Duke University's Carbon Offsets Initiative

Summary

Duke University is working towards becoming climate neutral by 2024. Despite on-campus efforts, achieving this goal solely through emission reductions isn't feasible, leading to the use of carbon offsets. The Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative (DCI), the first of its kind in U.S. higher education, invests in projects like local tree planting and residential energy efficiencies to offset difficult-to-reduce emissions, such as those from employee commuting and air travel. DCI also collaborates on various projects, including waste-to-energy and urban forestry, and provides opportunities for students to engage through internships and class projects.

Takeaways

• 🌳 Duke University is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and aims to become climate neutral by 2024.
• 🚫 Despite current efforts, Duke cannot achieve carbon neutrality solely through on-campus reductions.
• 🌐 Carbon offsets are being used to supplement on-campus efforts and reach the climate neutrality goal.
• 🔄 The concept of carbon offsets involves investing in projects that help other organizations reduce emissions, offsetting Duke's own emissions.
• 🚗 Major sources of Duke's emissions include employee commuting and air travel, which together accounted for 35% of the total emissions in 2016.
• 🌿 Duke is investing in local projects such as tree planting and residential energy efficiency to offset emissions from commuting and air travel.
• 🏛️ The Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative (DCI) is the first office of its kind in higher education in the US, focusing on developing carbon offset strategies.
• 🏗️ The DCI has undertaken various projects, including an innovative waste-to-energy project and a residential energy efficiency project.
• 🌳 The DCI collaborates with other universities, municipalities, and organizations to plant trees in cities for carbon offsets.
• 📚 The DCI offers opportunities for students to get involved through internships, class projects, and urban forestry projects.
• 📈 The DCI also serves as a resource and catalyst for high-integrity offset projects, facilitating the development of similar initiatives outside of Duke.

Q & A

What is Duke University's goal regarding greenhouse gas emissions?

Duke University aims to become climate neutral by 2024 by reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.

Why can't Duke University achieve carbon neutrality solely through on-campus reduction efforts?

Duke University cannot become carbon neutral by 2024 solely through on-campus reduction because some emissions, such as those from employee commuting and air travel, are difficult to reduce and account for a significant portion of the total emissions.

What is the purpose of carbon offsets at Duke University?

Carbon offsets are used to achieve climate neutrality by investing in projects that help other organizations reduce their emissions, which in turn offset the emissions at Duke that are hard to reduce.

What are the two main sources of emissions at Duke University, and what percentage of the total emissions do they account for?

The two main sources of emissions at Duke University are employee commuting and air travel, which together accounted for 35% of the total emissions in 2016.

What is the Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative (DCI), and what is its role at the university?

The Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative (DCI) is the first office of its kind at an institution of higher education in the US. It is responsible for developing the university's carbon offsets strategy to meet Duke's climate neutrality commitment and serves as a resource for others interested in developing offset projects.

How does the DCI facilitate and catalyze high-integrity offset projects?

The DCI facilitates and catalyzes high-integrity offset projects by undertaking a number of projects itself, such as a waste-to-energy project and a residential energy efficiency project, and by collaborating with other universities, municipalities, and organizations.

What is the largest project undertaken by the DCI to date?

The largest project undertaken by the DCI is an innovative joint waste-to-energy project at Blois Dairy Farms in North Carolina.

How does the DCI involve students in its work and contribute to their academic and research experience?

The DCI offers internships over the summer, assists with class projects, and provides opportunities for students to get involved in various projects, enhancing their academic and research experience.

What is the urban forestry project in Durham that the DCI is planning, and how can students get involved?

The DCI is planning an urban forestry project in Durham in 2017 and is inviting students who are interested to get involved, providing them with opportunities to work on the project.

What type of projects does the DCI invest in to offset emissions from commuting and air travel at Duke University?

The DCI invests in a variety of projects such as local tree planting, residential energy efficiency improvements, and waste-to-energy projects to offset emissions from commuting and air travel.

How does the DCI collaborate with other entities to plant trees in cities, and what benefits does this bring?

The DCI collaborates with universities, municipalities, and organizations around the US to plant trees in cities. This not only helps in offsetting carbon emissions but also beautifies urban landscapes and enhances the quality of life for residents.