Carbon neutrality should not be the end goal: Lessons for institutional climate action from U.S. higher education

Climate action pledges have increasingly taken the form of commitments to net carbon neutrality. Higher education institutions (HEIs) are uniquely positioned innovate in this area, and over 800 United States (U.S.) colleges universities pledged achieve We examine approaches 11 U.S. HEIs that already announced achieving neutrality, highlighting risks associated with treating offsets, unbundled renewable energy certificates, bioenergy (collectively 77% reductions across institutions) as best practice under current frameworks. While pursuing neutrality has led important institutional shifts toward sustainability, initial mix used by these appears out alignment a broader decarbonization roadmap; aggregate, early efforts underutilize electrification new zero-carbon electricity. conclude envisioning how (and others) can refocus climate mitigation actions will help shift policy markets at larger scales. Net carbon-neutrality one most visible forms leadership face crisis. As 2020, least 25 national governments European Union (also referred zero emissions, although precise meaning “net zero” varies jurisdiction) 2050.1Energy & Intelligence UnitNet tracker.https://eciu.net/netzerotrackerDate: 2020Google Scholar Broadly, individual align global emissions pathway keep temperature increases well below 2°C, consistent Paris Agreement.2Intergovernmental Panel on ChangeSummary for policymakers.in: Global Warming 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report Impacts 1.5°C above Pre-industrial Levels Related Greenhouse Gas Emission Pathways, Context Strengthening Response Threat Change, Sustainable Development, Efforts Eradicate Poverty. World Meteorological Organization, 2018https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/spm/Google Because government policies not sufficient avoid dangerous anthropogenic interference system,3Fawcett A.A. Iyer G.C. Clarke L.E. Edmonds J.A. Hultman N.E. McJeon H.C. Rogelj J. Schuler R. Alsalam Asrar G.R. et al.Can avert severe change?.Science. 2015; 350: 1168-1169Crossref PubMed Scopus (217) Google Scholar,4Climate Action TrackerThe CAT thermometer.https://climateactiontracker.org/global/cat-thermometer/Date: 2018Google non-state actors become an source advance action.5Bäckstrand K. Kuyper J.W. Linnér B.-O. Lövbrand E. Non-state governance: from Copenhagen beyond.Environ. Polit. 2017; 26: 561-579Crossref (111) Voluntary pilot demonstrate innovations approaches, signal policy-makers willingness participate low- or economy ways induce more ambitious targets governments.6America’s Pledge Initiative ClimateFulfilling America’s Pledge: How States, Cities, Business Are Leading Low-Carbon Future. Bloomberg Philanthropies Support LLC, Numerous non-profit for-profit organizations begun internal pricing supply chains,7Bartlett N. Cushing H. Law S. Putting Price Carbon: Integrating Risk into Planning. CDP, 2017Google purchasing electricity,8Laurent C. Lindenbaum A. Verly Institutional Renewable Energy Procurement: Guidance Purchasing Making Associated Environmental Impact Claims. Boston Green Ribbon Commission Education Working Group, 2016Google making commitments,9UN Framework Convention ChangeWho’s race zero?.https://unfccc.int/climate-action/race-to-zero/who-s-in-race-to-zero#eq-3Date: and, increasingly, adopting holding including negative.10Krabbe O. Linthorst G. Blok Crijns-Graus W. van Vuuren D.P. Höhne Faria P. Aden Pineda A.C. Aligning corporate greenhouse-gas goals.Nat. Clim. Change. 5: 1057-1060Crossref (57) enduring educational missions, higher play role leaders. Beginning 2006, HEI presidents signed onto American College University Presidents' Commitment (ACUPCC) develop plans “as soon possible.”11Cortese education’s purpose: healthy, just, sustainable society.https://www.fastcompany.com/1527689/higher-educations-purpose-healthy-just-and-sustainable-societyDate: 2010Google These goal make sector unique proliferate globally, it is appropriate ask what actually look like practice. The adopted 2006 2020 represent empirical case study might entail, exploring whether approach represents scalable solution Here, we analyze pathways leading December them context roadmap. HEIs, all parts society developed economies, significant greenhouse gas (GHG) must be rapidly reduced change. Many function small cities their own heating, power, transportation infrastructure. If full-time students, faculty, staff were counted together, would second populous state 29 million people.12National Center StatisticsThe Integrated Postsecondary Data System (IPEDS). NCES, 2019https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/use-the-dataGoogle Since start ACUPCC commitment. In 2015, Second Nature, which administered commitment since 2009, rebranded Carbon expanded program include stand-alone resilience Nature maintains database 426 still actively reporting annual Commitment,13Second NatureSecond nature platform.http://reporting.secondnature.org/Date: 2019Google 362 set target dates, range 2012 2100 (the median date being 2050 [Figure S1]). Consistent practices sectors, “net” allowing continued long equivalent amount off-site sequestration activities purchased undertaken offset those emissions. Under guidelines, usually apply direct on-site fossil-fuel use (Scope 1 emissions) electricity 2 emissions). Some also institutionally-funded air travel employee commuting (a subset Scope 3 emissions), but few encompass other supply-chain emissions.14World Council Development Resources Institute Protocol: A Corporate Accounting Reporting Standard. Development; Institute, 2004https://ghgprotocol.org/sites/default/files/standards/ghg-protocol-revised.pdfGoogle hundreds working terms 2020. commend leadership, actions, achievement within standards Leadership Commitments. refer schools “neutrality first.” combined on-campus off-campus accounting-based meet Scopes 1, 2, earlier than major campus infrastructure generally allow. many emphasized, neutrality-first based scientific consensus reduce get track less warming.2Intergovernmental Figure shows aggregate carbon-neutral year emission category (see Notes S1–S11 details each school). Each institution achieved through different (Figures 3), yet there some similarities approaches. First, roughly half meaningful between baseline against they measure reductions, ranging 2007 2012) year. reduction fossil-fuel-based was 28%, three saw gross increase Schools building efficiency measures switching heating fuels, example, bioenergy. four largest reported deployed strategies (box 2), discuss detail below.Figure 3Share GHG coming strategiesShow full captionDark bar median.View Large Image ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT) Dark median. Approaches reducing varied. installed solar generation while (nine) certificates (RECs) “cover” (Figure 2). RECs environmental attributes generated elsewhere; “bundled” power purchase agreements (PPAs) electricity, voluntary without contracts below). All simply due fact intensity grid improved For New York State decreased nearly 2017.15US Information AdministrationForm EIA-860 detailed data previous (EIA-860A/860B). US EIA, 2018https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia860/Google Without accounting REC purchases, 31%. With RECs, 100%. Finally, covered (primarily institution-funded airline commuting) incentive programs. 11%, varied widely. 50%, whereas It note changes such embodied chain goods (e.g., food materials), required Commitment. This particularly relevant natural gas, substituting fuels “shifting” outside commitments, moving (combustion) (upstream leakage infrastructure).16Alvarez R.A. Zavala-Araiza D. Lyon D.R. Allen D.T. Barkley Z.R. Brandt A.R. Davis K.J. Herndon S.C. Jacob D.J. Karion al.Assessment methane oil chain.Science. 2018; 361: 186-188PubMed No instruments 3). majority claimed come offsets (payment third party avoided sequestration) rather share time 63% (46%–107%). came primarily landfill forestry 4). When included, rose 81% (53%–107%) discussion). total reductions. two relied considerably college-owned land 1; S6 S10). case, sequestered institution-owned forests considered “credit” Current guidance discourages counting demonstration additionality (i.e., proof genuine relative status quo).17Second NatureFrequently asked questions: becoming part network.https://secondnature.org/signatory-handbook/frequently-asked-questions/Date: effectively treat forest additional regional landscape management areas. words, conserving forest, sequestering world owned institution. One highlighted eligible California's Forest Management Compliance Offsets Program, considers “common practice” additional. However, conservative assessing project level find stewardship plan been largely unchanged unlikely result business usual. Our discussions highlight ongoing challenges assessments playing beyond HEIs.18Haya B. Cullenward Strong A.L. Grubert Heilmayr Sivas D.A. Wara M. Managing uncertainty offsets: insights California’s standardized approach.Clim. Pol. 2020; 20: 1112-1126Crossref (11) differences analyses frequently turn differing counterfactuals, discussed remain unconvinced sequestration, positive land-management practices, way should At same time, critical model good climate-constrained world, both who chose count attention involved decisions ignoring Early dates designed recognize urgency every ton today reduces future damages. benefits accrue away fossil improvements efficiency, high-quality (but only strong assumption real, permanent, additional). theory, lead faster without. (We do resulted large [Figures 2]. Given number quality self-reported data, cannot quantitatively test here whether, fell others later commitments.) Second, catalyzed changes, motivating update technology, deploy energy-efficiency measures, build school profiles). aggressively cultural several institutions, putting place structures advancing sustainability continue future. Sustainability directors report “early” mainstreamed climate-focused thinking throughout decision-making processes (K. Payson Pumilio, personal communications). Several continuing pursue even after meeting example expanding energy,19Bowdoin CollegeBowdoin achieves Now next step.http://community.bowdoin.edu/news/2018/04/bowdoin-achieves-carbon-neutrality-now-for-the-next-step/Date: Scholar,20Dove I. Colgate neutrality.https://www.colgate.edu/news/stories/colgate-achieves-carbon-neutralityDate: suggesting catalyst further institutions. focus specifically near term weighed notable dominant goals quickly, describe below. analysis underscore widely standard guidelines administer among first sectors adopt thus serve highly worthwhile assess institutions' detail. sections, salient HEIs: (1) emissions; (2) sources (3) offsets. Claiming enter electrical requires because specific outlet. created means quantities (not wind solar. typically compliance portfolio specified percentage sales sold entities want green credentials. (Unlike utilities, hold RECs.) Thus, treated “environmental attributes” generation, holder right claim credit generated. systems, kilowatt-hours represented contracted corresponding when financed. “bundled RECs” “bundle” rights PPA. Holders bundled provides capital put force utilities comply mandates (because does allow utility compliance), PPAs practice.8Laurent Scholar,21RE100 GroupGrowing power: companies seizing opportunities.https://www.there100.org/growing-renewable-power-companies-seizing-leadership-opportunitiesDate: Potential pitfalls renewables states binding cap trade programs overall capped emissions,22Metcalf G.E. Cap trade: price pollution.in: Paying Pollution: Why Tax Is Good America. Oxford Press, 2019: 73-85Crossref actual impact any depends displaces incentives involved.23Callaway D.S. Fowlie McCormick Location, location, location: variable value demand-side resources.J. Assoc. Environ. Resour. Econ. 39-75Google Unbundled hand, secondary separately itself, derive existing likely run regardless sale REC. Modeling purchases suggests that, cases, grid, may little no change emissions.23Callaway Scholar, 24Gillenwater Redefining RECs—part 1: untangling offsets.Energy Policy. 2008; 36: 2109-2119Crossref (38) 25Gillenwater 2: markets.Energy 2120-2129Crossref (25) 26Brander Gillenwater Ascui F. Creative accounting: perspective market-based method (scope 2) emissions.Energy 112: 29-33Crossref (21) 27Gillenwater Probabilistic decision investment influence market.Energy 2013; 63: 1111-1125Crossref 28Gillenwater Lu X. Fischlein Additionality investments market.Renew. Energy. 2014; 452-457Crossref (16) Most our 1). Of nine emission-reduction goals, seven RECs. From conversations practitioners, field regard “higher quality,” pursued subsequent years (Notes S3, S5, absence evidence having credits “dead end” systems solution—providing appearance de minimis impact. Bundled PPA offer move direction, research needed understand impacts Ultimately, escape depend policy-induced transmission, storage northeastern U.S., home efforts, popular option mitigation, complicated lack strategy. Five biomass biomass-derived (including education) neutral29Searchinger T.D. Hamburg S.P. Melillo Chameides Havlik Kammen D.M. Likens Lubowski R.N. Obersteiner Oppenheimer al.Fixing error.Science. 2009; 326: 527-528Crossref (331) assuming uptake during post-harvest regrowth emitted atmosphere combustion. Congress directed Protection Agency (EPA) via budget rider,30Royce E.R. Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018.2018Google various view similarly criteria).31Searchinger Beringer T. Holtsmark Lambin E.F. Lucht Raven Ypersele J.-P. Europe’s directive poised harm forests.Nat. Commun. 9: 3741Crossref (65) neutral supported available science. EPA's Science Advisory Board32US BoardSAB Review EPA’s Biogenic CO2 Emissions Stationary Sources. Agency, 2012Google concluded: “Carbon assumed priori. There circumstances grown, harvested, combusted fashion, priori assumption; conclusion reached considering particular feedstock's production consumption cycle.” Bioenergy peer-reviewed literature reach divergent conclusions, studies claiming wood pellets lower coal Kingdom33Dwivedi Khanna Fuller pellet-based carbon-intensive coal-based electricity? perspectives, baselines, feedstocks, practices.Environ. Res. Lett. 2019; 14: 024006Crossref (14) decades.34Sterman J.D. Siegel L. Rooney-Varga J.N. Does replacing emissions? Dynamic lifecycle bioenergy.Environ.