Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Report

Khalifa University

Reporting Year 2025

Executive Summary

This report presents the comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory for Khalifa University. The inventory has been prepared in accordance with the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, covering all relevant emissions sources across Scope 1, 2, and 3 categories.

Summary of Key Performance Indicators
Number of Stakeholders 5,426 tCO2/stakeholder 3.9
Area of the premises m2 302,756.81 tCO2/m2 0.069
1. Organizational Information
1.1 Organizational Boundaries

This inventory covers all operations within Khalifa University's main campus, including:

  • Academic buildings
  • Research laboratories
  • Student housing facilities
  • Administrative buildings
  • Sports facilities
  • Transportation fleet
  • Auxiliary services

1.2 Operational Boundaries

The inventory encompasses:

  • Scope 1: Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources
  • Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased energy
  • Scope 3: Other indirect emissions from university activities
2. Emissions Summary
2.1 Total Emissions by Scope

Breakdown of KU’s Total GHG Emission by Scope

Scope Emissions (tCO2e) Percentage of Total
Scope 1 2,470 12.35%
Scope 2 17,530 87.65%
Total 20,000 100%

2.2 Scope 1 Emissions Breakdown
Stationary Combustion:

> Diesel (generators): ~1,152 tCO₂e

Mobile Combustion:

> University fleet vehicles (fuel & gasoline): ~109 tCO₂e

Fugitive Emissions:

> Refrigeration and AC systems: ~1,203 tCO₂e


2.3 Scope 2 Emissions Breakdown
Purchased Electricity: [15,760] tCO2e
Purchased Cooling: [1,770] tCO2e
3. Performance Metrics
3.1 Emissions Intensity Metrics
Metric Value
Emissions per student [3.46] tCO2e/student
Emissions per floor area [0.07] kgCO2e/m²

3.2 Year-over-Year Performance
Year Total GHG Emission (tCOe2) Change (tCO₂e) % Change
2024 21,185.28 - -
2025 20,003 -1,182.28 -5.58

A comparison of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions between 2024 and 2025 indicates a reduction in total emissions. Total GHG emissions decreased from 21,185.28 tCO₂e in 2024 to 20,003.09 tCO₂e in 2025, representing a 5.58% year-over-year reduction.

This improvement reflects ongoing efforts to enhance operational efficiency, implement energy conservation measures, and strengthen sustainability initiatives across campus operations. The reduction demonstrates positive progress toward institutional emission reduction targets and supports the organization’s long-term Net Zero objectives.

4. Calculation Methodologies
4.1 Emission Factors Used
Source Emission Factor Unit Reference
Grid Electricity 0.20 kgCO2e/kWh Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) 2023 Sustainability Report – SustainabilityReports.com]
Equipment Fuel (Diesel) 2.6 kgCO₂e/L Calculation Tools and Guidance | GHG Protocol
Vehicle Fuel (Gasoline) 2.3 kgCO2e/L Calculation Tools and Guidance | GHG Protocol
LPG 1.47 kgCO₂e/unit Calculation Tools and Guidance | GHG Protocol]

4.2 Key Calculations
Scope 1
Stationary Combustion Consumption in litres Emission Factor kg/l tCO2 Emissions
LPG 4794 1.47 7.66
Mobile Combustion Consumption in litres Emission Factor kg/l tCO2 Emissions
University fleet vehicles (Gasoline) 489,254.15 2.3 108.72
Landscaping equipment (diesel) 1162 2.6 3.02

Scope 1
Fugitive Emissions Refrigerant Type Usage in Kg Global Warming Potential (GWP) 1kg of refrigerant is equivalent to the below kg of CO2 tCO2 Emissions
R22 307 1,810 555.67
R410 259 2,088 540.79
R134A 52 1,430 74.36
R407C 18 1,774 31.93

Scope 2
Energy Consumption in MWh Emission factor tCO2 Emissions
Purchased Energy 78,780.11 0.2 15,756.02
Purchased Cooling 8,878.78 0.2 1,775.76
5. Emissions Reduction Initiatives
5.1 Current Initiatives
1. Energy Efficiency Programs
  • LED lighting upgrades
  • HVAC optimization
  • Smart building controls

2. Renewable Energy
  • Solar panel installation
  • Green power purchasing

3. Sustainable Transportation
  • Electric vehicle charging stations
  • Bicycle infrastructure
  • Public transportation incentives

5.2 Future Plans

Target: 33% reduction in absolute emissions by 2030

6. Data Quality and Verification
6.1 Data Collection Methods
  • Utility bills
  • Building management systems
  • Transport logs
  • Waste collection records
  • Staff and student surveys

6.2 Quality Assurance
  • Internal data verification procedures
  • Uncertainty assessment
7. Recommendations
  • Enhance data collection systems
  • Expand renewable energy capacity
  • Implement additional energy efficiency measures
  • Improve transportation alternatives
  • Engage campus community in reduction efforts
8. Appendices
Appendix A: Detailed Emissions Data

To ensure accuracy and transparency in Khalifa University’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory, the following calculation methodologies have been applied for key emission sources: LPG, Gasoline, diesel, fugitive emissions, and purchased electricity and cooling. These methodologies align with the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard and best practices for emissions accounting.

LPG is a direct source of Scope 1 emissions, as its combustion releases carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases directly into the atmosphere. The emissions factor for LPG has been taken directly from the calculation’s tools and guidance in the GHG protocol standard. Consumption of one litre of LPG releases 1.47kg of CO2

Gasoline is a direct source of Scope 1 emissions, as its combustion releases carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases directly into the atmosphere. The emissions factor for gasoline has been taken directly from the calculation’s tools and guidance in the GHG protocol standard. Consumption of one litre of gasoline releases 2.3kg of CO2 per litre

Diesel is a direct source of Scope 1 emissions, as its combustion releases carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases directly into the atmosphere. The emissions factor for gasoline has been taken directly from the calculation’s tools and guidance in the GHG protocol standard. Consumption of one litre of gasoline releases 2.6kg of CO2 per litre

For LPG, Gasoline and Diesel the following formula was applied to get the emissions in metric tonnes:

tCO2 = (consumption in litres X emission factor) / 1,000

Fugitive emissions are unintentional releases of greenhouse gases, typically from refrigeration and air conditioning systems, which use refrigerants with high global warming potential (GWP). These are classified as Scope 1 emissions. GWP values are typically calculated over a specific time frame, such as 20, 100, or 500 years. The most used time horizon is 100 years. GWP is critical for calculating the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) of non-CO₂ greenhouse gases. This allows organizations to aggregate emissions from different gases into a single metric for reporting and reduction purposes.

For fugitive emissions, the following formula was applied to get the emissions in metric tonnes:

tCO2 = (consumption in kg X GWP) / 1,000

Purchased Electricity and cooling are an indirect source of Scope 2 emissions, as the emissions occur at the facility where the electricity is generated. The emission factor for electricity is based on the grid’s average emissions intensity, which varies by region. In Abu Dhabi, according to Abu Dhabi National Energy Company’s (TAQA) sustainability report, the emission factor of electricity distributed is nearly 0.2 tCO2 per MWh in 2023.

For purchased electricity and cooling, the consumption was first converted to Megawatthour (MWh) from Kilowatt-hour (kWh) and then the following formula was applied:

tCO2 = (consumption in MWh X emission factor)


Appendix B: Data Sources and References
Data Source Reference
LPG Catering Supplier Monthly Report
University fleet vehicles Transportation provider Monthly Report
Fuel (landscaping equipment) Facilities Management Annual Report
Fugitive Emissions Facilities Management Annual Report
Purchased Electricity Facilities Management Meter readings
Cooling Facilities Management Meter readings