Building climate-resilient universities: Application of MIVES to evaluate technologies for climate change adaptation and mitigation
Year: 2024
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This thesis focuses on identifying optimum strategies and technologies used for climate change adaptation and mitigation that can benefit academic institutions like Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). Utilizing Integrated Value Model for Sustainability Assessment (MIVES) (Modelo Integrado de Valor para Estructuras Sostenibles), an Extension of the Multi-Criteria Decision Making, this research aims to provide a comprehensive decision-making framework to select the most appropriate sustainable technologies and strategies for educational institutions. The study is structured around the integral role of academic institutions in both global and local efforts to address climate change, with a specific emphasis on aligning these efforts with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and 13 (Climate Action). The research is organized into two categories. Firstly, the risks and emerging challenges posed by climate change, particularly for Spain and Barcelona were identified. By evaluating climate impacts such as heatwaves, floods, droughts, Water scarcity, and sealevel rise, the category aimed to identify robust adaptation strategies and technologies that can be implemented within the framework of UPC and similar academic institutions. Secondly, a robust framework that systematically and comprehensively assesses the identified technologies and strategies based on distinct evaluation criteria, was developed. To achieve this, the Integrated Value Model for Sustainability Assessment (MIVES) was employed as the primary evaluation framework. MIVES, grounded in Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM), allows for a systematic comparison of technologies based on a variety of factors, including environmental impact, social acceptance, technological feasibility, and economic viability. The framework was tailored to the specific needs of Mediterranean climates and academic institutions, ensuring the assessment was contextspecific and aligned with local climate adaptation and mitigation goals, in this instance with Spain and Barcelona. The research evaluated key adaptation and mitigation technologies identified from the literature review. The MIVES analysis revealed that green roofs and cool reflective roofs were the most effective adaptation technologies for reducing urban heat island effects and improving campus sustainability. Among mitigation technologies, Wind-Photovoltaic hybrid systems and heat pumps showed the highest potential for reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency. The results thus revealed, which technologies and strategies emerge as the most balanced and impactful, with strong performance in the required criteria. Therefore, this research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on sustainable urban planning and climate resilience in educational institutions, offering a comprehensive framework for evaluating and implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Author: Kolarkar, Aditya
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6999018154