To effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it's important to know where they come from. Measuring them will allow us to establish decarbonization priorities, plan specific actions for the university, and transparently communicate progress to the community.
We know the carbon footprint of the SWPS University
In 2024, our university’s carbon footprint was measured for the first time for scopes 1 and 2:
- Scope 1 – direct emissions from fuels burned on-site, such as in boiler rooms, furnaces, and university vehicle engines (company cars)
- Scope 2 – indirect emissions resulting from the consumption of externally purchased energy, such as electricity and district heating.
Collecting data, carrying out calculations, preparing a report and drawing conclusions for the future are part of the implementation of the 5th strategic goal of the SWPS University Strategy for 2024-2029, which concerns environmental protection activities:
By 2029, we aim to be a green university that counteracts climate changes and supports adaptation to their consequences.
a fragment of the SWPS University Strategy for 2024-2029
What is the carbon footprint
A carbon footprint is the sum of all greenhouse gas emissions caused—directly or indirectly—by a specific person, organization, event, or product. This includes emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide. A carbon footprint is expressed in CO₂e which is the equivalent of CO₂.
Key results
- SWPS University's carbon footprint in 2024 was 1,653 tons of CO₂e.
- Nearly 93% of emissions come from scope 2.
- Approximately 90% of the entire footprint is generated by purchased heat – this is where we have the greatest potential for reduction.
- Emissions from electricity are low – thanks to the fact that we purchase green energy with a guarantee of origin.
- The largest emissions, of course, come from our largest campuses – Warsaw and Wrocław.
The data was collected for the period from January 1 to December 31, 2024. Employees from operational offices entered the data into the Plan Be Eco tool, and calculations were performed in accordance with the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-1 standards.
1,653 tonnes of CO₂e – how much is that exactly?
This is difficult to visualize, so we compared this result to various activities. For example, it's equivalent to:
- emissions from 1,495 flights from Warsaw to London
- emissions from 4,132 diesel car journeys from Warsaw to Lisbon and back
- annual emissions from 236 people living in Poland.
What are the next steps
This year, we will continue collecting data for Scopes 1 and 2.
We are also beginning preparations to expand our analysis to Scope 3. This is a more complex area that includes indirect emissions such as:
- student and employee commutes
- business trips
- purchases of equipment and services
- use of digital services (e.g., cloud).
To accurately calculate this, we'll need the collaboration of many people and departments—from simple surveys to collecting data on trips and orders. Engaging the entire community will allow us to create a reliable and comprehensive picture of our climate impact.
We encourage you to read the full report.