# Towards a Climate-Neutral Campus: Carbon Footprint Assessment in Higher Education Institutions
## 1 Introduction
### Research Gap, Novelty, and Paper Structure  
The CF profiles of HEIs exhibit significant variability based on factors like size, location, and operational practices. Notably, the specific CF profiles of different HEI types, particularly within Eastern Europe, remain under-documented. This lack of comprehensive data hinders the development of effective sustainability strategies and benchmarking across the region. This is especially pertinent within the context of climate-neutral initiatives, such as Mission 100, which aim to drive systemic change towards decarbonization. Although research on carbon footprints is widespread, the presence of inconsistent methodologies and reporting practices complicates the accurate comparison of results across different institutions. Furthermore, tracking the progress of an institution's CF over time is essential in evaluating the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives, enhancing transparency and accountability, and fostering stakeholder trust, while also facilitating the establishment of measurable carbon reduction targets that ensure compliance with regulations and alignment with global climate objectives. Enhancing the availability and quality of CF data for Eastern European HEIs is crucial for the advancement of climate action and supporting the successful implementation of climate-neutral initiatives like Mission 100. This data gap highlights the importance of standardized methodologies and increased research efforts in this area. Addressing this research gap in the literature is crucial for guiding effective climate action strategies within the higher education sector. Our research aimed to quantify the carbon footprint of a selected Eastern European university, located within a Mission 100 city, and to analyse how its operational activities and strategic initiatives align with, or could be optimized to support, the city's climate neutrality objectives. To address these questions, we performed a detailed carbon footprint assessment of the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (TUCN) from Romania to quantify its emissions and evaluate its potential contribution to the city's climate neutrality goal. This study's aim is to offer the first comprehensive CF analysis for a Romanian HEI, focusing on TUCN. The study employs the GHG Protocol methodology and One Click LCA software ([[https://oneclicklca.com/](https://oneclicklca.com/)]([https://oneclicklca.com/](https://oneclicklca.com/))), encompassing all three emission scopes (1, 2, and 3) across a two-year baseline period (2022-2023), to identify trends and impacts within TUCN's footprint. This examination provides a robust framework for Romanian and international HEIs to develop effective, data-driven strategies to achieving carbon neutrality and sustainable urban environments. This study contributes significantly to Romania's national climate action goals by providing a benchmark for the reduction of emissions and highlighting the importance of a holistic approach to CF management, including often-overlooked indirect emissions. Ultimately, this research expands the collective knowledge base on CF assessment in HEIs, informing effective decision-making processes for emission reduction initiatives and strengthening the commitment of universities to environmentally sustainable practices. This paper is structured to provide a clear and logical progression of the analysis. The Introduction Section 1 establishes the context and significance of the study. The Materials and Methods Section 2 details the employed methodology, including the selection of One Click LCA software. The Case-study Section 3 provides specific information about the university as the subject of the analysis. The Results Section 4 presents the quantified carbon footprint, covering Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions for multiple years. The Discussion Section 5 delves into the interpretation of these results, analysing trends, addressing limitations, and comparing findings with existing literature.