College campus carbon footprint accounting and zero-carbon campus planning path analysis based on life cycle : a case study of Beijing Normal University

This study comprehensively considers the direct carbon emissions within the geographical boundaries of universities and cross-border indirect carbon emissions, and constructs a methodology model of campus carbon emissions accounting based on life cycle from the perspective of life cycle. The Haidian campus of Beijing Normal University is selected as a case to systematically calculate and analyze the current carbon emissions of Beijing Normal University from two perspectives: consumption side and production side.Three scenarios of low carbon campus, deep carbon reduction and zero carbon campus are designed to explore the planning path of zero carbon campus.The results showed as follows: 1) The total carbon emission of Beijing Normal University in 2022 was 96.74 kt, among which the main source of carbon emission on campus was indirect carbon emission caused by external power transfer (Scope2), accounting for 50%.Direct carbon emissions on campus (Scope1) are comparable to other indirect carbon emissions (Scope3), accounting for 26% and 24% of total carbon emissions on campus, respectively. 2) Faculty apartments, student dormitories and office areas of Beijing Normal University are the main sources of carbon emissions on campus, with the total carbon emissions reaching 42.06 kt CO2, accounting for 56% of the total carbon emissions on campus, which are mainly driven by electric energy consumption and natural gas consumption.Among the other functional areas, the carbon emissions of library, living service area, teaching area and main building were 9.3 kt, 8.32 kt, 7.92 kt and 7.25 kt, respectively.Among them, the sources of carbon emissions in living service areas are relatively special, mainly caused by water and natural gas. 3) Beijing Normal University can achieve 40% carbon reduction by 2060 if it takes the low-carbon campus scenario plan as reference.If the deep carbon reduction scenario is implemented, the campus carbon emissions can be reduced by nearly 70% by 2060.If universities can follow the zero-carbon campus planning path and integrate various carbon reduction measures on the consumption side and production side, it is expected to achieve the construction of zero-carbon campus in 2060.The results of this study can provide scientific basis and policy inspiration for colleges and universities to implement "carbon neutral" policy, clarify the status quo of carbon emissions in colleges and universities, and realize the construction of zero-carbon campus.