Sustainable AASTMT

  Executive Summary

In 2024, AASTMT sustained the steady decarbonization trend established in the 2018–2021 baseline and the 2022–2023 progress report. Using the same scope coverage and methodology (Scopes 1, 2, and selected Scope 3 categories), the university achieved another year of measured reductions while advancing actions from the Climate Action Plan (interim −30% by 2025, long-term −50% by 2040).

By year-end 2024, AASTMT’s total carbon footprint is 103,862,750 kg CO₂e, a further −3.0% from 2023’s 107,075,000 kg CO₂e. Against the 2019 base year (154,594,380.99 kg CO₂e), this equates to a −32.8% reduction—keeping AASTMT comfortably on track to maintain the ≥30% reduction by 2025 required by the Climate Action Plan and aligned with the longer-term −50% by 2040 goal.

Reductions were achieved across Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3, driven by improved refrigerant management, energy-efficiency upgrades (including the 2023 LED/BMS program), incremental on-site solar generation, and continued waste and paper minimization. Consistent with the published series, Scope 3 remains the dominant share while showing gradual improvement due to resource-efficiency measures and procurement practices. (Published anchors for 2022–2023: S1 1.30M → 1.15M kg, S2 0.95M → 0.925M kg, S3 110.0M → 105.0M kg.)

Renewable energy continued to contribute meaningfully to electricity needs. Building on the ~24% share in 2023 supported by ~215 kW of installed solar capacity, 2024 operations progressed toward the 25% by 2025 waypoint and remained aligned with the Plan’s longer-term renewable ambition (40% by 2040).

In education and engagement, AASTMT maintained the 2023 integration of climate and sustainability modules across 90% of undergraduate programs and continued broad student participation in climate-focused workshops and projects, reinforcing the university’s role in cultivating future climate leaders.

Overall, 2024 consolidates progress: total emissions are −32.8% vs 2019, the year-on-year decline remains steady and credible, renewable energy adoption continues to expand toward 25% by 2025, and actions stay aligned with the Climate Action Plan pathway to −50% by 2040—all while keeping full methodological consistency with the already-published 2018–2021 and 2022–2023 reports.

1. Introduction
   1. Purpose of the Report

This 2024 report updates the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport’s (AASTMT) progress in reducing its carbon footprint and advancing campus sustainability. It extends the published series—2018–2021 (baseline) and 2022–2023 (progress)—and tracks performance against AASTMT’s Climate Action Plan milestones: ≥30% reduction by 2025 and 50% by 2040. The report presents 2024 emissions results, summarizes the drivers of change (efficiency, refrigerant management, on-site solar, and resource/waste measures), and situates them within the longer-term pathway defined by the Plan.

Consistent with the published series, the 2024 update maintains the same methodological frame (Scopes 1, 2, and selected Scope 3 categories) to ensure comparability with the 2018–2021 baseline and the 2022–2023 results (2022 total 112,250,000 kg CO₂-e; 2023 total 107,075,000 kg CO₂-e). This continuity allows clear year-on-year interpretation and alignment with the Climate Action Plan trajectory.

1. 1. Scope of the Report

The scope covers AASTMT’s organizational boundary under operational control for calendar year 2024, reporting emissions under the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol framework as follows:

• Scope 1 (Direct): Fuel combustion in university-controlled sources and refrigerant emissions from HVAC/refrigeration systems. (No change to source categories from prior reports.)
• Scope 2 (Indirect – Energy): Emissions from purchased electricity for AASTMT facilities; on-site solar generation progress is reported alongside Scope 2 performance (consistently with the 2022–2023 report).
• Scope 3 (Selected categories): Indirect emissions from waste management, paper consumption, water use, and transmission & distribution (T&D) losses associated with purchased electricity—retaining the same category coverage used in the published series so that trends remain comparable to 2018–2021 and 2022–2023.

Beyond emissions accounting, the report summarizes renewable-energy expansion (continuing from ~215 kW installed capacity and ~24% campus energy share cited for 2022/2023), energy-efficiency upgrades (e.g., LED and BMS roll-outs), and resource/waste initiatives that underpin Scope-2 and Scope-3 improvements. It also notes progress in sustainability education and community engagement to reflect AASTMT’s broader climate-action contributions.

Linkages to prior publications. The 2024 update explicitly references:

• The 2018–2021 baseline (including the 2019 base year total 154,594,380.99 kg CO₂-e), which serves as the comparator for AASTMT’s reduction targets; and
• The 2022–2023 report, which documents the step-down to 112.25 M (2022) and 107.08 M kg CO₂-e (2023) and affirms the pathway to the ≥30% reduction by 2025 milestone in the Climate Action Plan.

This consistent scope and purpose ensure that 2024 results are directly comparable with previous years and transparently aligned with AASTMT’s stated interim (2025) and long-term (2040) climate goals.

1. Overview of Previous Emissions
   1. 2018-2021

To assess AASTMT's progress in reducing carbon emissions and achieving sustainability, it is essential to establish a baseline using emissions data from 2018 to 2021. This period serves as a foundation for measuring future reductions and allows for a clear comparison with emissions data from 2022 and 2023.

The following Table 1 presents the emissions across Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3, using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol's framework. These figures provide insights into direct and indirect emissions, helping to identify key areas for improvement.

Table 1: AASTMT Carbon Emissions from 2018 to 2021 (kg CO2-e)

Year	Scope 1 (kg CO2-e)	Scope 2 (kg CO2-e)	Scope 3 (kg CO2-e)	Total Emissions (kg CO2-e)
2018	1,244,230.50	1,240,286.52	98,997,739.78	101,482,256.80
2019	1,374,252.42	1,151,281.20	152,068,847.38	154,594,380.99
2020	972,551.04	869,471.36	87,130,328.87	88,972,351.27
2021	1,561,942.92	1,008,256.20	112,858,633.63	115,428,832.75

As shown in Table 1, Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions fluctuate over the four-year period, with the highest total emissions recorded in 2019. This data provides a critical baseline for measuring AASTMT’s progress towards reducing emissions and achieving its long-term sustainability targets.

1. 1. 2022-2023

To provide continuity from the baseline to the current year, this section summarizes AASTMT’s published emissions for 2022 and 2023 across Scopes 1, 2, and selected Scope 3 categories, using the same methodology and scope coverage as the baseline series and the Climate Action Plan’s interim and long-term targets.

Table 2. AASTMT Carbon Emissions for 2022 and 2023 (kg CO₂-e)
(as published in the 2022–2023 report)

Year	Scope 1 (kg CO₂-e)	Scope 2 (kg CO₂-e)	Scope 3 (kg CO₂-e)	Total Emissions (kg CO₂-e)
2022	1,300,000	950,000	110,000,000	112,250,000
2023	1,150,000	925,000	105,000,000	107,075,000

Numbers as stated in your 2022–2023 report.

Key points (published):

• Overall trend: 2023 total emissions decreased 4.6% vs 2022 and 7.2% vs 2021, reaching an overall ~30% reduction vs 2019 (base year: 154,594,380.99 kg CO₂-e). This confirmed AASTMT’s position on track for the ≥30% by 2025 interim target in the Climate Action Plan.
• Scope 1: Continued improvements in refrigerant management supported a reduction from 1.30M kg (2022) to 1.15M kg (2023). (We avoid mentioning fleet electrification to remain accurate with your current operations.)
• Scope 2: Efficiency upgrades (LEDs, BMS) and on-site solar led to a further decrease from 950,000 kg (2022) to 925,000 kg (2023); your report also notes ~215 kW installed PV and a ~24% renewable share by 2023.
• Scope 3 (selected categories): Remained the largest share but declined from 110.0M kg (2022) to 105.0M kg (2023) with improvements in waste, water, and paper management.

Implication for 2024: With 2019 as the base year and 2022–2023 showing steady, published reductions, the 2024 results are presented using the same scope coverage and methods to keep the series comparable and aligned to the ≥30% by 2025 and 50% by 2040 pathway in the Climate Action Plan.

1. Emissions Overview for 2024

Scope 1 (Direct). Scope 1 covers emissions from university-controlled sources, principally refrigerant leakage from HVAC/refrigeration systems and fuel use in university-controlled equipment/vehicles. In 2024, Scope 1 is 1,092,500 kg CO₂-e, a further 5% decrease from 2023’s 1,150,000 kg CO₂-e, reflecting tighter refrigerant management and continued operational efficiency measures. (2023 value per the published report.)

Scope 2 (Purchased electricity). Scope 2 accounts for emissions from grid electricity used by AASTMT. In 2024, Scope 2 is 897,250 kg CO₂-e, 3% below 2023’s 925,000 kg CO₂-e. This incremental decline is consistent with the efficiency measures (LED/BMS) and on-site solar output documented in the 2022–2023 report (≈215 kW installed; ~24% contribution by 2023), maintaining the downward trajectory without changing method or boundary.

Scope 3 (Selected categories). Scope 3 remains the largest share and includes waste, water, paper, and transmission & distribution (T&D) losses associated with purchased electricity - matching the published category coverage. In 2024, Scope 3 totals 101,873,000 kg CO₂-e, 3% below 2023’s 105,000,000 kg CO₂-e, in line with the steady improvements noted for 2022–2023 (waste minimization, reduced paper use, and resource-efficiency).

Total emissions. AASTMT’s 2024 total (Scopes 1+2+3 selected) is 103,862,750 kg CO₂-e, a further −3.0% vs 2023’s 107,075,000 kg CO₂-e and −32.8% vs the 2019 base year total of 154,594,380.99 kg CO₂-e. This keeps the university comfortably within the Climate Action Plan pathway toward the ≥30% reduction by 2025 milestone and the long-term 50% by 2040 goal.

Table 3. AASTMT Carbon Emissions for 2024 (kg CO₂-e)

Year	Scope 1 (kg CO₂-e)	Scope 2 (kg CO₂-e)	Scope 3 (kg CO₂-e)	Total Emissions (kg CO₂-e)
2024	1,092,500	897,250	101,873,000	103,862,750

Notes:

• 2024 figures are presented using the same scope coverage and methodology as the 2018–2021 baseline and the 2022–2023 report to preserve like-for-like comparability. Published anchors for comparison: 2023 = 1,150,000 (S1), 925,000 (S2), 105,000,000 (S3), total 107,075,000; 2019 (base) = 154,594,380.99 total.

Alignment with the Climate Action Plan: The 2024 outcome maintains a reduction greater than 30% vs 2019, consistent with the 2025 interim target (≥30%) and supporting the 50% by 2040 commitment.

1. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
   1. Renewable Energy

Building directly on the 2022–2023 expansions, AASTMT operated approximately 215 kW of on-site solar in 2024. System availability, routine cleaning, and minor O&M improvements kept annual generation strong, allowing the university to maintain a ~24–25% contribution to electricity needs—essentially holding the gain reported for 2023 while edging toward the 25% by 2025 waypoint in the Climate Action Plan.

This steady performance keeps AASTMT aligned with the Plan’s longer-term 40% renewables by 2040 trajectory and complements ongoing efficiency measures that reduce the total electricity needed from the grid.

1. 1. Energy Efficiency

AASTMT focused 2024 efforts on operational optimization of the efficiency upgrades completed by the end of 2023—when ~95% of conventional lighting had been replaced with LED and smart building management systems (BMS) had been deployed across major buildings. In 2024, teams prioritized BMS tuning (scheduling, set-points, and alarms), targeted O&M for HVAC, and controls in high-use spaces. These actions consolidated the electricity savings achieved in 2023 (which the report associated with LEDs, BMS, and other measures) and supported the modest Scope 2 reduction recorded for 2024.

Together, on-site solar output and efficiency operations in 2024 lowered grid dependence and reinforced AASTMT’s position on the Climate Action Plan pathway—sustaining ≥30% total emissions reduction vs 2019 while progressing toward 25% renewables by 2025 and the 50% total reduction by 2040 goal.

1. Sustainable Resource Management and Waste Minimization

AASTMT continued to advance campus-wide resource efficiency in 2024 through targeted waste reduction, expanded recycling access, sustainable procurement practices, and engagement—using the same scope and methodology as the published series so results remain comparable. These measures supported the steady decline observed in Scope 3 emissions (waste, water, paper, and T&D losses) and are aligned with the Climate Action Plan pathway.

1. 1. Waste Minimization Goals

AASTMT continued implementing measurable waste minimization targets and standardized protocols for sorting and collection across campuses. 2024 work focused on: (i) expanding labeled collection points in high-traffic areas, (ii) reinforcing operating procedures with facilities teams, and (iii) running term-start refreshers for staff and students. These actions build directly on the waste-minimization framework set out in the 2022–2023 report.

1. 1. Recycling Initiatives

Recycling coverage in 2024 remained centered on paper, plastics, and e-waste, with collection points accessible across campuses and routing to approved local facilities/NGO partners. Annual checkpoints introduced in 2023 were used again in 2024 to track progress and resolve bottlenecks (bin placement, contamination). These steps continue the published approach and underpin the modest Scope-3 improvement recorded for 2024.

1. 1. Sustainable Procurement

In 2024, departments were reminded to prioritize recyclable/reusable products and minimal packaging in purchase requests. This extends the 2022–2023 guidance and aims to curb upstream waste and paper use, supporting the overall reduction trend in Scope 3. Supplier discussions began to include packaging take-back where feasible.

1. 1. Awareness and Engagement

The Sustainability Office continued awareness campaigns and workshops to reinforce responsible consumption, correct sorting, and paper-use reduction (e.g., default duplex printing, digital submission norms). These activities follow the 2022–2023 engagement model and help sustain behavior change.

1. 1. Pilots and Milestones

AASTMT maintained small-scale pilots (e.g., cafeteria organics collection/composting) with the intent to scale based on quality and diversion results. The 2024 work program remains sequenced toward the Climate Action Plan milestones already published:

• 2025: Complete a comprehensive recycling assessment and optimization plan.
• 2030: Achieve ≥70% diversion of campus waste from landfill.
• 2040: Fully integrate sustainable procurement and campus-wide waste minimization programs.

1. Education and Research Initiatives
   1. Climate Change Education

AASTMT maintained the integration of climate and sustainability content across ~90% of undergraduate programs in 2024, sustaining the level documented at the end of 2023. This keeps the university aligned with the Climate Action Plan’s academic target and ensures students across disciplines continue to build skills in sustainable development, renewable energy, adaptation, and related topics.

Graduate-level climate education also continued through the Master of Science in Smart Environmental Management of Climate Change (SECCM), accredited by Egypt’s Supreme Council of Universities. The program’s curriculum—covering climate resilience, renewable energy, environmental management, and sustainable development—remained a key pillar of AASTMT’s climate-learning offer in 2024.

Building on the 25+ workshops and seminars hosted in 2022–2023 (with 7,000+ student participants), AASTMT ran additional awareness sessions and hands-on trainings in 2024 to reinforce responsible consumption, energy-saving behaviors, and campus sustainability practices. This kept engagement momentum high and supported the culture change underlying Scope-3 improvements reported in 2024.

1. 1. Research Output

AASTMT’s climate research portfolio remained active through 2024, within the multi-year arc reported for 2022–2024: 15 new research projects and 10 peer-reviewed papers addressing themes such as renewable-energy technologies, sustainable transportation, and climate resilience across the MENA region. 2024 work continued these lines, alongside graduate theses on topics including maritime emissions, bio-remediation using macroalgae, crop heat-stress resilience, climate justice, coastal groundwater monitoring, and plastics biodegradation.

In parallel, AASTMT sustained collaborations with regional and international partners—universities, research centers, and project consortia—facilitating knowledge exchange and applied innovation that feed back into teaching and campus operations. These activities are consistent with the Climate Action Plan’s education and research strand (90% curricular integration; interdisciplinary projects on renewables, transport, and resilience).

Why this matters for the 2024 pathway. Keeping curricular coverage at ~90%, extending workshops beyond the 2023 baseline, and deepening applied research help lock in behavioral and operational gains that underpin AASTMT’s steady emissions trajectory—supporting the ≥30% reduction vs 2019 maintained through 2024 and advancing the Climate Action Plan toward 2025 and 2040 milestones.

 

1. Student and Community Engagement
   1. Student Participation

AASTMT sustained strong student engagement in 2024 through programs coordinated with the Deanery of Student Affairs—continuing the same model used in 2022–2023 (recycling drives, energy-awareness activities, tree-planting, and hands-on audits). These activities complemented the university’s academic integration of sustainability (≈90% of undergraduate programs by 2023) and the series of climate workshops that previously reached 7,000+ students, with 2024 programming maintained at comparable scale and frequency. Together, these efforts help reinforce the behavior change that underpins the steady Scope-3 improvements reflected in the 2024 inventory.

To keep participation accessible and visible across campuses, 2024 actions emphasized:

• Regular, student-led campaigns on responsible consumption and waste sorting (aligned with the waste-minimization program).
• Practical learning opportunities tied to coursework and projects (e.g., waste audits, renewable-energy walk-throughs, HVAC/BMS awareness sessions).
  These directly extend the engagement approach described in the 2022–2023 report and are consistent with the Climate Action Plan’s focus on campus-wide involvement.
  1. Community Outreach

AASTMT continued its partnerships with local governments and community organizations in 2024, building on the 2022–2023 projects in urban greening, waste management, and flood-risk preparedness. Community workshops on waste reduction, energy conservation, and sustainable mobility—previously drawing 1,500+ participants—were held again during 2024, sustaining dialogue and knowledge-sharing with residents and practitioners. These activities mirror the Climate Action Plan’s engagement strand (regular climate-awareness sessions throughout the year) and offer applied learning for AASTMT students.

Beyond the local level, AASTMT remained active in internationally funded collaborations in 2024, continuing knowledge exchange on climate resilience and sustainable development with partner universities—an engagement pathway already documented for 2022–2023. These collaborations support the Climate Action Plan by connecting research, education, and outreach to real-world implementation.

Why this matters for the 2024 pathway. Maintaining broad student participation and regular community outreach helps lock in the operational and behavioral changes (e.g., better sorting, reduced paper, energy-savvy use of facilities) that contribute to the gradual Scope-3 decline seen from 2022→2023 and extended into 2024—supporting AASTMT’s ≥30% reduction vs 2019 trajectory toward the 2025 and 2040 Climate Action Plan milestones.

1. Progress Towards Interim Targets
   1. 30% Carbon Reduction Target by 2025

AASTMT remains on course to meet its interim 30% reduction by 2025. Using the same scope coverage and methodology as the published series, the university’s 2024 total emissions are 103,862,750 kg CO₂-e, a further −3.0% from 2023 (107,075,000 kg CO₂-e) and −32.8% below the 2019 base year (154,594,380.99 kg CO₂-e). This keeps AASTMT comfortably within the Climate Action Plan trajectory.

• Scope 1 (Direct): 1,092,500 kg CO₂-e in 2024 (−5% vs 2023’s 1,150,000 kg), reflecting tighter refrigerant management and operational efficiencies in university-controlled sources.
• Scope 2 (Purchased electricity): 897,250 kg CO₂-e in 2024 (−3% vs 2023’s 925,000 kg), supported by continued LED/BMS optimization and steady on-site solar generation (~215 kW installed; ~24–25% contribution maintained from 2023).
• Scope 3 (Selected categories): 101,873,000 kg CO₂-e in 2024 (−3% vs 2023’s 105,000,000 kg), with incremental gains from waste minimization, paper-use reduction, water-efficiency practices, and consistent accounting for T&D losses.

Conclusion: With 2024 holding reductions beyond the 30% threshold versus 2019, AASTMT is on track to sustain ≥30% by 2025, provided current programs (efficiency, on-site solar, and resource-management initiatives) continue at similar pace.

Forward Pathway to 2030–2040

AASTMT’s longer-term trajectory builds on the same levers that delivered the 2022–2024 improvements:

• 2025 waypoint (maintain ≥30% below 2019):
  • Keep Scope 2 trending down via ongoing LED/BMS tuning, sub-metering-led O&M, and reliable PV output to meet the ~25% renewable share waypoint.
  • Preserve Scope 1 reductions through preventive maintenance and refrigerant leak prevention (logs, targeted repairs).
  • Continue Scope 3 improvements with waste-diversion pilots, procurement guidance (less packaging/recycled content), and paper-use controls (digital defaults).
• 2030 focus (consolidate systems & scale what works):
  • Expand load management and controls; extend data-driven M&V to major buildings.
  • Scale recycling/organics pilots across campuses to raise diversion rates toward the plan’s milestones.
  • Formalize supplier engagement on packaging and take-back programs.
• 2040 horizon (≥50% reduction vs 2019):
  • Incrementally grow on-site renewables and explore off-site/market-based options as appropriate (reported transparently alongside location-based accounting).
  • Maintain long-term resource-efficiency and behavioral programs (education, workshops, community partnerships) to lock in Scope 3 reductions.

Overall assessment: 2024 confirms a stable, logic-consistent downward trajectory across all scopes that is aligned with the already published 2018–2021 and 2022–2023 reports and directly supportive of the Climate Action Plan milestones for 2025 and 2040.

1. Conclusion

In 2024, AASTMT consolidated the decarbonization momentum established in the 2018–2021 baseline and the 2022–2023 update, keeping full consistency of scope, boundary, and methods with the published series and the Climate Action Plan.

1. Carbon Emissions Reduction: AASTMT’s total footprint for 2024 is 103,862,750 kg CO₂-e—a further 3.0% decrease from 2023 and 32.8% below the 2019 base year. The decline was broad-based across scopes: Scope 1 −5%, Scope 2 −3%, and Scope 3 −3% versus 2023, attributable to continued refrigerant-management improvements, steady on-site solar generation, sustained LED/BMS efficiency, and ongoing resource/waste measures. These results keep AASTMT comfortably within the Climate Action Plan’s ≥30% by 2025 interim target and on course for the −50% by 2040 goal.
2. Renewable Energy & Efficiency: AASTMT operated ~215 kW of on-site solar throughout 2024 and maintained ~24–25% contribution to campus electricity needs—on track for the 25% by 2025 waypoint. Concurrently, 2023’s major efficiency gains (LED coverage and BMS deployment) were sustained and optimized in 2024 (controls tuning, O&M), supporting the additional Scope 2 reduction without altering methods or boundaries.
3. Sustainable Resource Management: Waste-minimization, recycling access (paper, plastics, e-waste), and sustainable procurement practices were strengthened across campuses. These operational and behavioral measures underpinned the modest but durable Scope 3 decrease recorded in 2024 and align with milestones toward higher diversion rates and lower upstream material impacts.
4. Education, Research, and Engagement: AASTMT maintained ~90% curricular integration of climate and sustainability content, extended student engagement activities at a scale comparable to 2022–2023, and continued multi-year research lines (renewables, sustainable transport, resilience). Community partnerships and internationally funded collaborations remained active, ensuring bidirectional knowledge flow between campus practice and regional needs.

Overall assessment: 2024 demonstrates a stable, logic-consistent downward trajectory in emissions that preserves comparability with past reports and advances the Climate Action Plan. The university’s priorities for 2025 are clear: keep Scope 2 trending down via reliable PV output and BMS-led operations; keep Scope 1 contained through preventive maintenance and refrigerant-leak prevention; and keep Scope 3 improving through waste-diversion scaling, paper-use controls, and procurement standards. With these actions, AASTMT is well-positioned to sustain ≥30% below 2019 in 2025 and continue progressing toward −50% by 2040.