Logo do repositório
 
Publicação

Decarbonising university operations: strategies and challenges for Higher Education Institutions

2026-03-23Artigo científico Acesso aberto
Ver registo simples
datacite.subject.fosCiências Naturais::Ciências da Terra e do Ambiente
datacite.subject.sdg13:Ação Climática
dc.contributor.authorLeal Filho, Walter
dc.contributor.authorAguiar, Alexandre de Oliveira e
dc.contributor.authorElahi, Muhammad Manzoor
dc.contributor.authorAzam, Fardous Mohammad Safiul
dc.contributor.authorDinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta
dc.contributor.authorHenrique, João Paulino Pires Eustachio
dc.contributor.authorMazhar, Muhammad Usman
dc.contributor.authorMazutti, Janaina
dc.contributor.authorGatto, Andrea
dc.contributor.authorEtxano, Iker
dc.contributor.authorKounani, Aristea
dc.contributor.authorAina, Yusuf
dc.contributor.authorViota, Maria
dc.date.accessioned2026-04-27T11:18:53Z
dc.date.available2026-04-27T11:18:53Z
dc.date.issued2026-03-23
dc.description.abstractBackground: Universities have significant carbon emissions impact and face pressure to cut their operational carbon emissions around the world. This leads to growing interest of the academic and practice community in effective pathways for carbon reduction within higher education. In this context, the aim of the research is to investigate the strategies for decarbonising university operations and challenges being faced. Drawing from a mixed-method approach, a review of case studies, and a survey involving Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in nearly 40 countries, it explores the interconnectedness of awareness, cultural and political dimensions, internal institutional structures, and technical approaches in achieving decarbonisation goals. Results: The findings underscore awareness initiatives that enhance understanding of decarbonisation among educators and students in universities, and communities. The case studies as a review of experiences from diverse geographical regions illustrate varying strategies for carbon emissions reduction in HEIs, underscoring the adaptability of decarbonisation efforts across contexts. Additionally, cultural and political factors emerge as key determinants, requiring tailored strategies to navigate diverse contexts and garner public support. Finally, institutional structures, including financial constraints and regulatory barriers, and ageing infraestructure are identified as key barriers to effective decarbonisation efforts. Conclusions: The novelty of the paper resides on the fact that it highlights the need for integrating decarbonisation goals into institutional governance and planning mechanisms is essential for achieving long-term goal of net zero carbon and aligning with the global UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study advocates for a holistic approach that considers social, economic, environmental and institutional dimensions in advancing decarbonisation within HEIs, rather than treating emissions as a purely technical issue. The effectiveness of decarbonisation measures is dependent on breaking down chronic structural and financial factors in the implementation, and is substantially supported by institutional practices that promote the engagement of all stakeholders and an open, transparent measurement of its impact. By addressing barriers, HEIs can pave the way for a sustainable and low carbon future while serving as catalysts for broader societal change.eng
dc.identifier.citationLeal Filho, W., Aguiar, A. d. O. e., Elahi, M. M., Azam, F. M. S., Dinis, M. A. P., Eustachio, J. H. P. P., Mazhar, M., Mazutti, J., Gatto, A., Etxano, I., Kounani, A., Aina, Y. A., & Viota, M. (2026). Decarbonising university operations: strategies and challenges for Higher Education Institutions. Environmental Sciences Europe, 38, 1–29, Article 82. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-026-01358-z
dc.identifier.doi10.1186/s12302-026-01358-z
dc.identifier.issn2190-4715
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10284/15389
dc.language.isoeng
dc.peerreviewedyes
dc.publisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC
dc.relation.hasversionhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12302-026-01358-z
dc.relation.ispartofEnvironmental Sciences Europe
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.subjectHigher Education Institutions (HEIs)
dc.subjectClimate change (CC)eng
dc.subjectDecarbonisationeng
dc.subjectCarbon emissions reductioneng
dc.subjectSustainabilityeng
dc.subjectSustainable campuseng
dc.titleDecarbonising university operations: strategies and challenges for Higher Education Institutionseng
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.endPage29
oaire.citation.issue1
oaire.citation.startPage1
oaire.citation.titleEnvironmental Sciences Europe
oaire.citation.volume38
oaire.versionhttp://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85
person.familyNameLeal Filho
person.familyNameDinis
person.familyNameHenrique
person.familyNameMazhar
person.familyNameGatto
person.familyNameAina
person.givenNameWalter
person.givenNameMaria Alzira Pimenta
person.givenNameJoão Paulino Pires Eustachio
person.givenNameMuhammad Usman
person.givenNameAndrea
person.givenNameYusuf
person.identifier0000000121351158
person.identifier493603
person.identifier.ciencia-idE01A-32E6-9A1C
person.identifier.ciencia-id4710-147D-FDAF
person.identifier.orcid0000-0002-1241-5225
person.identifier.orcid0000-0002-2198-6740
person.identifier.orcid0000-0002-6782-3904
person.identifier.orcid0000-0003-2749-6408
person.identifier.orcid0000-0003-1005-3571
person.identifier.orcid0000-0002-0763-9865
person.identifier.ridF-3309-2011
person.identifier.scopus-author-id6602389932
person.identifier.scopus-author-id55539804000
relation.isAuthorOfPublication8af3c3c1-d73c-450a-a2a6-9fc392919b70
relation.isAuthorOfPublication1e85592a-e8e2-4aea-bd8e-1007c94388c0
relation.isAuthorOfPublication06aadddb-6350-45b1-87d8-e986a97101ce
relation.isAuthorOfPublication8e47a8e7-475a-4306-bdd2-6a1229df1a0d
relation.isAuthorOfPublicationd05e0fdc-fa6c-409b-9d5b-6c8caaf4e53d
relation.isAuthorOfPublicationbc38a1bd-5ba5-4617-a34b-2609166de619
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery1e85592a-e8e2-4aea-bd8e-1007c94388c0

Ficheiros

Principais
A mostrar 1 - 1 de 1
Miniatura
Nome:
Decarbonising_university_operations.pdf
Tamanho:
2.51 MB
Formato:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Ver/Abrir
Licença
A mostrar 1 - 1 de 1
Miniatura indisponível
Nome:
license.txt
Tamanho:
4.03 KB
Formato:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Descrição:
Ver/Abrir

Coleções

FCT (DCEA) - Artigos em Revistas Científicas Internacionais com Arbitragem Científica