Duke University has reached a significant milestone in its sustainability journey by achieving carbon neutrality in 2024. This achievement, however, does not signify the complete elimination of all emissions by the university. Instead, it reflects a strategic approach of balancing emission reductions with offsetting those that remain. Duke invested $4 million in carbon offsets to neutralize its greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrating its commitment to environmental stewardship.
Under the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, Duke University pledged to attain carbon neutrality across its emissions-generating activities. The university’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) categorizes emissions into three scopes, aligning with GHG accounting standards from the World Resources Institute to ensure comprehensive tracking and reduction strategies for all emission sources. Duke has made significant progress in cutting GHG emissions through various measures such as eliminating coal use, enhancing building and utility efficiency, and reducing commuting emissions.
Future emission reductions are planned through off-site solar investments and campus upgrades like steam-to-hot-water conversions and heat recovery chillers. Duke remains on track to meet its 2030 emissions goals, despite a 9% increase in emissions in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily due to air travel approaching pre-pandemic levels. However, energy-related emissions have decreased by 41% since 2007, with 2023 levels remaining 21% lower than in 2019.
To achieve its 2024 carbon neutrality goal, Duke redeemed 232,000 carbon offset credits to offset emissions that it was unable to mitigate. The university established a rigorous review process to ensure that these credits meet its high-quality standards. Duke’s journey towards carbon neutrality began in 2007 with an institution-wide effort to measure and reduce emissions. By fiscal year 2022, Duke had reduced its emissions by 43%, aiming for a 45% reduction by its 2024 deadline.
Despite a slight increase in emissions, Duke had to offset nearly 69% of its 2007-level emissions instead of the planned 55%, highlighting the challenge of achieving net-zero emissions without offsets for large institutions. Matthew Arsenault, Duke’s assistant director of carbon and sustainability operations, emphasized the necessity of carbon offsets, stating that achieving carbon neutrality without them is nearly impossible.
Carbon offsets enable institutions to balance emissions by funding projects that reduce GHG emissions or remove existing emissions from the atmosphere. Duke, like other organizations, utilizes carbon markets to purchase carbon accounting units to meet its sustainability and net-zero goals. Given the current limitations of emission reduction technologies, carbon offsets have become a practical and ethical way for Duke to achieve carbon neutrality.
In 2009, Duke launched the Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative (DCOI), the first university-based program of its kind, focusing on developing new offset projects like methane-capture efforts at a North Carolina hog farm. As the 2024 carbon neutrality deadline approached, Duke shifted its strategy to larger, externally sourced projects, with almost 80% of its carbon offset portfolio targeting ozone-depleting refrigerants. These projects, developed in collaboration with international partners, aimed at reducing emissions effectively and sustainably.
Duke’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond purchasing offsets. The university employs a rigorous verification process in collaboration with Ruby Canyon Environmental to ensure the quality and ethical standards of its offset investments. Duke’s comprehensive evaluation tool prioritizes criteria such as “additionality” and “permanence” to ensure high-impact and high-integrity carbon offsets are selected.
While carbon offsets played a crucial role in Duke’s 2024 achievement, the university acknowledges the importance of ongoing emission reductions. Efforts are underway to expand energy efficiency measures on campus and integrate more renewable energy sources into operations. Duke’s carbon footprint will significantly decrease by mid-2025 with the launch of three off-campus solar facilities, providing about 50% of the campus’s electricity.
Duke is also exploring ways to include its health system and international campuses in future emissions tracking. The university is developing “next-generation” climate goals to sustain its carbon-neutral status, reduce offset dependency, and engage the campus community in sustainability initiatives. With its comprehensive approach and commitment to quality, Duke sets an example for other institutions in the pursuit of environmental sustainability.
