Nikunj Bhartia

Nikunj is a final year Masters student in the Energy Graduate Group at UC Davis. He holds an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering. His research focuses on industrial decarbonization and eliminating the use of fossil fuels. He is also a Bonnie Reiss Climate Action Fellow for Decarbonization, helping UC Davis Sustainability in developing and improving their Scope 3 Emission calculation methods.

The global consulting firm McKinsey estimates that scope 3 emissions typically represent 90% of an organization’s total emissions. Yet, they are not widely understood or tackled. Therefore, understanding and dealing with Scope 3 emissions is critical for achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a 2024-25 Bonnie Reiss Climate Action Fellow, I have had the opportunity to help UC Davis Sustainability establish a process for calculating Scope 3 emissions from waste and continue to improve methodologies for Scope 3 calculations for commuting and transportation. For SDG Awareness week, I want to highlight what Scope 3 emissions are, why they’re important and how UC Davis and the UC system plan to tackle them.

Understanding Scope 3 Emissions

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are categorized into 3 scopes for reporting purposes. Scope 1 and 2 emissions are from sources directly controlled by an organization. For example, emissions from natural gas burned on campus come under scope 1. Emissions from purchased electricity used on campus in the same year come under scope 2 as the emissions were generated by the power provider. In contrast, Scope 3 comprises indirect emissions that occur in an organization’s value chain but are not directly controlled by the organization itself. For UC Davis, these emissions originate from activities such as business travel, disposal of waste, and purchased goods and services. These emissions can contribute to  a large portion of an organization’s total carbon footprint. For example, Scope 3 emissions from commuting and business travel alone accounted for 30% of all UC Davis’ emissions in 2023! 

Scope 3 and the SDGs

Addressing Scope 3 emissions is critical to achieving the SDGs for UC Davis, particularly:

• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Reducing Scope 3 emissions helps mitigate climate change by lowering the overall carbon footprint of university operations and supply chains.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Encouraging sustainable procurement and supply chain management directly reduces emissions from purchased goods and services, including laboratory supplies, food, and construction materials.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): Universities investing in low-carbon technologies and efficient logistics contribute to sustainable infrastructure and academic research in climate solutions.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Reducing transportation-related emissions through improved public transit access and campus bike programs supports cleaner urban environments.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Encouraging sustainability in university supply chains fosters green jobs and supports responsible economic growth within the community.

Challenges in Measuring Scope 3 Emissions

Despite their importance, Scope 3 emissions are not straightforward to quantify and address. By definition, they are not directly controlled by the university and originate from operations by third party actors. For example, it is easy to measure the emissions from natural gas burned at the UC Davis Central Heating and Cooling Plant (Scope 1) or the emissions from purchased  electricity (Scope 2) because the university pays for the amount it uses. In contrast, it is much harder to quantify Scope 3 emissions from student and employee commuting, as this requires detailed information about how people get to and from campus. This information must instead be gathered and estimated through surveys like the UC Davis Campus Travel Survey. Other major challenges in quantifying and controlling Scope 3 emissions are:

• Data Availability and Quality: UC Davis depends on external suppliers, vendors, and service providers to obtain accurate emissions data on purchased goods and services. This requires us to contact and collate disparate data from hundreds of third parties, while also trusting their data to be accurate.
• Diverse Campus Operations: UC Davis is a massive university with a complex operational structure – including facilities for research, dining, and housing. This means that a strong university-wide reporting structure is needed to collect data and attribute emissions. 
• Lack of Standardized Methodologies: While frameworks such as the GHG Protocol developed by the World Resources Institute provide guidance for calculating Scope 3 emissions, methodologies used by academic institutions can vary, leading to inconsistencies in reporting. Coordination among the UC campuses facilitated by the University of California Office of the President is helping develop more robust and consistent methodologies for the same - assisted by Climate Action Fellows like me! 
• Limited Institutional Control: UC Davis has lesser direct influence over emissions from student and faculty commuting or vendor practices, making emissions reduction strategies more challenging to implement. Yet, there is a lot we still do, from supporting use of micro-mobility or public transit, to choosing vendors and products aligned with our sustainability goals - as highlighted by UC Davis Sustainability here.

"Sustainable purchasing" means that, when you buy something, you consider the environmental, human and financial sustainability of product and process from raw material to end of product life

 

Importance of Establishing A Baseline

A critical first step in managing Scope 3 emissions is establishing a reliable emissions baseline. This involves:

1. Mapping the Value Chain: Identifying key areas where indirect emissions occur, such as procurement, travel, waste treatment and infrastructure development.
2. Collecting Supplier and Partner Data: Engaging with vendors, service providers, and transportation authorities to obtain activity-based emissions data.
3. Estimating Total Emissions: Establishing protocols, determining which emission sources to include, and using gathered data to come up with an estimate of total emissions
4. Setting Reduction Targets: Aligning the university’s sustainability goals with science-based targets to ensure meaningful reductions.

As described in the UC Sustainable Practices Policy, the UC system has decided to use 2019 as a baseline year from which future targets will be measured. 2019 was chosen as its the most recent year before the Covid-19 pandemic, the disruption from which caused emissions data in future years to be skewed. The scope will include emission sources from business travel, commuting, and disposal and treatment of solid waste. At a minimum, Scope 3 emissions reduction targets will align with the State of California’s goals and policies to achieve climate neutrality by 2045 or sooner (Executive Order B-55-18). These  ambitious targets will require the support and ingenuity of all stakeholders involved in campus operations including students, faculty, employees, vendors, suppliers, and service providers.

Turning SDGs into Action - How You Can Make a Difference

Effectively addressing Scope 3 emissions requires collaboration between universities, policymakers, students, and industry stakeholders. UC Davis will need to continue engaging suppliers, investing in sustainable campus initiatives, and advocating for policies that promote low-carbon economies. By integrating Scope 3 emissions into our university-wide sustainability goals, the UC system leads by example, driving meaningful progress toward the SDGs, and contributes to a more resilient global economy. Reading this article is your first step towards helping UC Davis tackle its scope 3 emissions. Ways to get involved can be:

• Read more about how the UC Sustainable Practices Policy requires all UC campuses to update their Climate Action Plans to achieve the newly adopted emission reduction targets - including Scope 3. 
• Choosing a sustainable commute - you can find helpful information about transit options and commuter benefits at this UCD TAPS page. Also, if you have any opinions or rants about transportation on campus, the Office of Campus Planning wants to hear from you here!
• Participate in the Campus Travel Survey if invited to, the response rate last year was about 14%. A higher response rate can improve our emissions estimate and help plan better mitigation measures.
• Get involved! Vote and advocate for sustainability in the university and our state. Find our different ways here.
• Find out how UC Davis is tackling all the SDGs in our Voluntary University Review.

Finally, stay involved with UCD Sustainability as our campus embarks on updating our Climate Action Plan - sign up for the newsletter here.