¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ

Overhead view of the downtown campus, overlaid with a teal-navy gradient and an icon that reads "Carbon Neutrality"

Carbon Neutrality

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, meaning net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, by:

  1. Reducing GHG emissions wherever feasible, such as through largescale energy transformations,Ìý
  2. Sequestering carbon via carbon sinks, through its forested lands, andÌýÌý
  3. Purchasing carbon offsets to compensate for unavoidable or difficult-to-reduce emissions, such as those from air travel and commuting.ÌýÌý

The University’s target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 is aligned with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) decarbonization timeline. Due to the urgency of climate change, strong commitments and actions need to be implemented and prioritized in order to significantly reduce our carbon footprint. By 2030, ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45% compared to 2015.

Learn more about the University’s path to carbon neutrality in the Roadmap for ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ's Energy TransitionÌý

Learn more about greenhouse gas inventories, or carbon footprint assessments, with the Office of Sustainability’s Greenhouse Gas Inventories 101Ìý

Progress towards Carbon NeutralityÌý

47,012


Ìýnet tonnes ofÌýCOâ‚‚ equivalent are currently emitted by ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ

Ìý

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµâ€™s 2023 greenhouse gas emissions breakdown by key activity

Miscellaneous includes emissions from: livestock & fertilizers, refrigerants & insulating gas, vehicle fleet and other sources. Scope 1 refers to direct emissions. Scope 2 refers to emissions from purchased energy. Scope 3 refers to indirect emissions such as business -related travel and commuting.Ìý

Key Progress to date includes:

  • Replacing natural gas boilers with and heat recovery units on the existing boilers (-9,000 tCOâ‚‚e/year)Ìý
  • Quantifying the amount of carbon sequestered on ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµâ€™s forested lands (-2,629 tCOâ‚‚e/year)
  • Supporting the Bayano-¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ Reforestation Project in Panama (-925 tCOâ‚‚e/year)

Ìý

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ 2023 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Sources

Read the full 2023 ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ Greenhouse Gas Inventory


Get involved in Becoming Carbon Neutral


Frequently Asked Questions

What is a greenhouse gas inventory?

A greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, also known as a carbon footprint assessment, is a quantified list of an organization’s greenhouse gas emissions and emission sources. It is a strategic tool for understanding, managing, and communicating emissions resulting from an organization’s activities. Learn more about greenhouse gas inventories, or carbon footprint assessments, with the Office of Sustainability’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory 101.Ìý

What does ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ include in its carbon neutrality target?

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ includes Scope 1, Scope 2, and select Scope 3 emissions in its carbon neutrality target. Scope 1 includes direct emissions from energy consumption in buildings owned or controlled by ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ, the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ vehicle fleet, the Macdonald Farm, and leaked refrigerants and insulating gases. Scope 2 includes indirect emissions from purchased grid electricity and purchased steam and hot and chilled water.ÌýÌý

Scope 3 includes other indirect emissions upstream and downstream of ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµâ€™s activities, including emissions from University-financed air travel and student and staff commuting, energy consumption of select buildings over which we do not have operational control, sports team travel, the intercampus shuttle, water supply and treatment, and power transmission and distribution losses. By including select Scope 3 emissions in its long-term target, ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ is taking an ambitious approach to carbon neutrality that demonstrates leadership and accountability.

Who does ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ report its emissions to?

In addition to the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ Board of Governors, ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ reports its emissions to: Environment and Climate Change Canada's and ; the ; the City of Montreal's Inventaire des sources fixes d’émissions atmosphériques; the Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur du Québec's ; and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s

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