51吃瓜网aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, meaning net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, by:
- Reducing GHG emissions wherever feasible, such as through largescale energy transformations,听
- Sequestering carbon via carbon sinks, through its forested lands, and听听
- Purchasing carbon offsets to compensate for unavoidable or difficult-to-reduce emissions, such as those from air travel and commuting.听听
The University鈥檚 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, 51吃瓜网aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45% compared to 2015.
Learn more about the University鈥檚 path to carbon neutrality in the Roadmap for McGill's Energy Transition听
Learn more about greenhouse gas inventories, or carbon footprint assessments, with the Office of Sustainability鈥檚 Greenhouse Gas Inventories 101听
Progress towards Carbon Neutrality听
听net tonnes of听CO鈧� equivalent are currently emitted by McGill
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McGill鈥檚 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.听
Key Progress to date includes:
- Replacing natural gas boilers with and heat recovery units on the existing boilers (-9,000 tCO鈧俥/year)听
- Quantifying the amount of carbon sequestered on McGill鈥檚 forested lands (-2,629 tCO鈧俥/year)
- Supporting the Bayano-51吃瓜网Reforestation Project in Panama (-925 tCO鈧俥/year)
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51吃瓜网2023 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Sources
Read the full 2023 51吃瓜网Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Past Greenhouse Gas Inventories
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2022
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2022 - Detailed Appendix
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2021
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2020
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2019听
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2018听
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2017听
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2016 - Summary听
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2015 - Summary听
Get involved in Becoming Carbon Neutral
- Vehicle managers can apply for a subsidy on the purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles until 2028.听
- Make the most of a discount on annual BIXI memberships available to all 51吃瓜网community members.听
- Make sustainable travel choices with the Sustainable Travel Guide.听
- Purchase carbon offsets whenever air travel is necessary.听
- Take advantage of the Macdonald Campus self-serve bikes.听
- Charge your electric vehicle on campus.听
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鈥檚 greenhouse gas emissions and emission sources. It is a strategic tool for understanding, managing, and communicating emissions resulting from an organization鈥檚 activities. Learn more about greenhouse gas inventories, or carbon footprint assessments, with the Office of Sustainability鈥檚 Greenhouse Gas Inventory 101.听
What does 51吃瓜网include in its carbon neutrality target?
51吃瓜网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 McGill, the 51吃瓜网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.听听
Scope 3 includes other indirect emissions upstream and downstream of McGill鈥檚 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, 51吃瓜网is taking an ambitious approach to carbon neutrality that demonstrates leadership and accountability.
Who does 51吃瓜网report its emissions to?
In addition to the 51吃瓜网Board of Governors, 51吃瓜网reports its emissions to: Environment and Climate Change Canada's and ; the ; the City of Montreal's Inventaire des sources fixes d鈥櫭﹎issions atmosph茅riques; the Minist猫re de l鈥橢nseignement sup茅rieur du Qu茅bec's ; and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education鈥檚
