Electric bus initiative: UNILAG pledges reduction in carbon emissions
Electric bus initiative: UNILAG pledges reduction in carbon emissions
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) says it set to record a major milestone in its electric vehicle initiative by cutting down more than 120 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions by the end of 2025.
The Head, Communication Unit, UNILAG, Mrs Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, said this in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.
She said the initiative was launched by the university in partnership with Ogata Global Resources and Chart Eco Global Services in January.
“In the first half of the year, the initiative, operating with an initial fleet of 10 buses, covered more than 102,000 kilometres, achieving a reduction of 16.78 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
“Building on this progress, the fleet has been expanded with an additional 20 electric vehicles, bringing the total to 30 with projected mileage coverage of 700km.
“This expansion positions UNILAG to
achieve a projected 124 metric tons reduction by year’s end,” she said.
According to her, the savings is equivalent to planting and nurturing approximately 5,600 trees within a single year.
“This milestone reflects the university’s commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of climate action, clean energy, and sustainable cities.
“The emissions data were calculated and verified by Chart Eco Global Services, a sustainability organisation that measures and manages emissions for various organisations in Nigeria.
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“The analysis followed internationally recognised protocols, including the United Kingdom’s UK Department For Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the United State of America Environmental Protection Agency.
“The emissions tracking tool was based on the Green House Gas Protocol for mobile combustion, developed by Clear Standards Inc. in collaboration with the World Resources Institute (WRI), providing transparency, consistency, and credibility,” she said.
She added that the methodology was further reviewed by experts at the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Management (TCEBCEM), UNILAG.
She said that Mr Itinulowa Okusami, CEO of Chart Eco Global Services, while speaking on the progress of the initiative, said it was a proof of concept to decarbonise Nigeria’s heavily polluted transport sector.
She said Okusami was delighted at the percentage of carbon emissions the university had been able to prevent from going into the environment.
