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The latest 2025 survey highlights the significant contribution of students’ daily activities to carbon emissions, while also reflecting a promising level of optimism and concern.

Among the 84 student respondents, the average individual carbon footprint reached 2.27 tons of CO2-equivalent per year, with a maximum recorded value of 6.8 tons CO2-eq—approaching the global average per capita emissions. This data shows that activities such as transportation use, energy consumption, and dietary habits are major sources of emissions, even among well-educated youth.

However, the survey also reveals a gap between goals and reality in emission reduction efforts. Some students reported highly unrealistic reduction targets, such as up to 980 tons of CO2-eq—well beyond what is feasible at the individual level. Nevertheless, median and quartile analysis shows that most students aimed for reductions between 0.5–1.5 tons, or about 40–80% of their total personal emissions—an encouraging sign of positive and ambitious attitudes.

Another finding indicates a lack of comprehensive understanding of carbon footprints, as seen in inconsistent or overly optimistic responses. This suggests a need for improved climate literacy, even within academic environments.

“Young people are agents of change. They are the future decision-makers who will shape policies and innovations to tackle the climate crisis,” said Dr. Joko Wiratmo, M.P., a lecturer from the Atmospheric Sciences Expertise Group.

The survey underscores the importance of continuous education on climate change issues. Recommendations include integrating carbon footprint topics across all faculty curricula, developing a campus dashboard to monitor student emissions, and encouraging direct actions such as the use of green transportation, local consumption, and low-emission lifestyles.

Additionally, strengthening collaboration between universities and industry—especially in the fields of energy transition and green technology—through internships or sustainability-based research programs is considered essential.

With growing awareness and accurate data as a foundation, these efforts are expected to foster a collective and consistent movement among the younger generation in facing the urgent challenges of climate change.

“Climate change is a generational issue. And the younger generation holds the key to a low-carbon future,” he concluded.