Integrating Nature-Based Solutions into Circular Economy Practices: A Case Study on Achieving Net-Zero Emissions at the Asian Institute of Technology

As global efforts to achieve net-zero emissions intensify, the role of nature-based solutions (NbSs) in mitigating climate change through circular economy practices is increasingly recognized. This study evaluates the potential of various NbS strategies at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) campus to contribute to ambitious net-zero targets by 2030. Our research systematically analyzes baseline carbon emissions, stocks, and removals associated with the following three NbS strategies: improved forest management (IFM), afforestation on available land, and biochar application for soil carbon sequestration. The campus’s baseline emissions were calculated at 8367 MgCO₂e, with electricity consumption contributing 61% of total emissions. Our findings indicate that improved forest management can sequester 2476 MgCO₂ annually, while afforestation strategies utilizing fast-growing species, bamboo species, and slow-growing species have the potential to remove 7586 MgCO₂, 4711 MgCO₂, and 2131 MgCO₂ per year, respectively. In addition, biochar application across 70 hectares could result in cumulative carbon sequestration of 603 MgCO₂ per hectare by 2050. While net-zero emissions may not be achieved by 2030 under retrospective and stable baselines, projections suggest it will be realized shortly thereafter, with Scenario 1—combining IFM, fast-growing species, and biochar—achieving net-zero by 2033.5. These findings highlight the critical role of tailored NbSs in enabling small institutions like the AIT to effectively contribute to global net-zero targets, provided that these strategies are implemented and scaled appropriately.