Standardised measurement of greenhouse gas emissions from universities TU Braunschweig takes part in pilot project

Many universities in Niedersachsen are working on researching and implementing climate protection measures. The pilot project “COUNTS” aims to develop uniform standards for the greenhouse gas balances of universities in Niedersachsen.

As part of the state administration, universities are obliged to comply with the state government’s climate targets. Regular greenhouse gas balances are to provide the data basis for climate protection measures. In order to reduce the workload for the individual universities and to create uniform standards for all, the current project will first determine the status quo: Which universities have already produced a greenhouse gas balance sheet and what data have they used?

In a second phase, the aim is to create a common framework and develop a tool that all participants can use for their assessment.

In the third phase of the project, universities in Niedersachsen will be offered information and advice formats on greenhouse gas balancing in order to test and optimise the use of the tool. Based on the data collected in the project, measures will also be derived to help universities achieve climate neutrality.

The HochNiNa network

The Sustainability Network of Universities in Niedersachsen (HochNiNa), which was founded in 2018, currently comprises 16 universities in Niedersachsen. The aim is to promote cooperation between the sustainability officers of the individual universities and with the state of Niedersachsen, thus accelerating the sustainable development of the universities. The network addresses issues such as mobility, green electricity and climate neutrality and is open to all universities in Niedersachsen.

The project is coordinated by Judith Wehrend from the University of Oldenburg, where the survey is being carried out on behalf of the Sustainability Network of Universities in Niedersachsen (HochNiNa). The Niedersachsen Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Climate Protection is funding the project with around €235,000 over three years.