The university is committed to net zero emissions by 2050. Scope 1 and 2 emissions—those associated with natural gas, electricity, and university-owned fleet—have been reduced by 80% from peak levels. Stanford’s updated Climate Action Plan (expected 2026) will outline strategies to mitigate remaining greenhouse gas emissions, including Scope 3, and address adaptation and resilience.
Total metric tons of CO2e emissions for Scope 1 and 2 by year
Metric tons of CO2e emissions of remaining natural gas by year
Metric tons of CO2e emissions by year, filtered by Scope 1 and 2 sources
Metric tons of CO2e emissions per square foot by year, with reference line of total building square footage by year
Total metric tons of CO2e emissions for Scope 3 in 2024
Total metric tons of CO2e emissions from business travel by year
Metric tons of CO2e emissions from business travel by year, filtered by sector
Total metric tons of CO2e emissions from waste
Total metric tons of CO2e emissions by scope for 2024
- Stanford’s peak Scope 1 and 2 emissions occurred in 2011, coinciding with a significant increase in the amount of leased space included in both this inventory and future ones.
- Under the Scope 1 category, data from fugitive and process emissions were combined in 2011 through 2018.
- Purchased electricity emissions in 2017 reflect a full year of operation of the new Central Energy Facility, as well as Stanford’s first full year of sourcing 65% renewable electricity credits from its first solar generating station, on-campus solar, and unbundled renewable electricity credits. Purchased electricity emissions in 2023 reflect Stanford’s first full year of sourcing 100% renewable electricity credits from its second solar generating station and unbundled renewable electricity credits.
- For Scope 1 and 2 emissions, building square footage served by Stanford Utilities building heating services increased ~26% from 2019 to 2022, prompting increased stationary combustion emissions. The impact of this was largely unrealized until ~2022 due to reduced occupancy during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
- Under the Scope 3 category, emissions from food purchases are included in the Purchased Goods & Services category.
- Under the Scope 3 category, business travel emissions shown here include emissions from air travel only.
- Under the Scope 3 category, waste emissions are associated with Stanford’s main campus and the Stanford Redwood City campus.
Scope 1 Emissions – Direct on-premise fossil fuel combustion and other direct greenhouse gas emissions
Scope 2 Emissions – Off-premise emissions from purchased grid electricity and heating
Scope 3 Emissions – From sources that occur as a result of an institution’s operations but are from sources not owned or directly controlled by the institution
MTCO2e – Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent
Central Energy Facility (CEF) – The university’s primary energy system for the campus. The facility houses three heat recovery water tanks, a high-voltage substation linked to the grid, process steam, and a heat recovery system.
Non-Central Energy Facility (Non-CEF) – Other energy sources for certain buildings
Stationary Combustion – Emissions from on-site fossil fuel combustion from the equipment owned or operated by Stanford that remains in a fixed location, such as gas boilers, hot water generators, and gas stoves.
Process – Emissions from on-site chemicals or processes that are not used in industrial equipment. At Stanford, these are emissions from the use of laboratory research chemicals and gases.
Mobile Combustion – Emissions from on-site fossil fuel combustion from equipment owned or operated by Stanford that may move, such as gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles, trucks, and buses.
Fugitive – Emissions of chemicals or gases from the operation or maintenance used in on-site equipment owned by Stanford. These are primarily emissions from equipment like HVAC units, chillers, refrigerators, freezers, and laboratory research.
Purchased Electricity – Emissions that occur off-site from electricity purchased from utility providers. At Stanford, this electricity is used to power equipment at facilities owned and operated by the university.
Purchased Heating – Emissions that occur off-site from heating purchased from utility providers. These are emissions from the equivalent natural gas therms used in a small number of buildings that the university leases from others where metered natural gas data is unavailable.