91丝瓜视频 encourages travelers to make low-carbon choices, such as using video conferencing, traveling by train, and combining trips to help reduce travel-related emissions.
91丝瓜视频鈥檚 Air Travel Offsetting Program helps compensate for the negative environmental impact of unavoidable air travel at 91丝瓜视频 through mandatory and voluntary carbon offsetting.
How it works
The Air Travel Offsetting Program introduces a consistent, university-wide approach to offsetting emissions from directly financed air travel. The offsetting approach is based on how the travel is funded.
| Type of Fund | Unrestricted Fund Type 1 (funds beginning with 1) |
All other fund types |
|---|---|---|
| Offsetting approach | Mandatory | Voluntary |
| How it works | Emissions are calculated for each unit and offset through a centralized process, with costs charged to the unit. | Where eligible, travelers are encouraged to purchase an offset and request reimbursement in Workday Expenses. |
All offsets will be tracked centrally and included in 91丝瓜视频鈥檚 annual greenhouse gas inventory.
How much it costs![]()
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The cost of offsetting is based on emissions per flight, which vary depending on the kilometres traveled, the flight haul, and the class.
Offsetting air travel represents a small cost compared to the price of a flight. Below are some examples of emissions and costs for popular flights taken by 91丝瓜视频ians.听
| Destination* | Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Flight Cost | Offset Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 0.1 tCO2e | $500 | $2.50 |
| Vancouver | 0.6 tCO2e | $500 | $16 |
| London | 0.9听tCO2e | $900 | $22.50 |
*Assumes听round-trips and economy class
For administrative air travel (on Type 1 funds), the cost of offsetting all flights is approximately 2% of a unit鈥檚 total airfare spend.
Why it matters听
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Air travel plays an important role in supporting 91丝瓜视频鈥檚 academic and research mission.听
As an institution committed to climate leadership, offsetting allows 91丝瓜视频 to compensate for unavoidable emissions while continuing to prioritize emission reductions wherever feasible.
| Did you know that in a given year, air travel makes up about 13% of 91丝瓜视频鈥檚 total greenhouse gas emissions and accounts for about 73 million kilometres of travel. This is equivalent to the emissions from 95 round trips to the Moon. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is carbon offsetting?
An organization can offset greenhouse gas emissions from activities that cannot be avoided by purchasing carbon credits鈥攙erified reductions or removals of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere achieved by a third-party project. Offsetting projects can be in renewable energy production, reforestation, or energy efficiency, among other initiatives.
Which offset provider is 91丝瓜视频 using?
91丝瓜视频 has partnered with Centre听, a Quebec-based non-profit organization听that听maintains听a听portfolio of projects certified under the Gold Standard.
What projects are funded?
91丝瓜视频 will听purchase听most of its credits from听Planetair鈥檚听Global Portfolio. This diversified portfolio includes听Gold-Standard-certified carbon offset projects in energy efficiency, renewable energy, methane capture and destruction, and community-led initiatives, primarily in the Global South.听听
These projects deliver immediate emission reductions and support initiatives that would not otherwise听proceed听without carbon finance.听91丝瓜视频 may also听purchase听some of its credits from technology-based projects in Quebec certified under VCS or ACR.听
The 听inform our selection of offsetting projects. We prioritize projects based on the following quality criteria:
| Additional | The project would likely not have happened without the incentive of carbon credits. |
| Conservative | Emissions reductions or removals are not overestimated; the project is monitored and verified. |
| Permanent | Carbon stored does not have a high risk of reversal; the project has a plan to manage and reduce reversal risks. |
| Exclusive | The credits will be retired in a carbon crediting program registry and will not be available for purchase by others. |
| Do no harm | Projects are compliant with legal requirements; local stakeholders are consulted; potential harm is mitigated; the project. demonstrates environmental and/or social co-benefits, such as contribution towards other UN SDGs. |
How will offsetting administrative travel work?
Administrative (Type 1) funds will be charged a quarterly offsetting fee based on airfare purchases in Workday Expenses. 91丝瓜视频 will calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with these flights and purchase carbon credits on behalf of the travelers.
How can I offset my research and academic travel?
Travelers are encouraged to purchase offsets through 91丝瓜视频鈥檚 vetted carbon offset provider, Planetair. The 鈥渃arbon offsets鈥� expense item can be used to be reimbursed in Workday Expenses. Carbon offsetting is an eligible expense where airfare is deemed to be eligible.
Why should I use my research funds to offset my air travel emissions?
While there are clear benefits of traveling for research鈥攊ncluding disseminating knowledge, networking, and fieldwork鈥攖here is an environmental cost in the form of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. For unavoidable travel, carbon offsetting is a way to compensate for the negative environmental impact.
What resources are available at 91丝瓜视频 to help reduce my air travel emissions?
鈥� Use the 91丝瓜视频 TeleStudio to pre-record presentations, conduct media interviews remotely, and present virtually at conferences.
鈥� Take advantage of the .
鈥� Read the Sustainable Travel Guide to learn which mode of transportation is the most sustainable choice for you.
鈥� Attend a Sustainable Travel workshop hosted by HR鈥檚 Health & Wellness Program and the Office of Sustainability.
| Did you know that 91丝瓜视频鈥檚 updated Guidelines on the Booking of Travel Arrangements now authorize any class of train travel for any route. |
How is 91丝瓜视频 reducing its greenhouse gas emissions?
91丝瓜视频 aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 by:
1. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions wherever feasible, such as through large-scale energy transformations,
2. Sequestering carbon via carbon sinks, through its forested lands, and
3. Purchasing carbon offsets to compensate for unavoidable or difficult-to-reduce emissions, such as those from air travel.
As most of 91丝瓜视频鈥檚 emissions come from heating our buildings, the university鈥檚 emission-reduction efforts focus primarily on energy efficiency and electrification. For more about 91丝瓜视频鈥檚 greenhouse gas emissions and path to carbon neutrality, see here.
Who can I contact if I have ideas for reducing emissions at 91丝瓜视频?
All 91丝瓜视频ians鈥攕tudents, faculty, and staff鈥攁re encouraged to apply to the Sustainability Projects Fund for seed-funding for sustainability initiatives on campus. Get in touch with the SPF team at spf.sustainability [at] mcgill.ca.
We invite you to contact the Office of Sustainability at sustainability [at] mcgill.ca with suggestions or ideas regarding carbon neutrality at 91丝瓜视频.
