| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 76.32 |
| Liaison | Karen Oberer |
| Submission Date | Dec. 11, 2020 |
McGill University
OP-1: Emissions Inventory and Disclosure
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.46 / 3.00 |
Jerome
Conraud Energy Manager Facilities Operations & Development, Div. of Univ. Services |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1. Greenhouse gas emissions inventory
Yes
A copy of the most recent GHG emissions inventory:
A brief description of the methodology and/or tool used to complete the GHG emissions inventory:
From the McGill University 2018 GHG Inventory:
"This GHG inventory follows the guidelines of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and World Resources Institute’s (WRI) Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (2004). This standard, considered international best practice for organizational GHG accounting, is articulated around the following principles:
- Relevance: McGill's GHG inventory appropriately reflects the emissions of the University and was compiled in the spirit of serving decision-makers, both internal and external to McGill.
- Completeness: All material emission sources and activities within the chosen boundary are accounted for and reported, and any exclusions are disclosed and justified.
- Consistency: Consistent methodologies are used for meaningful comparison over time. Changes to data, inventory boundary, methods, or any relevant factors is transparently documented, and base year and other years are updated when materially significant.
- Transparency: All relevant issues are addressed in a coherent manner based on a clear audit trail. Any relevant assumptions are disclosed and appropriate references to the accounting and calculation methodologies and data sources used are made.
- Accuracy: Quantification of GHG emissions issystematically neither over nor under actual emissions and uncertainties have been reduced as far as practicable. The achieved level of accuracy should enable decision-making with reasonable assurance as to the integrity of the reported information.
McGill’s 2018 GHG inventory was conducted using the location-based Scope 2 methodology detailed within the GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance: An amendment to the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard." (https://ghgprotocol.org/sites/default/files/ghgp/standards/Scope%202%20Guidance_Final_0.pdf)
"This GHG inventory follows the guidelines of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and World Resources Institute’s (WRI) Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (2004). This standard, considered international best practice for organizational GHG accounting, is articulated around the following principles:
- Relevance: McGill's GHG inventory appropriately reflects the emissions of the University and was compiled in the spirit of serving decision-makers, both internal and external to McGill.
- Completeness: All material emission sources and activities within the chosen boundary are accounted for and reported, and any exclusions are disclosed and justified.
- Consistency: Consistent methodologies are used for meaningful comparison over time. Changes to data, inventory boundary, methods, or any relevant factors is transparently documented, and base year and other years are updated when materially significant.
- Transparency: All relevant issues are addressed in a coherent manner based on a clear audit trail. Any relevant assumptions are disclosed and appropriate references to the accounting and calculation methodologies and data sources used are made.
- Accuracy: Quantification of GHG emissions issystematically neither over nor under actual emissions and uncertainties have been reduced as far as practicable. The achieved level of accuracy should enable decision-making with reasonable assurance as to the integrity of the reported information.
McGill’s 2018 GHG inventory was conducted using the location-based Scope 2 methodology detailed within the GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance: An amendment to the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard." (https://ghgprotocol.org/sites/default/files/ghgp/standards/Scope%202%20Guidance_Final_0.pdf)
Has the GHG emissions inventory been validated internally by personnel who are independent of the GHG accounting and reporting process and/or verified by an independent, external third party?:
Yes
A brief description of the GHG inventory verification process:
The GHG emissions inventory that the university submits to the federal, provincial, and municipal agencies can be selected for auditing at their digression. The university's corporate GHG emissions report process has been internally audited in the past. There are internal quality control checks that occur within the annual reporting process.
Documentation to support the GHG inventory verification process:
---
Scope 1 GHG emissions
| Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Stationary combustion | 33,310 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other sources (mobile combustion, process emissions, fugitive emissions) | 2,390 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total gross Scope 1 GHG emissions, performance year:
35,700
Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 2 GHG emissions
| Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Imported electricity | 3,828 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Imported thermal energy | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total gross Scope 2 GHG emissions, performance year:
3,828
Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
GHG emissions from biomass combustion
16
Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 3 GHG emissions
| Yes or No | Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Business travel | Yes | 8,156 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | Yes | 7,133 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Purchased goods and services | No | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Capital goods | No | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | Yes | 891.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Waste generated in operations | No | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other sources | Yes | 551.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
16,731.60
Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
A brief description of how the institution accounted for its Scope 3 emissions:
From McGill University 2018 GHG Inventory:
"Typically, the decision to include Scope 3 emission sources is based on a value chain analysis to determine their relevance and materiality. Relevant emissions are defined by McGill as: large, or believed to be so, relative to Scope 1 and 2 emissions; contributing to McGill's emissions and climate risk exposure; deemed critical by key stakeholders; and showing potential for reduction through measures that could be undertaken by McGill.
Scope 3 emissions deemed to be relevant as defined above. For the moment, the inclusion of relevant Scope 3 emission sources has been decided in conjunction with key stakeholders based on activities that are believed to have significant greenhouse gas impact are most relevant to the University's mission; access to accurate data has also been considered.
- As such, the following activities and resulting Scope 3 emissions are included in the CY2018 inventory:
- Electricity and natural gas consumption for the Scope 3 cases outlined in section D above
- Student, faculty and staff commuting
- Directly-financed University-related air travel
- Travel by the University’s sports teams
- Travel by the Macdonald Shuttle bus
- Water supply & treatment
- Power transmission & distribution (T&D) losses occurring between production sites and McGill facilities
In CY2018, the University worked with over 11,000 suppliers from around the world, and purchased over $400 million worth of goods and services. Some 5,000 faculty and staff members can make purchases through the McGill MarketPlace (MMP). Despite the fact that most emissions from procured goods & services are excluded from the inventory, McGill University’s Procurement Services is actively involved in mitigation efforts. They are seeking to reduce the negative impacts of the University’s purchases and contributing to the emergence of a more circular economy in the supply chain by developing a framework for asset lifecycle management."
"Typically, the decision to include Scope 3 emission sources is based on a value chain analysis to determine their relevance and materiality. Relevant emissions are defined by McGill as: large, or believed to be so, relative to Scope 1 and 2 emissions; contributing to McGill's emissions and climate risk exposure; deemed critical by key stakeholders; and showing potential for reduction through measures that could be undertaken by McGill.
Scope 3 emissions deemed to be relevant as defined above. For the moment, the inclusion of relevant Scope 3 emission sources has been decided in conjunction with key stakeholders based on activities that are believed to have significant greenhouse gas impact are most relevant to the University's mission; access to accurate data has also been considered.
- As such, the following activities and resulting Scope 3 emissions are included in the CY2018 inventory:
- Electricity and natural gas consumption for the Scope 3 cases outlined in section D above
- Student, faculty and staff commuting
- Directly-financed University-related air travel
- Travel by the University’s sports teams
- Travel by the Macdonald Shuttle bus
- Water supply & treatment
- Power transmission & distribution (T&D) losses occurring between production sites and McGill facilities
In CY2018, the University worked with over 11,000 suppliers from around the world, and purchased over $400 million worth of goods and services. Some 5,000 faculty and staff members can make purchases through the McGill MarketPlace (MMP). Despite the fact that most emissions from procured goods & services are excluded from the inventory, McGill University’s Procurement Services is actively involved in mitigation efforts. They are seeking to reduce the negative impacts of the University’s purchases and contributing to the emergence of a more circular economy in the supply chain by developing a framework for asset lifecycle management."
Part 2. Air pollutant emissions inventory
Yes
Annual weight of emissions for::
| Weight of Emissions | |
| Nitrogen oxides (NOx) | 48.13 Metric tons |
| Sulfur oxides (SOx) | 0.22 Metric tons |
| Carbon monoxide (CO) | 22.98 Metric tons |
| Particulate matter (PM) | 0.11 Metric tons |
| Ozone (O3) | 0 Metric tons |
| Lead (Pb) | 0 Metric tons |
| Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) | 1.30 Metric tons |
| Ozone-depleting compounds (ODCs) | 1.10 Metric tons |
| Other standard categories of air emissions identified in permits and/or regulations | 1.55 Metric tons |
Do the air pollutant emissions figures provided include the following sources?:
| Yes or No | |
| Major stationary sources | Yes |
| Area sources | No |
| Mobile sources | No |
| Commuting | No |
| Off-site electricity production | No |
None
A brief description of the methodology(ies) the institution used to complete its air emissions inventory:
Emissions are calculated using spreadsheet calculation tools provided by Environment and Climate Change Canada for all emissions from the combustion of natural gas, diesel, and fuel oil on campus. All mandatory pollutant emissions are reported within the NPRI (National Pollutant Release Inventory) and IQÉA (Inventaire Québécois des Émissions Atmosphériques) processes in addition to voluntary reporting of select non-mandatory emissions (those where we do not meet the mandatory reporting threshold).
Optional Fields
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Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported thermal energy (location-based) :
---
Website URL where information about the institution’s emissions inventories is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The 3828 MTCO2e of Scope 2 emissions labelled "Imported electricity" actually refers to purchased energy for electricity, steam, hot water, and chilled water.
The 551.4 MTCO2e of Scope 3 emissions from "other sources" includes emissions from sports team travel, water supply and water treatment.
Past GHG inventories (2015-2017): https://www.mcgill.ca/facilities/maintenance-operations/utilities/greenhouse-gas-inventory
Emissions listed under "ozone depleting compounds (ODCs)" are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
Emissions listed under "Other standard categories of air emissions identified in permits and/or regulations" are volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Air pollutant emissions figures for "major stationary sources" include all major stationary sources, including boilers and back-up generators.
NOTE: while preparing our STARS report this year, the 2019 GHG Emissions report was released in May 2020 (attached); however, the data provided above is from the 2018 report.
The 551.4 MTCO2e of Scope 3 emissions from "other sources" includes emissions from sports team travel, water supply and water treatment.
Past GHG inventories (2015-2017): https://www.mcgill.ca/facilities/maintenance-operations/utilities/greenhouse-gas-inventory
Emissions listed under "ozone depleting compounds (ODCs)" are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
Emissions listed under "Other standard categories of air emissions identified in permits and/or regulations" are volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Air pollutant emissions figures for "major stationary sources" include all major stationary sources, including boilers and back-up generators.
NOTE: while preparing our STARS report this year, the 2019 GHG Emissions report was released in May 2020 (attached); however, the data provided above is from the 2018 report.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.