THE FUTURE OF CLIMATE ACTION PLANNING IN HIGHER EDUCATION: UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Site Supervisor:

Christian Rusby Sustainability Office

North Seattle College

Faculty Advisor:

Megan Horst Urban Design and Planning

Program on the Environment

University of Washington

Presented by:

Brian Rucci Program on the Environment

University of Washington

Context:

“Climate change is the single biggest environmental

and humanitarian crisis of our time”

- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

The purpose of this study was to look at the

differences between universities and community

colleges in regards to climate action planning.

To accomplish this task, a case study was conducted

of North Seattle College (NSC) and the University of

Washington (UW).

Takeaway:

Climate action planning in higher education is not a one

size fits all prescription.

Every university and community college is unique. For

that reason, do not rely solely on current sustainability

rating frameworks (i.e., STARS, ACUPCC).

Internship:

Working with the NSC Sustainability Office I created

NSC’s first comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG)

emission analysis.

NSC is part of a larger Seattle College District, which

includes Seattle Central College (SCC) and South

Seattle College (SSC).

Previously GHG data collection and analysis has only

been done at the district level.

Methods:

1) GHG emissions were analyzed using the Washington

State Agency Greenhouse Gas Calculator, and were

categorized into 3 Scopes, and standardized into a

common unit, metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent

(MTCO2e).

2) Literature review of climate action planning in higher

education.

Findings:

Since 2008, NSC has reduced their total GHG emissions

(Scope 1 & 2) by 512 MTCO2e. This reduction is equivalent

to the annual energy use of 47 homes (Ref. EPA, 2014).

Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Scope 1 Emissions

(MTCO2e)306 218 315 326 338 303 366 358

Scope 2 Emissions

(MTCO2e)4,057 3,939 4,238 4,374 4106 3,880 4,073 3,828

Scope 3 Emissions

(MTCO2e)*NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Total GHG Emissions

(MTCO2e)4,363 4,157 4,553 4,700 4,444 4,183 4,439 4,186

North Seattle College GHG Emissions by Scope

* Incomplete data was available for Scope 3 emissions, employee

commuting data is available through the WSDOT Commute Trip

Reduction (CTR) Survey.

Transportation FacilitiesAwareness & Engagement

Recommended Areas of Focus for

North Seattle College

Special Thanks to North Seattle

College and the University of

Washington’s Program on the

Environment

15%

Below 2005 Levels

202036%

Below 2005 Levels

203557.5%

Below 2005 Levels

2050

Washington State Mandated GHG Reduction Targets

Reference: "Greenhouse gas emissions reductions – Reporting

requirements." RCW 70.235.020.

•Direct emissions

• i.e. from sources owned or controlled by an institution

Scope 1

• Indirect emissions

• i.e. purchased utilities

Scope 2•All other indirect

emissions

• i.e. commute and business travel

Scope 3

Reference: "GHG Emissions Inventory." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency.

1) How can a community college reach their

carbon reduction goals?

2) What are the unique factors affecting climate

action planning at community colleges?

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

5,000

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

MTC

O2e

Year

North Seattle College GHG Emissions (2008-2012)*

2020 Reduction Target:

3,709 MTCO2e

*Emissions totals and target does not include emissions from employee

business travel and commuting.

2035 Reduction Target:

2,792 MTCO2e

Factors Affecting Community Colleges

Student Demographic

Student Buy-in

Funding and Resources

Common Strategies Among Universities and

Community Colleges

Green Team or Sustainability Committee

Climate Action Plan (CAP)

Rigorous Collection of GHG Emission Data

Questions: