Carbon Offset Strategy
The university’s Climate Action Plan prioritizes deep emissions reductions across all sectors, alongside engaging students and faculty in climate solutions through research and education and utilizing Stanford’s lands as a living laboratory to advance climate action. Stanford has committed to carbon removal as the university’s offset strategy.
Stanford University is dedicated to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its operations and endowment by 2050. To balance remaining, hard-to-abate emissions, Stanford is strategizing long-term procurement of high-quality carbon removals. As of 2025 Stanford is forecasting and planning for 9% residual emissions in Scopes 1 and 2, and 25% emissions in Scope 3 from the 2011 baseline.
Sourcing High-Quality Carbon Removal
The Stanford Carbon Removal Guidelines provide a clear framework to guide high-quality voluntary carbon removal purchases. These standards ensure that carbon removal procurement is grounded in transparency, durability, and scientific credibility.
- The guidelines were developed through an extensive review of global best practices across civil society, industry, government, and research institutions. Guidelines were verified by Stanford faculty experts across earth system science, sustainable finance, and carbon markets who actively contribute to leading high-integrity carbon removal initiatives.
- A faculty–staff committee, coordinated by the Office of Sustainability in partnership with the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability will oversee ongoing updates to align guidelines with evolving best practices. The Office of Sustainability reviews carbon removal entities against guidelines to ensure alignment.
Stanford’s Carbon Removal Guidelines
High-quality carbon removal projects demonstrate 11 principles:
Additionality
Project goes beyond “business as usual”: carbon removals would not have occurred without the project.
Net Negativity
Project removes more CO₂ from the atmosphere than it emits over its full lifecycle.
No Double Counting
Emissions reductions from the project are counted once and are credited solely to the purchasing entity.
Do No Harm
Project avoids displacing communities, degrading ecosystems, and imposing social burdens. Project may align with specific UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Physical Footprint
Project minimizes land-use conflicts by avoiding competition with food production and protecting natural ecosystems while utilizing efficient carbon sinks.
Validation and Verification
Project undergoes an external evaluation of real-world performance and impact, conducted through ongoing audits and quality ratings.
Third-Party Quality Assessment
Project undergoes an external evaluation of real-world performance and impact, conducted through ongoing audits and quality ratings.
Safety and Legality
All relevant laws are followed. Safety and environmental standards are upheld. Contingency plans exist to adapt to changing conditions.
Delivery Risk Management
Clear project timelines, risk mitigation strategies, and contingency measures exist. Insurance or buffer pools are in place to cover underperformance or unexpected losses.
Pricing
Pricing reflects true project costs, rewards communities and developers, and aims for long-term cost-effectiveness. Lower prices do not compromise quality or durability.
Permanence and Duration
Project is transparent about how long carbon will be stored and how potential reversals are managed. Project prioritizes impact, management, and reliability beyond fixed duration benchmarks.
Purchasing Carbon Removal Offsets
For campus affiliates interested in voluntarily purchasing carbon removal offsets now, explore Stanford’s guidance on purchasing offsets.