Reflecting the University of Pittsburgh’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality for the Pittsburgh campus by 2037 the results of Pitt’s Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory for the Pittsburgh campus are summarized below, showcasing Pitt’s commit to annual GHG inventories. 

The full FY21 GHG Inventory report and Pitt Sustainability GHG dashboard tally and showcase the details of how Pitt has tracked and reduced its GHG impact over time in line with international protocols and best practices.

As Pitt actively works towards cutting in its GHG emissions 50% below its 2008 levels by 2030 (and reaching carbon neutrality by 2037), key takeaways from the FY21 University of Pittsburgh GHG Inventory for the Pittsburgh campus include:

• OVERALL – For FY21, 165,101 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents were associated with the University’s Pittsburgh campus, 39.2% below our FY08 baseline, and an 11% decrease from FY20. 

• SCOPE 1 EMISSIONS
  • STEAM & NATURAL GAS – The second and third largest contributors to Pitt’s FY21 GHG emissions were from combined on-campus and purchased steam (up 2.4% between FY20 and FY21) and natural gas (up 15% compared to FY20).  Some of these increases are linked to pandemic needs to increase ventilation requirements; ongoing efficiency projects are expected to help these decrease in the future.
  • REFRIGERANTS – The GHG footprint of Pitt’s refrigerant use continued its general downward trend since FY11, decreasing 18.4% compared to FY20.

• SCOPE 2 EMISSIONS
  • ELECTRICITY – Pitt’s Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity which remained the largest source GHG emissions — 52% of all FY21 emissions.  However, campus-wide electricity usage decreased 3% between FY20 and FY21, despite adding 45,709 square feet. Overall, emissions from purchased electricity are down 38.3% between FY08 and FY21 (53,156 MT CO₂e).
  • RENEWABLES – For FY21, 11% of the University’s electricity was attributed to renewables, down from both FY20 and FY19; Pitt’s renewable electricity procurement is expected to bring the University’s renewable electricity contribution back up in the future.

• SCOPE 3 EMISSIONS –  The largest decrease between FY20 and FY21 was in Scope 3 emissions, which decreased 52% (and 73% compared to FY19 (pre-pandemic)); Scope 3 categories were heavily influenced by the virtual nature of FY21, including in the categories of commuting, directly financed travel, and study abroad.
  • TRAVEL – While commuting has previously been Pitt’s third largest GHG emissions contributor, in FY21, GHG emissions from commuting decreased 66% compared to FY20 (17,049 MT CO2e less than FY20). This significant drop is attributed to the FY21 virtual campus learning and working environment created by the COVID-19 pandemic for most Pitt students and employees (thus creating many avoided commutes).
  • PAPER – Due to both consumption decreases and an ongoing shift to paper with carbon neutral and recycled content, Pitt’s total GHG emissions from paper were 167 MT CO₂e in FY21 (down 67% over FY20 and continuing this category’s downward trend since FY17).
  • FOOD – For the first time, food-related GHG emissions were included in the Pitt GHG inventory process, reflecting the University’s commitment to the Cool Food Pledge.

In line with Pitt’s commitment to carbon neutrality for the Pittsburgh campus by 2037, Pitt GHG Inventories are being completed annually — and the GHG inventory process has already started for the FY22 inventory (for FY22).  The campus-wide process is guided by Dr. Melissa Bilec.  The FY21 Pitt GHG Inventory was completed by Federica Geremicca (a doctoral student in Civil and Environmental Engineering), with data provided from offices and departments across the University.  The reports serve as guidelines for the Chancellor’s Advisory Council on Sustainability, its Carbon Commitment Committee (which has already reviewed the results), and any committees, groups, and/or individuals working to reduce Pitt’s GHG emissions.