McGill’s Air Travel Offsetting Program helps compensate for the negative environmental impact of unavoidable air travel at McGill 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 McGill’s 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 McGillians.
| Destination* | Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Flight Cost | Offset Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 0.1 tCO2e | $500 | $2.50 |
| Vancouver | 0.6 tCO2e | $500 | $15 |
| London | 0.7 tCO2e | $900 | $18 |
*Assumes 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’s total airfare spend.
Why it matters 
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Air travel plays an important role in supporting McGill’s academic and research mission.
As an institution committed to climate leadership, offsetting allows McGill 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 McGill’s 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—verified 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 McGill using?
McGill purchases Gold Standard carbon credits from Planetair, a Quebec-based non-profit organization. Planetair maintains a diverse portfolio of offsetting projects, including local, national, and international initiatives focused on emissions reductions and carbon removal.
What projects are funded?
McGill will purchase the bulk of its credits from Planetair’s Global Portfolio, which comprises Gold-Standard-certified carbon offset projects in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and carbon capture, primarily in the Global South.
These projects provide immediate emission reductions and help fund initiatives that might otherwise lack financial support. A portion of offsets may also come from VCS- and ACR-certified, technology-based projects in Quebec.
The Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting 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. McGill 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 must confirm that carbon offsetting is an eligible expense by contacting their Financial Services Team (FST) or Administrative Excellence Centre (AEC). Carbon offsetting is eligible on research funds from the main funding agencies in Quebec and Canada, i.e., FRQ, NSERC, SSHRC, and CIHR.
Travelers are encouraged to purchase offsets from McGill’s vetted carbon offset provider, Planetair. The “carbon offsets” expense item can be used to be reimbursed in Workday Expenses.
Why should I use my research funds to offset my air travel emissions?
While there are clear benefits of traveling for research—including disseminating knowledge, networking, and fieldwork—there is an environmental cost in he 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 McGill to help reduce my air travel emissions?
• Use the McGill TeleStudio to pre-record presentations, conduct media interviews remotely, and present virtually at conferences.
• Take advantage of the discounted rate for VIA Rail.
• Read the Sustainable Travel Guide to learn which mode of transportation is the most sustainable choice for you.
• Attend a Sustainable Travel workshop hosted by HR’s Health & Wellness Program and the Office of Sustainability.
| Did you know that McGill’s updated Guidelines on the Booking of Travel Arrangements now authorize any class of train travel for any route. |
How is McGill reducing its greenhouse gas emissions?
McGill 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 McGill’s emissions come from heating our buildings, the university’s emission-reduction efforts focus primarily on energy efficiency and electrification. For more about McGill’s greenhouse gas emissions and path to carbon neutrality, see here.
Who can I contact if I have ideas for reducing emissions at McGill?
All McGillians—students, faculty, and staff—are encouraged to apply to the Sustainability Projects Fund for seed-funding for sustainability initiatives on campus. spf.sustainability [at] mcgill.ca">Get in touch with the SPF team.
We invite you to contact the Office of Sustainability at sustainability [at] mcgill.ca">sustainability [at] mcgill.ca with suggestions or ideas regarding carbon neutrality at McGill.
