SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 24 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of La Laguna (ULL) regarding the mobility patterns of the institution’s students indicates that 70% of the CO2 emissions produced during transit arise from students commuting by car to their campuses.
Following this, emissions from students using buses account for 28.74%, while those travelling by motorcycles are 1%, and trams induce a mere 0.07%.
This information was disclosed at a seminar hosted by the CajaCanarias Chair of Economics and Mobility at the University of La Laguna, which highlighted the findings from various research projects.
The objective of this particular study was to establish mobility trends among students for the 2023/24 academic year, with a focus on CO2 emissions.
Led by Rosa Marina González, the chair’s director, alongside Julio Brito from the University Institute of Regional Development, the study was conducted by Helí Alonso, a researcher at the institute, and Alejandro Ibrahim Corbea from the Department of Computer and Systems Engineering.
By analysing the number of students using each transportation method, this research enabled the evaluation of emissions on a per-student basis for different vehicle types, as noted by ULL in a statement.
It was revealed that individuals travelling by car generate four times the emissions of those using buses, and 563.6 times more compared to tram users.
On average, emissions per student are recorded as 428.38 kilos of CO2 for cars, 106.8 kilos for buses, 223.1 kilos for motorcycles, and a measly 0.76 kilos for trams.
The study assessed students’ reports regarding their choice of transport throughout the previous academic year and incorporated data from a mobility survey conducted in 2023, focusing on vehicle types and average fuel consumption.
This comprehensive data collection allowed for the estimation of the distance travelled by the student population across various transport modes, alongside the average occupancy rates of the vehicles used.
Additionally, an analysis of the University of La Laguna’s academic calendar facilitated the determination of the number of working days, accounting for the examination periods.
Furthermore, the dropout rates for each campus were monitored as the academic year progressed.
With all these insights, it was possible to gauge the total CO2 emissions resulting from students’ commutes from their residences to their educational institutions, totalling 3,036,138.77 kilos of CO2.
Consequently, nearly 44% of these emissions stemmed from travel to the Guajara Campus; 20% for both the Anchieta and Central Campuses; 8% for the Canary Islands University Hospital; 6% for the Nautical Section; and the remaining 1.4% attributed to the Candelaria University Hospital.
