Carbon Removals and Offsets at UVA
The University of Virginia is committed to ensuring that the university’s greenhouse gas emission mitigation strategies are meaningful, valid, and impactful.
UVA Decarbonization Framework
As illustrated below, UVA’s primary approach in meeting the university’s 2030 carbon neutrality goal focuses on direct emissions reductions, in other words, strategies that can be implemented on Grounds. This approach provides operational and cost benefits while increasing resiliency. Renewable energy procurement - both on and off Grounds - will be pursued as a complement to direct mitigation. Carbon removals projects, if used at all, will be reserved as a measure of last resort.
Background on Carbon Credits
Off-site emissions reductions are often referred to as carbon credits or carbon offsets, since they can offset an organization's directgreenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The terms "carbon credit" and "carbon offset" are not strictly defined and broadly describe a range of projects that aim to reduce GHG emissions and sell those reductions as “credits” to other organizations on the voluntary carbon market (VCM). In theory, these credits provide an opportunity to reduce emissions more effectively and/or at lower cost. However, the effectiveness of these strategies remains unclear due to a lack of common definitions, consistent verification frameworks, and regulatory oversight. Prior investigations (Science, Nature, Source Material) into the VCM suggest many offset credits fail to provide the benefits they promise. Moreover, they can be associated with negative and unintended consequences.
Because of questions regarding the validity and impact of offset credits to meet climate objectives, in 2022, the UVA Committee on Sustainability appointed a task force to make recommendations on initial guidance for the University. The initial recommendations are summarized in a report below and led to the development of UVA’s Carbon Removal Procurement Requirements, which were endorsed by the University president and executive leadership (PERT) in fall 2023.
UVA Carbon Removal Procurement Requirements
UVA requires that any purchase used to make claims about UVA-affiliated carbon emissions reductions meet the following criteria.* These requirements aim to ensure high-quality, durable, and long-term carbon removal from the atmosphere. This applies to all UVA-affiliated schools and units for the purposes of carbon neutrality, net zero carbon, or other similar carbon offsetting claims. UVA schools and units shall not make claims or statements about emissions reductions or carbon neutrality from carbon offsets or carbon removals unless this framework is followed. Ensuring carbon credits are meaningful, valid, and impactful, mitigates financial and reputational risks to the University.
- UVA schools and units must have pursued all viable, cost-effective means for direct, on-Grounds mitigation (e.g., energy efficiency, electrification, etc.) and renewable energy procurement (e.g., rooftop solar, off-site solar farms, etc.) before seeking to utilize carbon removal projects.
- Procurement is coordinated with and led by UVA Facilities Management Finance (FM Finance) and the Office for Sustainability.
- The specific carbon removal project is listed on one of the following registries and/or portfolios: Puro.earth, Isometric, or Frontier.
- The carbon removal project has an expected permanence of 1,000 years or greater.
- The carbon removal project type is one of the following: Direct air carbon capture and storage or sequestration (DACCS).
*These recommendations will be reviewed on a regular basis by the UVA Carbon Removals Task Force to ensure the University’s approach reflects and evolves with rapidly changing markets and best practices.