Greenhouse Gas

HKUST is committed to becoming a net-zero carbon university by 2045, if not earlier, by taking the lead on developing solutions that demonstrate our dedication to creating a true net-zero world. This includes scope 1 and 2 emissions and embodied carbon of the new development. For our near-term target, our target is to achieve a 40% reduction in GHG emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 2028, using 2014 as the baseline year, as part of the HKUST 2028 Sustainability Challenge. Another near-term target is to achieve 50% reduction from the baseline year by 2035. In summary, our reduction targets for Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions are 40% by 2028, 50% by 2035 and to achieve net-zero by 2045.

The graph below maps out our current performance against these targets with a reduction of 34%, on on track to our near term 2028 and 2035 targets. 

Our reporting methodologies and emission factors follow the GHG Protocol Corporate Account and Reporting Standard, and the EPD Guidelines to Account for and Report on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Removals for Buildings (Commercial, Residential or Institutional Purposes) in Hong Kong.

In the 2023-24 academic year, HKUST emitted 2,498 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) from sources of scope 1, 37,968 tonnes of CO2e from scope 2, and 425 tonnes of CO2e from scope 3.

Compared to 2022-23 (beginning of the resume of in-person activities after Covid-19 pandemic), scopes 1 and 2 are 119%, 3% higher than 2022-23 respectively; while the scope 3 is 23% lower than 2022-23. The total scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions saw an overall 6% increase from 2022-23. The increase of scope 1 and 2 emission is due to a large amount of refrigerant acquired this year.

Compared to the base year of 2014-15, HKUST emitted 1,405 metric tonnes of CO2e from sources of scope 1, 59,828 tonnes of CO2e  from scope 2, and 795 tonnes of  CO2e from scope 3. This year’s scope 1 emission has increased by 77% compared to baseline base, while scope 2 and scope 3 have decreased by 37% and 46% respectively compared to baseline year, The total scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions see an overall 34% reduction from baseline year.

Our current progress demonstrates that there has been improvement in energy use efficiency from the infrastructure upgrade and GHG emissions factors from local utility’s greener fuel mix.