Carbon offsets are tradable credits from specific climate mitigation projects or activities, each offset representing one ton of carbon dioxide equivalent. Offsets are issued based on adherence to a protocol specific to the project type, and tracked through a dedicated registry. Credits are used by the purchasing entity to offset the impact of unavoidable or otherwise unmitigated emissions. The voluntary carbon market sets standards and tracks activities for offsets created and purchased by unmandated entities, from individuals to corporations to colleges and universities (Carbon Markets & Offsets Guidance, Second Nature, 2025). 

Penn purchases carbon offsets as a tool to meet its institutional goal of reaching 100% carbon neutral emissions by 2042. The University employs this strategy specifically for emissions it cannot currently eliminate, such as air travel and purchased steam. For Penn, offsets are a supplement to direct emission reductions from measures such as building efficiency upgrades and renewable energy procurement, rather than a primary strategy. Penn considers offset purchases only when other mitigation options are not viable and seeks high quality projects that meet external standards. 

Identifying quality offset projects is challenging and Penn continually strives to improve our understanding of carbon offsets to help ensure our investments result in carbon reductions. Penn’s offset purchasing policy requires that all projects must, at a minimum, adhere to Second Nature’s Carbon Markets and Offset Guidance. Additionally, when reasonable, preference is given to projects that are regional to Penn. Furthermore, Penn seeks to purchase offsets that have a BBB rating or higher from the independent rating agency Calyx Global. Penn uses Calyx Global’s science‑based carbon credit evaluations to ensure that selected projects meet our quality standards. 

For FY24 and FY25 air travel offset purchases, Penn partnered with CNaught, a company that facilitated the purchase of projects that were selected by Penn’s Carbon Offset Working Group and met Penn’s offset guidelines. CNaught provided Penn with a public Impact Dashboard to showcase the scale and type of carbon offsets that the university has purchased.

In July 2020, Penn enacted its Commitment to Travel Sustainability Policy 2371 to foster sustainable travel practices in support of the University’s carbon neutrality commitment. This policy led to the development of the Air Travel Carbon Offset Program – to offset the carbon impact of air travel.  Using Penn’s systems to collect air travel data, a carbon offset investment charge – the Climate Impact Offset or “CLIO” – is applied to University air travel and is used to fund investments in verified initiatives to offset the carbon impact made by those travel estimates. CLIO applies a fee to all University-funded air travel, which is used to purchase carbon offsets for those flight emissions.  Since FY21, the funds collected through the CLIO program had supported projects to offset over 24,000 MTCDE. Read more about Penn’s Travel Sustainability Program on Penn Procurement’s website.  

Many systems on Penn’s campus are supplied by a district energy steam system. Penn’s steam offsets program is a long-running initiative in which the University purchases carbon offsets to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions from the steam it buys to heat and cool campus buildings. This steam is generated off campus and purchased by Penn, so the associated emissions are counted as part of the University’s scope 2 emissions. 

• Penn has supported landfill gas and methane abatement projects in Virginia, Missouri, and Oklahoma. These projects capture methane that would otherwise escape from landfills or orphaned wells.
• The first investment from Penn’s Travel Sustainability Fund was in a nitrous oxide (N2O) abatement project at Ascend Performance Materials. The fund helped finance equipment to expand and upgrade the capabilities for destroying N2O. This project aimed to destroy or eliminate a sufficient amount of nitrous oxide produced during the manufacturing of adipic acid.

Carbon offsets are tradable credits from specific climate mitigation projects or activities, each offset representing one ton of carbon dioxide equivalent. Offsets are issued based on adherence to a protocol specific to the project type, and tracked through a dedicated registry. Credits are used by the purchasing entity to offset the impact of unavoidable or otherwise unmitigated emissions. The voluntary carbon market sets standards and tracks activities for offsets created and purchased by unmandated entities, from individuals to corporations to colleges and universities (Carbon Markets & Offsets Guidance, Second Nature, 2025). 

Penn purchases carbon offsets as a tool to meet its institutional goal of reaching 100% carbon neutral emissions by 2042. The University employs this strategy specifically for emissions it cannot currently eliminate, such as air travel and purchased steam. For Penn, offsets are a supplement to direct emission reductions from measures such as building efficiency upgrades and renewable energy procurement, rather than a primary strategy. Penn considers offset purchases only when other mitigation options are not viable and seeks high quality projects that meet external standards. 

Identifying quality offset projects is challenging and Penn continually strives to improve our understanding of carbon offsets to help ensure our investments result in carbon reductions. Penn’s offset purchasing policy requires that all projects must, at a minimum, adhere to Second Nature’s Carbon Markets and Offset Guidance. Additionally, when reasonable, preference is given to projects that are regional to Penn. Furthermore, Penn seeks to purchase offsets that have a BBB rating or higher from the independent rating agency Calyx Global. Penn uses Calyx Global’s science‑based carbon credit evaluations to ensure that selected projects meet our quality standards. 

For FY24 and FY25 air travel offset purchases, Penn partnered with CNaught, a company that facilitated the purchase of projects that were selected by Penn’s Carbon Offset Working Group and met Penn’s offset guidelines. CNaught provided Penn with a public Impact Dashboard to showcase the scale and type of carbon offsets that the university has purchased.

In July 2020, Penn enacted its Commitment to Travel Sustainability Policy 2371 to foster sustainable travel practices in support of the University’s carbon neutrality commitment. This policy led to the development of the Air Travel Carbon Offset Program – to offset the carbon impact of air travel.  Using Penn’s systems to collect air travel data, a carbon offset investment charge – the Climate Impact Offset or “CLIO” – is applied to University air travel and is used to fund investments in verified initiatives to offset the carbon impact made by those travel estimates. CLIO applies a fee to all University-funded air travel, which is used to purchase carbon offsets for those flight emissions.  Since FY21, the funds collected through the CLIO program had supported projects to offset over 24,000 MTCDE. Read more about Penn’s Travel Sustainability Program on Penn Procurement’s website.  

Many systems on Penn’s campus are supplied by a district energy steam system. Penn’s steam offsets program is a long-running initiative in which the University purchases carbon offsets to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions from the steam it buys to heat and cool campus buildings. This steam is generated off campus and purchased by Penn, so the associated emissions are counted as part of the University’s scope 2 emissions. 

• Penn has supported landfill gas and methane abatement projects in Virginia, Missouri, and Oklahoma. These projects capture methane that would otherwise escape from landfills or orphaned wells.
• The first investment from Penn’s Travel Sustainability Fund was in a nitrous oxide (N2O) abatement project at Ascend Performance Materials. The fund helped finance equipment to expand and upgrade the capabilities for destroying N2O. This project aimed to destroy or eliminate a sufficient amount of nitrous oxide produced during the manufacturing of adipic acid. 

• Refrigerants & Chemicals: Greenhouse gas emissions from the use of refrigerants in cooling systems and other chemicals used in campus operations. These emissions are tracked due to their significant global warming potential.
• Fertilizer & Animals: Emissions produced from the use of synthetic or organic fertilizers on campus grounds and methane emissions from animals housed on campus for research, education, or other purposes.
• Direct Transportation: Emissions from vehicles owned and operated by the University, including shuttles, buses, and other fleet vehicles that rely on fossil fuels.
• Other On-Campus Stationary: Emissions from fuel combustion of natural gas in on-campus equipment and facilities, such as emergency generators, boilers, pottery kilns, and gas fireplaces that are not classified under other categories.

• Electricity - Chilled Water: Scope 2 emissions from electricity generated off-site and purchased by the University to power chilled water plants that provide cooling to campus buildings.
• Steam - Chilled Water: Scope 2 emissions from the use of steam produced by external providers, specifically used for steam in chilled water systems to cool campus buildings.
• Purchased Steam: Scope 2 emissions from the use of steam produced by external providers and used for heating and other operations on campus.
• Purchased Electricity: Scope 2 emissions from electricity generated off-site and purchased by the University to power campus facilities and infrastructure.

• Directly Financed Air Travel: Emissions resulting from air travel funded by the University for business or academic purposes. These emissions are part of Scope 3 and include flights taken by faculty, staff, and students for University-related activities.
• Faculty Commuting: Emissions generated by the transportation of faculty and staff members traveling to and from campus for work. This category falls under Scope 3 and includes various modes of commuting, such as personal vehicles, public transit, and biking.
• Solid Waste: Emissions resulting from the treatment and disposal of campus-generated waste, including landfilling, incineration, and composting processes.

For additional definitions on all scope 3 emissions, refer to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol's Technical Guidance for Calculating Scope 3 Emissions. 

Yes. In 2009, Penn announced its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2042, referred to as the 100% by 42 goal. Through initiatives like energy efficiency, building recommissioning, carbon offsets, and leveraging a cleaner electricity grid, Penn has made significant strides toward this goal. By the end of FY23, Penn had reduced its gross emissions by 46% compared to the FY09 baseline.

No. The Scope 3 emissions associated with the University's endowment are not included in the campus carbon footprint. However, the Office of Investments has committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions for Penn’s endowment investments by 2050. For more information, visit the University's Climate Investments webpage.

You don’t need to request access, you already have it. As part of Penn’s commitment to transparency, the greenhouse gas inventory and annual updates are published publicly in line with the University’s membership in Second Nature's Climate Leadership Network.

You can download data directly from the dashboard using the icons in the bottom-right corner of the figures. For some datasets, you may need to click on the specific visualization to activate the download option. The same data is also available on SIMAP®.

Not all Scope 3 emissions are currently measured or reported, but many are included. Scope 3 emissions, which encompass a wide range of indirect emissions, are often complex and challenging to quantify. Scope 3 categories such as air travel, faculty commuting, and refrigerants and chemicals are already included in Penn’s footprint. The University is actively working to expand its Scope 3 reporting and incorporate additional categories as methodologies and data collection improve.

Penn is on track to achieve significant greenhouse gas emissions reductions in line with its 100% by 2042 goal. As of FY24, overall emissions have been reduced by 47% compared to the FY09 baseline. However, like other institutions, Penn faces challenges such as supply chain disruptions, labor market constraints in construction, and operational complexities. While these factors may affect the pace of progress, Penn remains committed to pursuing ambitious targets and continuously elevating its sustainability efforts to meet or exceed its goals.

Penn’s path to carbon neutrality involves a multi-faceted approach that includes:

• Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): Sourcing renewable energy through long-term agreements to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
• Building Recommissioning and Renovations: Improving energy efficiency in existing infrastructure through upgrades, retrofits, and recommissioning.
• Cleaner Electricity Grid: Benefiting from and contributing to regional efforts to transition the energy grid to renewable and low-carbon sources.
• Offsets: Using high-quality carbon offsets, including for emissions from air travel, to neutralize emissions that cannot currently be eliminated.

While these strategies alone cannot fully achieve carbon neutrality without the aid of offsets, Penn recognizes that innovation, ambition, and future advancements in technology will play a critical role in meeting its long-term goals. The University is committed to staying adaptable and embracing new opportunities for sustainability.