The UAB reduces by 55% GHG emissions and is aiming to keep decreasing the environmental impact of the university

The UAB is getting ready to reduce its GHG emissions during the next years, among other measures, to reduce the environmental impact generated by its activity. In only one year, the university has achieved to decrease these emissions by more than 50% and it is launching different actions to keep decreasing this index.

19/12/2019

The Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) has set a goal to reduce the impact produced by its activities. Different action points have been settled regarding the GHG emissions caused by transport, water consumption or waste generation.

In only one year, from 2017 to 2018, the university has cut down its pollution index a 55% and thus year keeps working to reduce them even more. In 2017, although 6 people out of 10 commutes to the UAB in public transport, private transport generated 13.322 tonnes of GHG. That means that nearly 70% of the emissions generated when accessing the campus were originated by private cars.

The university has launched a bike service and has promoted the use of new bus lines, both internal and external lines. Moreover, the UAB tried reducing the number of internal commute and an alternative sustainable has been suggested for all of them.

The method of obtaining renewable energy is another main point of this new course of action. From all the electricity used in 2018, 60% was renewable energy. Altogether, it was used a 3% less of energy compared to the previous year. This means an important turnaround.

There is the same situation for water consumption and waste generation. The new actions, for instance, sustainable gardening or an APP for the selective collection of litter, prove that there has been a change of habit in the past few years.

Therefore, the university is working to reduce its environmental impact and aims to do it even more in 2020.