Sustainability in Higher Education Institutions: Theoretical Management of the Carbon Footprint at UNESUM

Higher education institutions (HEI) play a fundamental role, potentially generating positive and negative social and environmental impacts. The quantification of environmental indicators such as the carbon footprint (CF) within HEI allows for evaluation of the negative impact generated. In turn, the pertinent management of the CF permits valuing the environmental position of the HEI according to its level of resources consumption and generation of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. The objective of this study was to estimate the CF of the Universidad Estatal del Sur de Manabí (UNESUM) and to propose an integrating approach that affirms its environmental commitment to move toward being a sustainable campus. Several authors have identified that the activities of HEI and their infrastructure are essential points in management and sustainability. In this context, the integration of an environmental management system (EMS) and the green building initiative are two approaches with great potential for fulfilling the second stated objective. Keywords: carbon footprint (CF), greenhouse gases (GHG), climate crisis, sustainability, mitigation. Resumen Las Instituciones de Educación Superior (IES) juegan un papel fundamental siendo potencialmente generadoras de impactos sociales y ambientales positivos y negativos. La cuantificación de indicadores ambientales como la Huella de Carbono (HC) dentro de las IES permite evaluar el impacto negativo generado; a su vez, la gestión pertinente de la HC admite valorar la posición medioambiental de la IES respecto a su nivel de consumo de recursos y generación de emisiones de Gases de Efecto Invernadero (GEI). El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar la HC de la Universidad Estatal del Sur de Manabí (UNESUM) y plantear un enfoque integrador que permita afirmar su compromiso medioambiental para encaminarse a ser un campus sustentable. Varios autores han identificado que las actividades de las IES y su infraestructura son puntos esenciales en la gestión y sostenibilidad. Bajo ese contexto, la integración de un Sistema de Gestión Ambiental (SGA) y la iniciativa de construcción ecológica son dos enfoques con un gran potencial para el cumplimiento del segundo objetivo planteado. Palabras Clave: Huella de Carbono (HC), Gases de Efecto Invernadero (GEI), crisis climática, sostenibilidad, mitigación

Sustainability in Higher Education Institutions: Theoretical Management of the Carbon Footprint at UNESUM

Abstract Higher education institutions (HEI) play a fundamental role, potentially generating positive and negative social and environmental impacts. The quantification of environmental indicators such as the carbon footprint (CF) within HEI allows for evaluation of the negative impact generated. In turn, the pertinent management of the CF permits valuing the environmental position of the HEI according to its level of resources consumption and generation of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. The objective of this study was to estimate the CF of the Universidad Estatal del Sur de Manabí (UNESUM) and to propose an integrating approach that affirms its environmental commitment to move toward being a sustainable campus. Several authors have identified that the activities of HEI and their infrastructure are essential points in management and sustainability. In this context, the integration of an environmental management system (EMS) and the green building initiative are two approaches with great potential for fulfilling the second stated objective