McGill aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, meaning net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, by:
- Reducing GHG emissions wherever feasible, such as through largescale energy transformations,
- Sequestering carbon via carbon sinks, through its forested lands, and
- Purchasing carbon offsets to compensate for unavoidable or difficult-to-reduce emissions, such as those from air travel and commuting.
The University’s target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 is aligned with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) decarbonization timeline. Due to the urgency of climate change, strong commitments and actions need to be implemented and prioritized in order to significantly reduce our carbon footprint. By 2030, McGill aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45% compared to 2015.
Progress towards Carbon Neutrality
net tonnes of CO₂ equivalent are currently emitted by McGill
McGill’s 2024 greenhouse gas emissions breakdown by key activity
Miscellaneous includes emissions from: livestock & fertilizers, refrigerants & insulating gas, vehicle fleet and other sources. Scope 1 refers to direct emissions. Scope 2 refers to emissions from purchased energy. Scope 3 refers to indirect emissions such as business -related travel and commuting.
Key Progress
The majority of McGill’s emissions come from energy combustion to heat our buildings. Emission reduction efforts at the university are therefore concentrated on energy, including via multi-million-dollar investments in electrification and energy efficiency projects. Key projects include the following:
- Smart energy grids began to be deployed in 2018, recovering waste heat from buildings.
- In 2023, a natural gas boiler was replaced with electric boilers at the Downtown Powerhouse. This $33M investment, along with associated energy efficiency projects, will lead to a reduction of 9,000 tCO₂e/year.
- McGill’s Powerhouse heat recovery unit came online in 2024, capturing waste heat from the natural gas boiler exhaust to provide heating to the Arts, Ferrier, and James Administration buildings.
- McGill has joined Hydro-Québec’s Alliance des bâtiments exemplaires (Alliance for Exemplary Buildings) to champion responsible energy use in large buildings.
See more on McGill’s energy transition here, including the Roadmap for McGill's Energy Transition.
McGill 2024 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Sources
Past Greenhouse Gas Inventories
- Greenhouse Gas inventory 2023
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2022
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2022 - Detailed Appendix
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2021
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2020
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2019
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2018
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2017
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2016 - Summary
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2015 - Summary
Get Involved in Becoming Carbon Neutral
- Book the TeleStudio to pre-record presentations, conduct media interviews remotely, and present virtually at conferences, to limit the need to travel by air.
- Make the most of a discount on annual BIXI memberships available to all McGill community members and discounted Via Rail rates for University-sponsored travel.
- Make sustainable travel choices with the Sustainable Travel Guide.
- Purchase carbon offsets whenever air travel is necessary.
- Take advantage of the Macdonald Campus self-serve bikes.
- Charge your electric vehicle on campus.
Learn more about greenhouse gas inventories, or carbon footprint assessments, with the Office of Sustainability’s Greenhouse Gas Inventories 101.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a greenhouse gas inventory?
A greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, also known as a carbon footprint assessment, is a quantified list of an organization’s greenhouse gas emissions and emission sources. It is a strategic tool for understanding, managing, and communicating emissions resulting from an organization’s activities. Learn more about greenhouse gas inventories, or carbon footprint assessments, with the Office of Sustainability’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory 101.
What does McGill include in its carbon neutrality target?
McGill includes Scope 1, Scope 2, and select Scope 3 emissions in its carbon neutrality target. Scope 1 includes direct emissions from energy consumption in buildings owned or controlled by McGill, the McGill vehicle fleet, the Macdonald Farm, and leaked refrigerants and insulating gases. Scope 2 includes indirect emissions from purchased grid electricity and purchased steam and hot and chilled water.
Scope 3 includes other indirect emissions upstream and downstream of McGill’s activities, including emissions from University-financed air travel and student and staff commuting, energy consumption of select buildings over which we do not have operational control, sports team travel, the intercampus shuttle, water supply and treatment, and power transmission and distribution losses. By including select Scope 3 emissions in its long-term target, McGill is taking an ambitious approach to carbon neutrality that demonstrates leadership and accountability.
Who does McGill report its emissions to?
In addition to the McGill Board of Governors, McGill reports its emissions to: Environment and Climate Change Canada's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program and National Pollutant Inventory Program; the Inventaire québécois des émissions atmosphériques; the City of Montreal's Inventaire des sources fixes d’émissions atmosphériques; the Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur du Québec's Relevé énergétique du réseau universitaire; and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System.
