new modern and highly efficient natural gas steam plant. However, like in previous years, the Steam Plant and the purchased energy stay the biggest sources of UND emissions. Continuing to address energy efficiency measures, transitioning to cleaner energy sources, and implementing renewable energy projects could help reduce these emissions even more.

The UND Climate Action Plan was a living document generating cost saving and strategic investment in new technologies. It was the roadmap driving and leading the UND ambition of becoming green, sustainable, and carbon neutral. UND can still reinforce net-zero commitment, and should consider implementing more comprehensive strategies. By taking actions, UND can proactively address its identified emission sources and further align efforts with the broader sustainability goals.