Reporting of and policy on greenhouse gas emissions from air travel at Canadian universities
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
ISSN: 1467-6370
Article publication date: 4 June 2024
Issue publication date: 21 November 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the extent and characteristics of Canadian university reporting of and policy regarding greenhouse gas emissions from air travel. It identifies current approaches’ details and limits and recommends improvements.
Design/methodology/approach
The study developed questions and considerations for analysing reporting and policy, reviewed university documents and webpages and contacted university staff.
Findings
Roughly 20% of Canadian universities report flight emissions. Figures vary by factors of over 100 even when normalized or expressed as a percentage of institutional emissions. Inter-university differences in data collection and emissions calculation practices shape reporting. Canadian university air travel emissions cannot be meaningfully compared. Few universities have flight emissions reduction policies; those that do leave relevant decisions to individuals. These approaches do not respond adequately to the emissions reduction challenge.
Originality/value
This study is the first comprehensive survey of university flight emissions reporting for any country. Its original framework highlights calculation’s complexities. It recommends standardizing reporting process information disclosure, reporting flight emissions as a range and faculty leadership of emissions reduction efforts.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author is grateful to the university representatives who generously responded to queries and to Madison Lee for research assistance. The results were presented to the Institutional Air Travel Community of Practice in May 2023, and the group’s members are thanked for their insights. Additionally, thanks are extended to the faculty, students and staff involved in climate action at Laurier and the Balsillie School with whom the author has discussed the paper.
Interest disclosure: The author is a faculty member at Laurier and the Balsillie School, institutions studied in this paper. Involvement in climate action groups at both institutions and assistance in initiating air travel emissions tracking at the Balsillie School are acknowledged. Participation as an Institutional Air Travel Community of Practice member and travel on airplanes, including for work, are noted.
Research ethics: Because inquiries to university representatives asked only about information representatives were authorized to disclose, this research was deemed by Laurier’s Research Ethics Board to fall outside the scope of Canada’s Tri-Council Policy Statement on Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans and thus not to require REB clearance. Potential study participants received an informed consent form.
Citation
Hall, D. (2024), "Reporting of and policy on greenhouse gas emissions from air travel at Canadian universities", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 25 No. 8, pp. 1960-1979. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-03-2023-0102
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited