Universities Step Forward to Reduce Carbon Footprint

Across India, universities and colleges are successively progressing towards reducing their carbon footprint. Our nation’s educational institutions are growing greener through financial sustainability, renewable generators, solar power, and waste management. On the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, 12 Indian universities pledged to become carbon neutral. The voluntary oath, called “Not zero, net-zero,” has added over 250 universities to its ranks.

Throughout the process, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has been a trailblazer. The university became the first centrally-funded technical college to reduce its carbon footprint by more than fifty percent. IIT Director, V Ramgopal Rao, has stated that “Availing green power through open access is an important initiative. Through proactive action, we can make progress to achieve the expansion of the green power purchase portfolio shortly.” The college has chosen to receive electricity exclusively from renewable sources of energy. Large-scale bodies such as universities consume vast amounts of resources, therefore causing their choices to resonate loudly. As stated by Director Rao, “2 megawatts of power exclusively from renewable sources offsets around 14000 tonnes of annual CO2 emissions.”

According to environmental experts, the promises stated by countries within the Paris Agreement are not enough to fully offset ecological damage. Most energy usage, and thus wastage, comes from private entities. Hence, most governmental influence is stemmed in trying to ensure carbon neutrality. Therefore, it’s imperative that countries strive to reach net-zero emissions within the next 30-40 years. Thus, it’s through the efforts of influential large-scale organisations that change is possible.