Notable changes in reported GHG emissions

Some years we report large changes, decreases or increases, for certain emission categories. Sometimes they are caused by changes in equipment, energy use, weather, behavior, etc. Other times they are due to updated information about how much emissions an activity causes, or a more accurate way to collect data. 

We will always move towards higher accuracy, and thus, the newer number will be more trustworthy. Nevertheless, the abrupt reported increase or decrease will not always be due to a real change of the emissions from the activity that causes the emissions, or the quantity/use. We will make notes by the charts when we think it is necessary.
 

Covid-19 Impacts FY2020 - 2022 shows a reduction in emissions of over 50% from 2008 baseline data. The reduction was a result of disrupted operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, including reduced campus activity, reduced faculty & staff commuting and business air travel.  As operations normalized post-pandemic in FY2023, Greenhouse Gas emissions have risen to reflect a return to on-campus teaching and operations as well as more typical air travel.  It is worth noting that Scope 1 emissions have not increased to pre-pandemic level.

Why did air travel emissions increase in 2024? Air Travel emissions increased significantly in FY2024. This is both a result of increased travel and because the emissions factor was changed to a more accurate number.  Only accounting for the change in travel business, the increase was 23%.