Emissions & Decarbonization

Understanding our emissions and reducing our campus carbon footprint

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a central component of CU Boulder’s Climate Action Plan. The university has established a goal to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions 50% from a 2019 baseline by 2030 and reach zero emissions no later than 2050.

Meeting these goals will require action across campus, from improving building efficiency and modernizing energy infrastructure to expanding renewable energy and addressing emissions associated with transportation, purchasing, construction and other university activities.

Explore the Climate Action Plan

Understanding Emissions

CU Boulder measures greenhouse gas emissions to understand where they come from, track progress and identify opportunities for reduction. Emissions are organized into three scopes using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol framework.

Scope 1 | Direct Emissions

• Emissions generated directly from sources owned or controlled by CU Boulder, including fuels used for campus heating, university-owned vehicles and equipment, and other direct sources 

Scope 2 | Purchased Energy

• Indirect emissions associated with purchased electricity and other energy used to power CU Boulder buildings and operations. These emissions occur outside campus boundaries but result from the energy the university purchases and consumes. 

Scope 3 | Indirect Emissions

• Indirect emissions associated with university activities that occur from sources outside CU Boulder’s direct ownership or control. These include purchased goods and services, construction, business travel, employee and student commuting, food, waste and other activities across the university’s value chain.

Greenhouse gas emissions are typically reported as carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂e), allowing different greenhouse gases to be compared using a common measure.

Reducing Our Emissions

Scope 1 & 2 | Decarbonizing Campus Operations 

Reduce emissions from campus buildings and energy systems through energy efficiency, electrification, renewable electricity and modernization of campus infrastructure.

Explore Scope 1 and 2 Emissions

Scope 3 | Addressing Indirect Emissions

Address emissions associated with purchasing, transportation, construction, food, waste and other university activities through improved data, category-specific strategies and measurable reduction efforts.

Explore Scope 3 Emissions

Tracking Progress

(graph coming soon)

View Dashboards and Data