Carbon Dioxide Emission and Carbon Sequestration in Lampang Rajabhat University

การปล่อยและการกักเก็บก๊าซคาร์บอนไดออกไซด์ มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏลำปาง

Abstract

         Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a major contributor to global warming and climate change. Effective management of carbon emissions and sequestration plays a crucial role in climate mitigation. This study aimed to assess the carbon sequestration potential of trees within Lampang Rajabhat University as baseline data for developing institutional carbon credits. It also quantified Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from campus activities, categorized into Scopes 1-3. Field data were collected in 2023 and analyzed following the methodologies of the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2006) under the GHG Protocol for organization. Results indicated that 95.8% of the trees were common species type, followed by 4.1% palms and minor portions of vines, with no bamboo and mangrove species recorded. The total estimated biomass was 3,420 tons, equivalent to 5,885 tons of CO₂ sequestration 4,628 tons from aboveground and 1,257 tons from belowground biomass. Total GHG emissions from university activities in 2023 amounted to 3,100.34 tCO₂eq. Direct emissions (Scope 1) contributed 6%, mainly from vehicle use, LPG consumption, and agricultural and livestock activities. Indirect emissions from other sources (Scope 3) accounted for 35.3%, including 28.3% from waste, 6.8% from transportation, and 0.1% from wastewater. Electricity use (Scope 2) was the largest source, representing 59.2% or 1,834.4 tCO₂eq. Overall, the university’s CO₂ emissions in 2023 represented 52.7% of the carbon stored in campus vegetation. This underscores the importance of strategically managing green spaces to sustainably reduce and offset the university’s carbon footprint.