# Towards a Climate-Neutral Campus: Carbon Footprint Assessment in Higher Education Institutions
## 2 Materials and Methods  
A literature review conducted by the authors on CF methodologies revealed that the GHG Protocol guidelines were widely adopted [15; 22; 33]. Consequently, to facilitate comparison with other HEIs, the present research methodology for assessing TUCN's carbon footprint is grounded in the principles of the GHG Protocol. Moreover, commercial software platforms like SimaPro and OpenLCA are frequently cited in the literature as tools used by HEIs for carbon footprint and life cycle assessment (LCA) studies [24; 25; 34; 35; 36; 37]. [PERSON] et al. [24] utilized the Open LCA program to quantify a university's carbon footprint, encompassing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Similarly, [PERSON] et al. [35] leveraged Open LCA to conduct an LCA comparing in-person and virtual university courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, [PERSON] et al. [25] employed SimaPro software to determine that Scope 3 emissions, primarily from commuting and infrastructure construction, constituted a substantial 97% of the university's total emissions.  
CF and LCA methodologies diverge primarily in scope. A CF assessment focuses exclusively on quantifying GHG emissions, typically expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO\({}_{2}\)e). A LCA, conversely, takes a broader perspective, encompassing a range of environmental impact categories that extend beyond GHGs. Consequently, CF assessments can be considered a specialized form of LCA, specifically addressing GHG emissions.  
This study introduces a novel approach to assessing the CF of TUCN using One Click LCA software. One Click LCA is a powerful software tool designed to streamline and enhance the process of organizational carbon footprint assessment, particularly within the built environment and broader Scope 3 analyses. By meticulously applying the GHG Protocol, the software accurately quantifies GHG emissions across all three Scopes, providing a holistic view of the university's environmental impact.  
One Click LCA leverages the extensive Ecoinvent database--the source of the emission factors used in this carbon footprint assessment--to provide detailed reporting and visualization tools for effectively communicating CF data to diverse stakeholders. Its extensive dataset empowers organizations to identify environmental hotspots, inform data-driven decisions, set sustainability targets, and track progress towards environmental compliance and performance goals. While tools like SimaPro and OpenLCA offer broad LCA functionalities, One Click LCA's specialized focus, user-friendliness, and robust Scope 3 capabilities, along with its integration and reporting features, give it a distinct advantage for organizational CF assessments, especially within the built environment. Its ability to integrate with industry-standard databases and provide clear reporting further enhances its value. For HEIs with large building infrastructures, One Click LCA is a very strong option.  
The main goal of this study is to transparently report the contribution of each Scope, according to GHG Protocol methodology, to assess the overall emissions level associated with operations of TUCN. This assessment will thus provide a clear picture of the university's environmental impact and serve as a foundation for implementing effective emission reduction strategies. To provide a comprehensive understanding of the GHG Protocol methodology, a detailed flowchart has been developed and is presented in Figure 1.