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Carbon offsets and sinks

Learn about Dal's efforts to combat climate change with carbon offsets and sinks on campus.

Actions

Land procurementÌý

Natural systems such as forests and oceans are carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide. Some universities and colleges have offset a portion of emissions through the acquisition and/or ownership of land. To meet international carbon offset standards specific requirements need to be achieved. The identified the conditions and costs of local land protection as a carbon sink opportunity. Based on this information, campus surveys, and existing literature, carbon sink opportunities are ranked as a lower-priority strategy compared to others the University can strive to implement in the next decade.Ìý

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Renewable energyÌý

Offsite renewable energy can be certified as a renewable energy credit or carbon offset. When the university purchases certified carbon offsets, renewable energyÌýis a viable option.Ìý

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Local carbon offsetsÌý

Â鶹´«Ã½ implemented a biomass replacement guideline that requires that all campus trees taken down be replaced with the same amount of biomass. This program since 2013 has resulted in the planting of over 400 trees. Opportunities will be explored to create a carbon off-set program based on business travel where the funding collected could fund community carbon projects.

Targets

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reductions

2020Ìý -ÌýÌý2030: 100 tonnesÌýÌý

2030Ìý -ÌýÌý2040: 100 tonnesÌý

2040Ìý -ÌýÌý2050: 15,500 tonnesÌýÌý

Total: 15,700 tonnesÌý

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AdaptationÌý

Explore carbon offsets that mitigate and provide adaption qualities such as shoreline restoration.Ìý