In June 2020, NTU responded to the Paris Agreement by becoming the first Taiwanese higher education institution to declare an ambitious goal of “50% carbon neutrality by 2028 and 100% carbon neutrality by 2048.” Comprehensive assessments of greenhouse gas emissions on campus in 2021 laid the foundation for a thorough carbon neutrality roadmap. Through scientific evidence and the dedication of faculty-student teams and staff from various NTU offices, five major strategies emerged: Equipment Electrification, Energy Decarbonization, Energy Conservation, Negative Emissions Technologies (NETs), and Carbon Offset.
Efforts in Energy Conservation involved conducting electricity audits on campus buildings, leading to a better understanding of electricity usage patterns. NTU also promoted nearly zero-energy building demonstration sites and collaborated with external vendors to introduce smart energy-saving solutions. In pursuit of Energy Decarbonization, NTU evaluated various decarbonized energy sources to identify feasible carbon reduction measures. Regarding NETs, NTU facilitates Taiwan’s energy transition by focusing on natural carbon sinks and sequestration, leveraging technology and talented personnel to maximize the potential of existing technology and accelerate the development of cutting-edge technologies.
It is based on these strategies that NTU has made significant advances in the planning of its carbon neutrality roadmap. NTU forges ahead by following this roadmap and maintaining ongoing communication with various stakeholders to coordinate efforts, adapting the path to carbon neutrality based on yearly results and the latest scientific advancements. The ultimate goal: achieving 50% carbon neutrality by 2028 and reaching 100% by 2048.
NTU’s Five Strategies to Achieve Carbon Neutrality
Dr. Yi-Huan Hsieh, Assistant CEO at the Office of Sustainability, conducting energy-saving workshops at various colleges to raise awareness about electricity usage in buildings