Institutional Carbon Footprint and Decarbonisation Pathways for a Nigerian Tertiary Institution

Abstract

Higher education institutions are increasingly recognised as important contributors to greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions because of their intensive energy consumption, transportation activities, and
waste generation. However, institutional carbon accounting remains limited across most tertiary
institutions in Nigeria, constraining the development of evidence-based decarbonisation strategies.
This study quantified the institutional carbon footprint of a Nigerian polytechnic and evaluated
alternative pathways for reducing campus-wide greenhouse gas emissions. Activity data covering
electricity consumption, diesel use, transportation, and solid waste generation were collected and
analysed in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, with emissions classified into
relevant reporting scopes and converted to carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂-e) using internationally
accepted emission factors. The results estimated the institution's annual carbon footprint at 2,685.9
tCO₂-e, with diesel-powered electricity generation and grid electricity accounting for more than
75% of total emissions, thereby identifying energy consumption as the dominant emission source.
Scenario-based modelling demonstrated that the combined implementation of energy-efficient
technologies, solar photovoltaic (PV) hybrid energy systems, and behavioural energy conservation
measures could reduce institutional emissions by approximately 62% relative to the baseline
scenario. The findings highlight the substantial mitigation potential of integrated decarbonisation
interventions and demonstrate the value of institutional carbon accounting as a decision-support
tool for sustainable campus management. The proposed framework provides a practical and
transferable approach for carbon footprint assessment, climate action planning, and net-zero
transition strategies in Nigerian and other resource-constrained higher education institutions.