NEBRIJA UNIVERSITY'S CALCULATOR FOR MEASURING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF URBAN PLANS, CO-AUTHORED BY ALEXANDRA DELGADO, WINS AWARD AT SUSTAINABILITY DAY

Source: nebrija.com

The calculator for measuring the carbon footprint in urban planning, developed by Nebrija University at the request of the Directorate General for Decarbonisation and Energy Transition of the Community of Madrid, has been selected as one of the best Sustainability Actions of 2022 in the second edition of Sustainability Day held on 18 October at the Reina Sofia Museum.

This is a day promoted by Compromiso RSE and Equipos &Talento which, under the slogan Inspiring actions for a better world, aims to promote the importance of sustainability in companies and in society in general, as well as publicising 30 success stories of large companies committed to good social practices and the environment.

The calculator for measuring the carbon footprint in urban planning has been awarded in two categories: Administrations and Education. In one case for the social action that this tool available to all citizens, administrations and companies represents and, in the other, for the applied research that places the Nebrija University as a reference centre in sustainability and with a clear vocation of service to society.

The calculator is a tool for "scientific and measurable planning" that, through the introduction of urban planning parameters in an Excel table, helps to decide how the construction of new neighbourhoods or urban fabrics should be, respecting the needs of people and the diversity of ecosystems.

It also visualises the potential effects that urban planning can have on the phenomenon of climate change, a mandatory circumstance according to Law 21/2013, of 9 December, on environmental assessment.

The tool is not only useful for political decisions on the use of a particular piece of land - whether it will be used for housing, green areas, or the secondary or tertiary sectors - but also for citizens, other administrations and companies in the Madrid Region.

At the awards ceremony, the prize for Education was presented to research professors Roberto Álvarez, Alexandra Delgado and Fernando Beltrán, authors of the calculator, accompanied by the deputy director of the Nebrija Polytechnic of the Nebrija University, Fernando Mateo. In the Administrations category, Fernando Arlandis, director general of Decarbonisation and Energy Transition, and Mariano Oliveros, deputy director general of Strategic Environmental Assessment, collected the award on behalf of the Community of Madrid.

The collaboration between departments of the Higher Polytechnic School, Engineering and Architecture, and with institutions, such as the Community of Madrid, has resulted in a calculator available for use, useful for decision-making and based on the best scientific data, which has earned it these two awards.