A Carbon Offset Program for Emory University Público

Abstract

In this paper I follow the preliminary stages of developing a program to offset the carbon dioxide emissions associated with Emory-funded air travel. I present these steps as a record of the work I completed as a student employee of the Office of Sustainability Initiatives at Emory as well as a guidance document to be used by other universities or organizations wishing to establish a carbon offset program of their own. As such, I structure my work in three tiers: What one would do to establish a carbon offset program, what I propose Emory do in their own program, and my justification for each element of my proposal. This follows a discussion of the current Greenhouse Gas Inventory of the University and the understanding that Emory will look to emission reduction strategies beyond on-campus efficiency measures. In my proposal I recommend a voluntary, high/low-category reporting fundraising strategy to support the carbon offset program. I also promote a peer-reviewed, local offset type following the VM0008 project protocol for weatherization of heavily energy burdened households. With these elements I portray a blueprint for the establishment of the Emory Carbon Offset (ECO) Initiative and the work I conducted leading up to its inception.

Table of Contents

Introduction.. 1

Chapter 1: The State of Emory University.. 6

Chapter 2: Carbon Offsets at Emory.. 14

I)     Establishing a Lasting Fund. 16

The Initial Fundraising. 17

Offsets in Perpetuity. 21

II)    Implementing the Project Itself. 25

Select an Offset Type. 26

Follow a Protocol 33

Offset Verification. 42

Concluding Remarks. 53

Works Cited.. 56

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Interdisciplinary Studies in Society and Culture
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Atmospheric Sciences Economics, Environmental Sustainability
Palabra Clave	Energy Burden Climate Change Greenhouse Gas Emissions Carbon Weatherization Offsets Carbon Credits
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Dr. Peter Wakefield, Emory University
Committee Members	Dr. Kelli Lanier, Emory University Dr. Hilary King, Emory University

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