Emissions

A group touring an industrial facility with exposed pipes, machinery, and control panels.

Highlights

Western received a silver rating on its sustainability progress through the Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS), a program that assesses sustainability outcomes at higher education institutions. We’ll be completing STARS evaluation again in academic year 2025 and we’ll be aiming for gold!

Western's Carbon Emissions, 2015-2025, as tracked on SIMAP

Western’s carbon emissions have fallen from just over 40,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2014 to around 30,000 metric tons in 2023, as tracked on Western’s SIMAP platform. SIMAP methodologies and Western’s tracking methodologies have changed over the last ten years, but this graph shows a general picture of how Western’s emissions compare over time.

Emissions Scopes

SCOPE 1

Direct emissions released from sources owned by Western. For example, emissions associated with Western-owned furnaces or vehicles.

SCOPE 2

Emissions associated with Western's purchase of electricity, heat, or cooling.

SCOPE 3

Emissions released from assets that are not owned or controlled by Western, but that Western contributes to through other activities, like purchasing, commuting, travel, or waste.

In 2025, Western’s main source of carbon emissions came from on-campus stationary, which is mainly from the fuel used to heat buildings using Western’s steam plant (32.4%).

Western's Carbon Emissions, Academic Year 2024-2025

Did you know?

95%

of the energy that WWU purchases is renewable.

2035