Changes in CO2 Emissions in Online Student Learning Activities Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia and Japan

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic is impacting entire countries. One of them is having an impact on CO2 emissions in Indonesia and Japan. The research project is focused on the use of transportation and electricity by Japanese Literature students of BINUS and Wakayama University Japan students before and during the pandemic. Concepts and methodologies, looking at the situation before and during a pandemic, using quantitative methods and approaches based on carbon footprint analysis. This study provides results showing that the use of electronics and transportation which has CO2 emissions is drastically reduced both in Indonesia and in Japan. However, Japan has higher CO2 emissions when compared to Indonesia which is influenced by certain factors, such as transportation mileage.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the carbon footprint of a Philippine university

“…This indicates that emissions from students and staff mobility before the pandemic (57.3%) were above the global average. In terms of individual emissions, the case of UP Cebu at 4.7 tCO 2 e per student is below half that of Bina Nusantara University in Indonesia with similar modes of transportation at 11 tCO 2 e per student [10]. In particular, student mobility has a disproportionate share of mobility emissions, owing to the wide student-to-staff ratio [7].…”

“…Although emissions from mobility decreased during the pandemic, the share of mobility was still high, owing to the return of students and staff to their hometowns, particularly those living far from Cebu City. This campus proximity factor influences commuting behaviour and the types of transportation used, affecting carbon emissions [10].…”

“…An online education system saves 90% more energy and emits 80% less energy than the traditional on-campus setting, owing to reduced movement and lower energy consumption in household and academic operations [9]. For example, an Indonesian university observed up to 55 times lower carbon emissions while a Japanese university observed up to 84 times lower, both of which are attributed to the lack of daily commute [10]. Moreover, the transition from office jobs to work-from-home arrangements also contributed to the expected 7% decrease in GHG emissions [11] as private vehicle use and public transport were reduced [12].…”