N. Liora , A. Poupkou, S. Papadogiannaki, D. Parliari, E. Giama, G. A.Pieretti, L.C. Da Rugna, L. Susanetti, M. Bressan, J. A. Becerra Villanueva, R. Chacartegui Ramírez, F. J. Pintus, L. Greco, M. Bertolini, D. Melas (2023).
A Methodology for Carbon Footprint Estimations of ResearchProject Activities—A Scenarios Analysis for ReducingCarbon Footprint. Atmosphere 2023, 14, 6.
Abstract:
The main objective of the present study is the development of a comprehensive method-ology for the estimation of the Carbon Footprint (CF) of research project activities and the identifi-cation of the best practices that can be followed by project partners within the project implementa-tion to reduce its carbon footprint. The CF methodology is based on the GHG Protocol Guidanceand the emissions factors of the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Theemissions sources related to project activities are the following: heating (from fuels combustion),electricity, water, work-commuting, materials, printable deliverables, IT equipment and events. Anapplication study is performed for a research project focusing on the Mediterranean area and it isfound that on-site events represent a 41% share of the total CF of the project. The use of publictransport and soft mobility by employees can result in a −37% reduction in the CF of work-commut-ing. The most significant best practices for more sustainable organization of project events, leadingto a reduction of −62% and −50% in the CF of the events, are public transportation and soft mo-bility of the events’ participants to reach the event location within the host city, and the promo-tion of the use of buses and railway for the international/national travels of participants to/from theevent’s host city, respectively. Τhe organization of hybrid events may also reduce the project event’sCF by −50%. The cumulative reduction in the total CF of the project examined from all the CF miti-gation scenarios studied, relevant to the energy-efficient target of the EU, the origin of materialsused, work-commuting and events (materials used, transportation, hybrid events), is estimated tobe −45%.
