Inventário de gases de efeito estufa e emissões evitadas com o gerenciamento de resíduos e cobertura vegetal na Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos

Abstract

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been one of the main sources of climate change on the Earth since the 17th century. In order to know the emission´ profile and quantify the sources of emissions that contributed the most to these changes, countries, organizations and companies have since the beginning of the 21st century adopted the Greenhouse Gas Inventory (GHGI) as a tool to understand the profile of their GHG emissions, the volume of emissions their activities generate in the atmosphere and direct actions to mitigate and control emissions of those gases. Faced with this problem, the present research had as its goal accomplishing the Greenhouse Gas Inventory of the University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos according to all the activities and services carried out within the Campus of São Leopoldo. The methodology adopted in this study used data collection of the University's Environmental Management System (EMS), according to the parameters of the Brazilian GHG Protocol Program. The study showed that in 2015, Unisinos issued 2,706 tCO2e, measured through its GHGI. Recycled waste at the University prevented the emission of 9.7 tCO2e into the atmosphere through waste management at Unisinos. The university's vegetation cover absorbed 255 tCO2, through carbon sequestration in its 20.4 ha of permanent preservation area (PPA). The GHG balance showed a compensation of 255 tCO2e through the vegetal cover maintenance, showing net emissions of 2,451.44 tCO2e. In conclusion, this study suggests that future actions should be based on accomplishment of later inventories and reduction of GHG emissions through improvement of power consumption efficiency, air conditioners maintenance and reduction of air travels.