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National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

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  • SDGs

  • Publish Date:2024-04-22
2024 Sustainability Week: NYCU Launches Car-Free Day and Announces Carbon Footprint Verification by the End of 2024 to Foster Campus Carbon Reduction
2024 Sustainability Week
2024 Sustainability Week
Translated by Chance Lai
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National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) held the 2024 Sustainability Week from April 18th to 24th to raise awareness of climate change among students and faculty. Culminating on Earth Day (April 22nd), the campus launched a car-free day, encouraging students and faculty to utilize public transportation or walk instead of driving, promoting sustainability ideals on campus, and celebrating Earth Day.

In Response to Earth Day, the President Leads by Example, Walking to Work

On April 22nd, President Chi-Hung Lin, Secretary General I-Ju Chen, Deputy Dean of Student Affairs Tzyy-Jiuan Wang, Deputy Dean of General Affairs Kuang-Hui Sun, and other faculty and staff members walked together from the main entrance of the Yangming Campus to the administrative building located halfway up the hill.

Due to the unique hilly terrain of the Yangming Campus, the uphill walk takes 10 to 15 minutes without transportation assistance. Therefore, most students and faculty prefer to take the campus shuttle bus or use motorcycles or cars for commuting.

To achieve the goal of a sustainable campus, the Yangming Campus has established YouBike stations in recent years, introduced car-sharing services, and implemented campus shuttle buses to overcome the inconvenience of driving for students and faculty due to the hilly terrain. With alumni support, the Chiaotung Campus has also introduced Oloo electric scooters for use.
 
The president leads the administrative team in walking to the workplace, demonstrating concrete action in addressing climate change.
The president leads the administrative team in walking to the workplace, demonstrating concrete action in addressing climate change.

President Chi-Hung Lin stated that the issue of climate change is increasingly being emphasized, and NYCU is actively responding to sustainable development, with energy conservation and carbon reduction listed as top priorities. In addition to completing the installation of smart streetlights last year, the Carbon Footprint Verification (CFV) project initiated this year will be the first step towards the university's 2050 net-zero carbon emission goal. It is expected that by the end of this year, the carbon emissions of the entire campus will be understood, facilitating the formulation of corresponding standards to reduce carbon emissions in the future.
 

NYCU will complete CFV by 2024 and formulate corresponding strategies to reduce carbon emissions. (Photo from Pixabay by Gerd Altmann)
NYCU will complete CFV by 2024 and formulate corresponding strategies to reduce carbon emissions. (Photo from Pixabay by Gerd Altmann)

Verifying the Carbon Footprint and Identifying Energy Consumption Sources

Ming-Neng Shiu, Executive Director of the Office of Sustainable Development and University Social Responsibility Promotion, stated that the primary purpose of CFV is to provide the university with directions for future energy conservation and carbon reduction efforts. The scope of calculation includes the entire campus's water and electricity usage, diesel consumption for power generators, carbon emissions from campus vehicles, and carbon emissions from refrigeration equipment such as liquid nitrogen in laboratories. The carbon equivalent absorbed by campus vegetation will also be included in the calculations for offsetting.

After completing the CFV, the next step will be to refine calculations further to determine the electricity consumption of different units and spaces within the same building. Additionally, there are plans to replace aging electrical appliances that have been in use for twenty to thirty years, aiming to achieve the goal of reducing carbon emissions.

At the same time, the 2024 Bamboo Expo and World Bamboo Congress, symbolic of sustainable development, were held for the first time at NYCU this year with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), the week-long Sustainability Week showcased various campus achievements, including a sustainable market, a poster exhibition on sustainable development outcomes, presentations on the results of the University Social Responsibility (USR) x Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) projects, and experiential activities.

These achievements, shared with the entire campus community and extended to involve residents, are part of the university's social responsibility and aim to apply solutions to climate change.
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