Electricity and international travel make up most of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from UNU Centre in Tokyo, according to the first emissions report from the centre’s ISO Working Group.The report, which tallies CO2 emissions from electricity, water, gas, copy paper consumption and international air travel, shows that total emissions from UNU Centre in 2007 was 1,474 tons, down slightly from the 2006 figure of 1,544 tons.

Electricity and international travel accounted for 844 and 610 tons, respectively, in 2007. The utility consumption incorporates the entire UNU Centre building, and therefore includes those of other UN agencies and events held in the building’s conference halls.

Distances and CO2 emissions – UNU Centre travel (Novak & Okishio 2008)

Making university campuses models for a sustainable society was one of the roles agreed in the Sapporo Sustainability Declaration of the G8 University Summit, held June 29 to July 1, 2008 in Sapporo, Japan, and attended by the UNU Rector, Prof. Konrad Osterwalder.

The UNU Centre ISO Working Group also analyzed emissions from international travel as an example for academic institutes as well as UN agencies.

The centre’s total international travel distance between 2004 and 2007 ranged from 5.2 to 6.9 million km. In 2007, UNU Centre arranged an almost equal number of trips from or to developed (210) and developing (220) countries. There were 15 flights to least developed countries in 2006 and 11 in 2007.

UNU Centre is located in Japan, which is required to reduce its CO2 emissions by six per cent on 1990 levels by 2012.

One of the tools being considered by UNU Centre administration and the ISO Working Group is adopting Energy Service Company (ESCO) project methodology for the 15-year-old building’s coming overhaul.

Number of countries visited – UNU Centre travel (Novak & Okishio 2008)

Although emissions from international travel are not counted under the Kyoto Protocol, UNU is committed to reducing its carbon footprint while maintaining its outreach to the people of Japan and other countries. The increasing use of video conferencing tools is one of the measures that has been adopted.

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