Methodology for the calculation of the carbon footprint in Cuban universities. Case study: University of Havana XIV Taller Internacional “Universidad, Medio Ambiente, Energía y Desarrollo Sostenible”

Abstract

The climate crisis requires everyone's collective effort to implement the ambitious road map set out in the Paris Agreement to maintain an average temperature increase of no more than 1.5°C. Such an effort requires reducing global emissions by 7.6% each year by 2030, and maintaining this steady course to have any hope of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. However, after nearly achieving this goal in 2020 on a circumstantial basis due to mobility restrictions due to the global pandemic, today we see that "emissions are increasing at record levels, on the way to an increase of 14% in this decade", as formulated by the Secretary General at the United Nations General Assembly on September 20 2022. In this context, it is essential to assume a much more leading role in global efforts, which allows us to achieve a resilient trajectory. The methodology for calculating the carbon footprint in Cuban universities pays tribute to innovative incentives to support and stimulate investments in climate actions, which promote technologies with less or zero emissions (green bonds / green finance taxonomies); designed to avoid negative social impacts while promoting the reduction of Greenhouse Gases (GHG). The methodology rescues elements that point to a broad vision of sustainable development goals in addition to climate change. The experiences that are collected in the adoption of relevant mechanisms, such as: renewable energy certificates, the product footprint, circular economy criteria, the water footprint, the gender equality seal. Additionally, the case study of the University of Havana as a starting point that generates a national baseline that allows generating a reference to continue improving the processes. It is hoped that it will serve as a platform for exchanges that contribute to the development of common standards in order to stimulate the elements that constitute a carbon footprint program to build capacities with this type of tools.