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Climate Change Action

Planning Process

Developing a climate action plan is essential to achieving meaningful greenhouse gas reductions. While every university is unique and there is no  set formula for creating a climate action plan for emission reductions, we feel it is important that Yale share its experience developing a comprehensive plan and goal for reducing emissions.  Outlined below are the key elements Yale followed while developing its climate action plan and associated emission reduction target.

Energy Task Force

Developing an effective climate action plan requires involving university stakeholders to participate in the assessment process, goal setting and strategy development.  Inviting key staff, faculty and students to participate in the process allows for a diverse range of viewpoints, expertise, and direct ownership of the recommendations that emerge.

In the fall of 2004 the Yale Energy Task Force, a university-wide committee with staff, faculty, and student representation, was convened to develop a set of recommendations to guide the University towards a comprehensive energy policy leading to reduced energy demand, production and greenhouse gas emissions. Chaired by the Associate Vice President of Facilities and Operations, the task force reviewed Yale’s daily energy demands, projected institutional growth, availability of clean and renewable energy technologies, local, regional, national and international greenhouse gas reduction initiatives and opportunities to promote energy conservation.  As a result of these efforts, the task force recommended that Yale set an aggressive target for reducing its campus greenhouse gas emissions. In 2005 the University’s Officers adopted the Task Force’s recommendation to commit to a campus-wide greenhouse gas reduction target of 10% below 1990 levels by 2020 - a 43% reduction from 2005 levels.                                            

The work of the Energy Task Force was essential to developing Yale’s greenhouse gas commitment and reduction strategy.  For further information see the Energy Task Force Charter.

Determine Scope of Boundaries and Completing a GHG Inventory

Determining the scope of boundaries in which the university is taking responsibility for carbon emissions is not easy, but a necessary element.  This step is critical for completing a comprehensive inventory of campus emissions. The main sources of emissions at a university typically fall into one of three scopes: Scope 1 – Direct emissions from on-campus heating and cooling and vehicle fleet; Scope 2 – Indirect emissions from purchased electricity and steam; and Scope 3 – All other indirect emissions such as commuting, air travel, recycling and waste disposal, food, embodied energy of goods and services and construction.

Scope 1, 2 & 3 Emission Sources

Source: Greenhouse Gas Protocol                    

Completing an inventory of scope 1 and 2 emissions is typically straight forward; however scope 3 emissions can be much more difficult.  One entity’s scope 3 emissions may be another’s scope 1 emissions, thus determining a direct line of responsibility for those emissions is not clear.  A thorough discussion and analysis of what should or should not be included in an institutions greenhouse gas accounting is important.  Further, once the scopes of boundaries are determined, transparency regarding your scope of emissions is critical.

Included in Yale’s greenhouse gas reduction target are scope 1 and 2 emissions sources.  Scope 3 sources are not currently included in the University’s emission reduction goal, though they are under analysis.

Once the boundary of emissions has been set it is time to complete an emissions inventory.  A greenhouse gas emissions inventory accounts for the amounts and sources of greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the institutions existence and operations.  Accounting for your emissions provides you with the necessary information to develop a target reduction goal and strategies for reaching that goal.

An institution can develop its own inventory calculator or select an existing one currently used by other universities or businesses.  Two of the most commonly used calculators are the Climate Registry, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol: Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard, and Clean Air-Cool Planet’s Campus Carbon Calculator.

Yale has chosen to use Clean Air-Cool Planet’s Campus Carbon Calculator to complete its greenhouse gas inventory.  This Excel-based emissions calculator was specifically designed for universities and allows us to consistently compare our emissions with other universities.

Setting a Target and Developing a GHG Reduction Strategy

Once an inventory of emissions has been completed the next step involves setting a GHG reduction target, timeline and a strategy for reaching the goal.  Setting a formal emissions reduction target reinforces the university’s commitment to climate action and introduces a level of accountability that encourages campus-wide participation and engagement in achieving the goal.

In 2005, Yale’s Energy Task Force presented University Officers a set of recommendations that included a goal to reduce the University’s emissions by 10% below 1990 levels by 2020.  This target was consistent with similar commitments made by the Connecticut State Legislature and the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Climate Action Plan. 

Setting a strategy for achieving your climate reduction goal is essential for developing a successful climate action plan. Following the hierarchy of carbon management concept will guide you in prioritizing actions that the have the most transformative and lasting impact in reducing carbon emissions (see illustration below developed by the Forum for the Future).  The carbon management hierarchy focuses on avoiding emissions through developing alternative operations or activities, reducing emissions through increased efficiency, and replacing carbon intensive energy sources with low or zero carbon alternatives.  Purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) or carbon offsets is at the bottom of the hierarchy as it does not directly reduce an organization’s carbon emissions.

Source: Forum for the Future          

In addition to using the hierarchy of carbon management, energy conservation and renewable energy projects at Yale that require significant capital investment are evaluated on the basis of “resulting carbon reduction per operating dollar incurred.”  Projects yielding the largest return are undertaken first so that emission reductions can be achieved as efficiently as possible.

Communications and Transparency

A key element to the success of your climate action plan includes communicating your actions in a transparent way. In an effort to openly share its reduction strategy and progress to date Yale annually releases an executive summary outlining the university progress toward achieving its greenhouse gas reduction goal. Furthermore, Yale actively engages with peer institutions to explore best practices for reporting on greenhouse gas emissions through an open exchange of our climate action plan and strategies.

Additional Resources for Developing a Climate Action Plan