Measuring Scope 3 Carbon Emissions in the Higher Education Sector

Submitted by Peter Hardy on Tue, 07/02/2012 - 14:11

In 2011, JMP was appointed by the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) to help the higher education sector measure scope 3 carbon emissions from transport. This was with a view to establishing a baseline position from which institutions would seek to reduce their carbon emissions. HEFCE recently published our report for institutions to start using the guidance and methodologies provided, which will ensure a consistent approach.

Scope 3 emissions are the indirect emissions that organisations produce through their activities, which occur from sources not owned or controlled by the organisation. In transport terms this essentially includes business travel and commuting.

JMP’s report provides higher education institutions (HEIs) with guidance on how to calculate scope 3 carbon emissions from transport and travel, including examples of good practice, together with an evidence base for the proposed Estates Management Statistics (EMS) data definitions on scope 3 emissions from transport.

Our work involved:

  • A review of relevant protocols, standards and documents on emissions management
  • Engaging with stakeholders, particularly HEIs
  • Survey work amongst HEIs

The findings showed that many organisations do report on carbon emissions, but not in a consistent way. And whilst some have looked at business travel for some time, there is less evidence that commuter travel emissions are being considered.

The recommended approach for the reporting of transport carbon emissions is split into two: business travel and commuter travel. However, it is also recommended that to avoid double counting, HEIs should identify scope 1 (emissions from sources owned or controlled) and scope 3 travel emissions and report them separately. Determining the appropriate scope of emissions will depend on various factors (type of travel, whether the mode is owned or leased by the institution, and how the asset is accounted for by the institution). Business travel emissions resulting from the use of any mode of transport that is not owned or leased by an institution, and virtually all modes of commuter travel, will generally be recorded as scope 3. Whereas scope 1 emissions may include those generated by staff or students travelling for business purposes using modes of transport that are owned or leased by an institution.

The report sets out a framework for calculating and recording scope 3 emissions, with a split of modes that should be reported on a mandatory or optional basis. Of course, HEIs are encouraged to try and report on all modes if possible.

For the full report go to http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/rdreports/2012/rd01_12/