Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Overview
Berkeley’s annual greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory consistently reveals that 79% of our emissions are associated with campus building energy use. The majority of the remaining emissions come from campus-related travel.
UC Berkeley reports on eleven emissions sources and analyzes emissions in three different categories:
- Scope 1 - Direct Emissions: natural gas from the campus cogeneration (heating and cooling) plant, purchased natural gas, emergency generators, campus fleet, emissions from refrigerants
- Scope 2 - Indirect Emissions: purchased electricity
- Scope 3 - Indirect Emissions: business air travel, student commute, faculty/staff commute, solid waste, water
The campus reports its GHG inventory to both The Climate Registry and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Third party verification of the inventory is completed as part of the reporting process.
Berkeley GHG Emissions Inventory
|
Emission Sources |
1990 Metric Tons CO2e |
2008 Metric Tons CO2e |
2019 Metric Tons CO2e |
2022 Metric Tons CO2e |
2023 Metric Tons CO2e |
2024 Metric Tons CO2e |
|
Scope 1 |
||||||
|
CoGen Natural Gas |
131,594 |
134,640 |
130,955 |
121,704 |
121,880 |
114,262 |
|
Natural Gas |
8,087 |
11,980 |
11,451 |
11,948 |
13,456 |
11,328 |
|
Campus Fleet |
1,968 |
1,554 |
1,755 |
1,616 |
1,672 |
1,799 |
|
Emergency Generators |
61 |
113 |
338 |
100 |
112 |
159 |
|
Refrigerants |
237 |
170 |
469 |
1,596 |
80 |
129 |
|
De Minimis |
281 |
281 |
281 |
281 |
281 |
281 |
|
Scope 1 Subtotal |
142,229 |
148,738 |
145,249 |
137,246 |
137,481 |
127,957 |
|
Scope 2 |
||||||
|
Electricity |
9,221 |
11,327 |
2,320 |
1,629 |
1,227 |
196 |
|
Scope 2 Subtotal |
9,221 |
11,327 |
2,320 |
1,629 |
1,227 |
196 |
|
Scope 3 |
||||||
|
Air Travel |
19,980 |
21,959 |
14,974 |
12,410 |
16,001 |
16,980 |
|
Car Rentals |
249 |
249 |
249 |
444 |
449 |
407 |
|
Faculty & Staff Commute |
23,142 |
17,625 |
11,903 |
4,296 |
13,037 |
8,735 |
|
Student Commute |
4,100 |
3,230 |
3,535 |
1,793 |
4,151 |
4,374 |
|
Solid Waste |
996 |
942 |
1,465 |
1,278 |
1,526 |
1,405 |
|
Water |
783 |
839 |
304 |
267 |
241 |
216 |
|
Scope 3 Subtotal |
49250 |
44844 |
32430 |
20488 |
35405 |
32117 |
|
Total Emissions |
200,700 |
204,909 |
179,998 |
159,363 |
174,113 |
160,270 |
--Reduced emissions from 2019 to 2024 can be attributed to increased procurement of clean electricity, a decline in using natural gas, and a rise in staff alternative commute rates, which include remote/hybrid work.
Emissions Profile
2023 EMISSIONS PROFILE
Normalized Energy and Climate Data
The campus analyzes emissions and energy use scaled to campus population and square footage over time to monitor normalized progress and for comparison purposes.
Campus Green House Emissions per Square Footage of utilized space, 1990-2022
Campus Green House Emissions per Capita, 1990-2022
Campus Energy Use per Capita, 2018-2022
Carbon Footprint Lifecycle Analysis
UC Berkeley recognizes that the reported emissions inventory does not fully reflect the complete carbon footprint of campus activities. A lifecycle analysis includes greenhouse gas emissions from all stages of a product/service lifecycle, including mining, manufacturing, and transportation. Student- led research revealed that lifecycle emissions of products procured for Berkeley would account for up to 40% of the university’s carbon footprint. UC Berkeley’s Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory has provided some lifecycle analysis of campus emissions as have students in reports like this an award-winning student research project.
Climate Action
The University of California recognizes the urgency of the climate crisis and the responsibility of public universities to lead in reducing emissions. In 2023 the UC Sustainable Practices Policy made these commitments:
-
Campuses will achieve at least a 90% reduction in total emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3), relative to a 2019 baseline year, by 2045.
-
UC will prioritize reduction of Scope 1 emissions.
-
The use of carbon offsets will be limited only to use for regulatory purposes.