Carbon Neutrality
Wesleyan has committed to going carbon neutral by 2035 and tracks its carbon footprint annually. The Sustainability Strategic Plan includes objectives to achieve carbon neutrality, including a utilities carbon neutrality plan and air travel offsets.
Utilities Carbon Neutrality Master Plan
A utilities carbon neutrality master plan creates a roadmap to reduce campus energy use and power 100% of heating, cooling, and electricity needs within the campus microgrid (central campus) through renewable energy sources by 2035.
Carbon Pollution Footprint
The data below details Wesleyan's carbon pollution footprint in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e), which includes emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases that are responsible for warming the atmosphere. In the % change from 2008 column, emission sources are color coded:
- Green = significant emissions decrease (>5% decrease)
- Dark green = very significant emissions decrease (>25% decrease)
- Yellow = no significant change (-5% to +5% change)
- Red = significant emissions increase (>5% increase)
- Dark red = very significant emissions increase (>25% increase)
The table below shows the most recently available information and is updated annually as inventories are completed. A few items of note:
- In FY 2024, Wesleyan's electricity footprint increased significantly, due to the decision not to purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) for electricity usage.
- In FY 2024, offsets covered 100% of employee air travel emissions.
- Beginning in FY 2022, Wesleyan's waste footprint increased significantly due to the closure of the South Meadows trash-to-energy incinerator; waste is now trucked to out-of-state landfills.
Carbon Offsets
In 2019, Wesleyan began a pilot program to offset carbon emissions associated with Wesleyan-funded air travel by levying a 5% surcharge on air travel.-
- 2023-24: 1,142 tons offsets (100% of Wesleyan-funded air travel)
- 2022-23: 3,026 tons offsets (100% of Wesleyan-funded air travel and a portion of study abroad air travel emissions)
- 2021-22: 1,494 tons offsets (100% of Wesleyan-funded air travel)
- 2020-21: 0 tons offsets due to COVID-19
- 2019-20: 155 tons offsets (President's Office only)
Learn more about carbon offsets and Wesleyan's air travel offsets program below. To reduce your travel carbon footprint, check out our handy guide to sustainable travel and download this calculator to measure your transportation carbon footprint based on different modes of transportation.
- Why is Wesleyan purchasing offsets?
In 2007, Wesleyan signed the Presidents' Climate Leadership Carbon Commitment, committing to carbon neutrality by 2050. This goal was revised in 2022 to accelerate carbon neutrality to 2035.
Second Nature, the organization behind the carbon commitment, advocates for addressing greenhouse gas emissions following this hierarchy:
- Avoiding or reducing emissions through efficiency & conservation
- Eliminating emissions through switching to renewable (zero carbon) sources of energy
- Sequestering or offsetting any remaining emissions.
The carbon section of Wesleyan's sustainability strategic plan focuses primarily on the first two pillars of this hierarchy and accordingly aims to purchase as few offsets as possible. Approximately 20 percent of Wesleyan's carbon footprint can be attributed to more difficult-to-reduce sources, including air travel and commuting.
Wesleyan has determined that a robust program of air travel offsets purchased from reliable sources will address this component of its carbon footprint in the medium-term. We will continue to investigate ways to effectively reduce emissions to reduce or eliminate the need for future offset purchases.
- How are carbon offsets generated?
An offset is an action or activity that compensates for the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs), usually by storing carbon or preventing carbon emissions.
According to Second Nature, "Carbon offsets can be generated by any type of project that reduces or eliminates greenhouse gas emissions beyond a business-as-usual scenario. Common types of offset projects include reforestation and improved forest management, methane gas capture and destruction, fuel switching, clean cookstoves, and energy efficiency."
- Where does Wesleyan purchase its offsets?
In 2022, Wesleyan began a partnership with nonprofit Climate Vault. Climate Vault is different from a standard offset option; it first purchases and “vaults” carbon emission allowances from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) -- which the state of Connecticut is a member of -- on Wesleyan's behalf. Because the number of allowances is capped, keeping them off the market immediately decreases carbon dioxide emissions and ensures a verifiable reduction while producing co-benefits for Connecticut communities. The value of the emission allowances is then used to support innovative carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies that eliminate historical CO2 in our atmosphere.
In 2020, Wesleyan purchased carbon offsets from the Massachusetts Tri-City Improved Forest Management Project, operated by BlueSource and certified by the American Carbon Registry, a verified third-party certification. Through the Tri-City project, three cities—Holyoke, Westfield, and West Springfield—launched a joint Improved Forest Management project on approximately 17,000 acres of public forest land in central MA. The properties are managed for watershed services, timber production, and recreation and this carbon project enables them to generate increased revenue without aggressive timber harvesting. The cities will achieve Forest Stewardship Council certification of their forests for the first time, helping further ensure long-term environmental and economic sustainability.
- How was Wesleyan's air travel offsets fee set?
To account for current market prices, Wesleyan determined that a flat 5% surcharge on air travel would roughly correspond to a $15 per ton offset price. With average carbon offset costs expected to increase to $20 to $50 per ton by 2030 (price was just shy of $38/ton in 2024), Wesleyan will regularly assess its air travel offsets charge to ensure that it keeps pace with the carbon offsets market.
- Who pays for the air travel offsets?
The air travel offsets surcharge applies to anyone traveling on Wesleyan business when funded by the University. Finance added 5 percent of FY 2019 airfare spend to all operating budgets to account for this charge.
The air travel offsets fee shall in most cases be charged to the traveler’s department or will be centrally charged per each Cabinet unit's discretion.
- Will the air travel offsets fee apply to students?
The air travel offsets surcharge will apply only to Wesleyan business travel paid via operating budgets. The surcharge will not apply to GISOS-funded, grant-funded, study abroad, or student personal travel. We are investigating options for offsetting these emissions.
Contact
Utilities Carbon Neutrality Master Plan & Greenhouse Gas Inventory: Andrew Plotkin, Facilities Director of Utilities and Infrastructure
Air Travel Offsets: Jen Kleindienst, Sustainability Director