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SDG 13 : Climate Action

Climate Action (SDG 13)
13.2 Low carbon energy use
13.2.1 - Does your university measure the total volume of low-carbon energy used? National Formosa University does measure the total volume of low-carbon energy used. This measurement is primarily conducted through the campus solar power generation facilities and is quantitatively included in the annual Sustainability Report and ESG management performance indicators. In 2024, the total renewable energy generated by the university was 1.43 million kWh. This volume of low-carbon energy use or generation is clearly calculated and disclosed.
Specifically, the solar power facilities are distributed across the main campus and dormitory area. These facilities generated a total of 44,245 kWh for self-consumption and 1,439,469 kWh for external sale in 2024 (810,021 kWh sold from the main campus and 629,448 kWh sold from the dormitory area), which helps reduce the cost of externally purchased electricity. In terms of installed capacity, the main campus has an installed solar capacity of 31.74 kWp (for self-consumption) and 950.47 kWp (for external sale), while the dormitory area has an installed capacity of 499.96 kWp (for external sale). Furthermore, the university actively promotes energy transition measures: the use of natural gas was reduced to 0 kWh in 2024 and replaced by a heat pump system, effectively eliminating consumption of this fossil fuel energy source. The university also dedicates efforts to SDG 13 (Climate Action) through 46 related projects and 17 projects related to Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), and has set a goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2048, using 2022 as the baseline year, with "Green Energy" identified as one of its six major strategies. The energy management measures include implementing smart electricity meters and power management systems to monitor and save electricity consumption effectively. Through this comprehensive monitoring and data disclosure, NFU clearly quantifies its performance in low-carbon energy use and production.
13.2.2.1 - Total energy use (GJ): 50,114.51 GJ
13.2.2.2 - Total use from low carbon sources (GJ): 159.28 GJ

13.3 Environmental education measures
13.3.1 - Does your university provide education for local communities to understand climate change impacts, mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning? National Formosa University (NFU) actively provides education for local communities to understand climate change impacts, mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning, primarily through University Social Responsibility (USR) projects, courses, and local activities.
The university's Office of Sustainable Development established a goal to create a "Yunlin Action Think Tank" to integrate faculty and student expertise to solve local problems. In terms of social inclusion, NFU’s USR practices engaged a total of 14,249 person-times in 2024, with local community partners accounting for 5,472 person-times. Specifically for SDG 13 (Climate Action), NFU offered 126 related courses and executed 46 projects in 2024, with a total funding of NT$34.5 million.
Specific climate and environmental education measures for local communities include:
  • Mitigation and Carbon Management: The "Blossoming Huwei, Sustainable Coexistence" USR project held a sustainable improvement workshop for the floral agriculture industry to assist in mitigating climate change impacts, attracting over 300 participants. The content covered professional carbon management knowledge and the translation of international carbon tax policies.
  • Impact Reduction and Early Warning: The project also developed the "Sustainable Choice Expert" climate education board game, successfully promoted to local elementary schools and senior groups to enhance awareness of net-zero carbon emissions.
  • Water and Carbon Reduction: Under the Higher Education Sprout Project, NFU conducted the "Sustainable Agricultural Innovation - Corn Husk Q-Robot" series of activities, promoting environmental conservation topics like global warming and acid rain to 8 local elementary schools, middle schools, and kindergarten family groups in Yunlin County.
  • Adaptation and Technology Application: The LCF team (Lead-Carbon Fiber Battery) demonstrated solar energy storage application technology and new environmentally friendly energy solutions to community residents during the "Carbon Fiber Battery Brightens Tianyang" event, addressing local adaptation needs for nighttime safety.
  • Marine Ecosystem Awareness: The USR Hub "Community Coexistence Practice Project in Coastal Rural Areas of Yunlin" organized beach cleanup actions involving local residents, transforming marine debris into culturally valuable handicrafts to enhance residents' awareness of marine ecological conservation. Student clubs organized environmental service activities (e.g., beach/mountain cleanups), engaging 163 person-times in the 2024 academic year.
Through these multi-disciplinary courses and community practices, NFU quantitatively and concretely communicates knowledge regarding climate change mitigation, adaptation, and impact reduction to the local population.
13.3.2 - Does your university have a climate action plan, and is it shared with local government and/or local community groups? National Formosa University possesses a complete Climate Action Plan (Net-Zero Carbon Emission Roadmap) and actively shares and collaborates on it with local government and community groups.
Climate Action Plan (CAP): NFU officially signed the "2048 Net-Zero Carbon Emission Declaration" on April 22, 2024, committing to achieving net-zero emissions by 2048, with 2022 as the baseline year. The plan sets phased targets: 15% reduction by 2028 (Phase I) and 50% reduction by 2034 (Phase II). The plan is based on GHG emission data verified by a third party (at a reasonable assurance level), with total 2024 emissions at 13,385.429 metric tons CO2e. The plan is driven by six major strategies: Green Energy, Energy Saving, Carbon Sequestration, Circular Economy, Green Living, and Education/Research.
Sharing and Collaboration:
  1. Climate Risk Disclosure and Communication: NFU follows the TCFD framework to identify climate risks and opportunities and uses the annual Sustainability Report and campus activities to communicate its climate change response measures to stakeholders, including government and community groups.
  2. Local Government and Partner Collaboration: The CAP aligns with the national 2050 net-zero pathway. NFU cooperates with the Water Resources Agency (WRA) on the Huwei Tide Waterbank Project. The university’s Office of Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility coordinates USR strategies to address local climate issues.
  3. Community Engagement and Capacity Building (Quantified): In 2024, NFU organized 170 USR field activities, with 5,472 person-times of participation from external community partners. The "Blossoming Huwei, Sustainable Coexistence" USR Hub project assisted local flower greenhouses in establishing a smart carbon inventory system, completed carbon inventory verification for 2 greenhouses, and held workshops attracting over 300 participants, translating carbon management expertise to local industries and communities.
  4. Talent Cultivation: NFU trained 151 person-times to obtain sustainability and ISO series certifications (including ISO 14064-1 Carbon Inventory and ISO 14067 Product Carbon Footprint).
The data confirms that NFU not only has a clear climate action plan but also engages in deep sharing and practice with local government, industry partners, and community groups through multiple channels.
13.3.3 - Does your university collaborate with government to participate in cooperative planning to mitigate the impact of climate change, both nationally and across borders? NFU actively collaborates with the government in cooperative planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation, with specific quantified actions at both the national (domestic) and international (across borders) levels.
National Collaboration (Mitigation and Adaptation):
  • Policy Alignment and Governance: NFU signed the 2048 Net-Zero Carbon Emission Declaration in April 2024, setting phased reduction targets (15% by 2028, 50% by 2034). It follows the TCFD framework for identifying climate risks. NFU, as the first university to establish an Office of Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility, established the GHG Inventory and Voluntary Reduction Committee to align with national GHG reduction strategies.
  • Infrastructure and Resilience: NFU collaborated with the Water Resources Agency to promote the "Huwei Tide: Resilient Town Waterbank Integration Project".
  • Technology and Industry Decarbonization: NFU utilized its Intelligent Machinery and Smart Manufacturing Research Center (certified by the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Industrial Development Administration) to assist over 75 manufacturers with low-carbon machining process technology services for metal processing.
  • Ecological Monitoring: NFU cooperated with the Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA) to use drones to track the habitat paths of the Taiwanese white dolphin (a critically endangered species).
  • Energy Efficiency: NFU successfully applied for government subsidies for energy-saving equipment replacement to accelerate the retirement of high-energy-consuming assets.
  • Capacity Building: NFU offers 126 courses and 46 research projects related to climate action and has trained 151 person-times in professional sustainability and carbon management certifications (ISO 14064-1/2, 14067, 14068).
Across Borders Collaboration (International):
  • NFU’s Intelligent Machinery Center collaborates with institutions in Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States on technology and talent training. This research includes developing processing energy consumption data and building AI energy consumption models for high-end machine tools, aligning with the international standard ISO 14955-3.
13.3.4 - Does your university provide information and support to local or regional government to monitor climate change disaster risk, early warning, and adaptation? National Formosa University (NFU) acts as the "Yunlin Action Think Tank" to provide quantitative information and support to local or regional government for monitoring climate change disaster risk, early warning, and adaptation.
Climate Risk Monitoring and Disclosure: NFU adheres to the TCFD framework, continuously identifying and assessing transition and physical risks. NFU conducts annual GHG inventories, with total direct and indirect emissions in 2024 measured at 13,385.429 metric tons CO2e. This data is verified by a third party and publicly disclosed via the Sustainability Report, serving as a reliable source of carbon emission information for local government.
Adaptation and Resilience Planning:
  • Resilient Town Planning: NFU partnered with the Water Resources Agency (WRA) to promote the "Huwei Tide: Resilient Town Waterbank Integration Project".
  • USR Adaptation Projects: NFU's USR practice projects directly support local community mitigation and adaptation actions, such as the "Community Coexistence Practice Project in Coastal Rural Areas of Yunlin," which received funding to implement a smart monitoring technology project focusing on smart carbon reduction and water conservation to enhance local resilience.
  • Sustainable Agriculture Adaptation: The "Sustainable Soil Environment USR Hub Project" conducts monthly soil sampling and analysis to establish scientific soil environment data and implements an AIoT smart farm irrigation monitoring system to save agricultural water and electricity, achieving sustainable agricultural production and carbon reduction effects.
  • Water Management Education: NFU integrated the ISO 46001 Water Resource Efficiency Management System into its curriculum and organized environmental education visits to the local sewage treatment plant, deepening its connection with local water resource infrastructure.
Capacity Building: NFU continuously provides sustainability training, certifying 151 person-times in international standards (ISO 14064-1, 14064-2, 14067, and 14068) in 2024, providing professional support for local government and industrial climate change response strategies.
13.3.5 - Does your university collaborate with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on climate education? NFU actively collaborates with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to promote climate and environmental education through its University Social Responsibility (USR) practice projects. NGOs/NPOs are identified as key stakeholders, and their participation data is tracked.
Quantified NGO Participation (2024): In activities related to climate/environment (SDG 13), NFU recorded at least 190 person-times of NGO/NPO participation.
  • Climate Education Tools: The "Blossoming Huwei, Sustainable Coexistence" project (related to SDG 12, 13, 15) developed the "Sustainable Choice Expert" climate education board game. 22 person-times of NGO/NPO members participated in related educational outreach and workshops.
  • Agricultural Sustainability: The "Collaborative Learning in Agriculture, Local Creation, and Shared Prosperity for Generations" project (related to SDG 2, 13, 15) attracted 156 person-times of NGO/NPO partners through environmental workshops, such as soil organic carbon monitoring and carbon inventory of circular agriculture.
  • Net-Zero Declaration: The Higher Education Sprout Project "Huwei Tide - Low-Carbon Environmental Green Energy" included the 2048 Net-Zero Carbon Emission Declaration, with 10 person-times of NGO/NPO members participating in related activities.
Overall, NFU's USR activities in 2024 engaged a total of 5,472 community partners, with NGO/NPO participation being a significant component.

13.4 Commitment to carbon neutral university
13.4.1 - Does your university have a target date committing to being carbon neutral according to Greenhouse Gas Protocols? NFU is committed to achieving carbon neutrality and has set a clear target date. The University officially declared its net-zero carbon emission goal on April 22, 2024, with the target year for achieving net-zero carbon emissions being 2048.
Commitment Scope and Targets: The net-zero roadmap uses 2022 as the baseline year. Phased targets include a 15% reduction by 2028 and a 50% reduction by 2034. GHG Protocols and Verification: NFU's GHG inventory follows the ISO 14064-1:2018 standard. The inventory results from 2021 to 2023 have consistently passed third-party verification, achieving a "Reasonable Assurance" level. Emissions Scope (2024): The total GHG emissions in 2024 were 13,385.4292 metric tons CO2e. This total includes:
  • Scope 1 (Direct GHG Emissions): 4,971.6933 metric tons CO2e.
  • Scope 2 (Energy Indirect Emissions): 5,782.5018 metric tons CO2e.
  • Scope 3 (Transportation, etc.): 1,723.49 metric tons CO2e.
  • Scope 4 (Use of Products, etc.): 907.747 metric tons CO2e. The commitment covers operations within the organizational boundary (First, Second, and Third Campuses). The strategy employs six major components: Green Energy, Energy Saving, Carbon Sequestration, Circular Economy, Green Living, and Education/Research.
13.4.2 - Target year for achieving the goal: The target year for NFU's commitment to becoming a carbon neutral university is 2048. The declaration was formally signed by the President on April 22, 2024. The baseline year selected is 2022, with intermediate reduction targets set at 15% by 2028 and 50% by 2034. NFU's 2024 GHG inventory total emission amount (Scopes 1 to 6) was 13,385.4292 metric tons of CO2e/year. The annual GHG inventories since 2021 have achieved third-party verification at a "Reasonable Assurance" level.