Greenhouse gas emissions report

Behind the reports

The reports contains an overview of greenhouse gas emissions by AU converted into CO₂ equivalents (CO2-eq). The reports gives AU greater insight into its climate impact and provides a baseline for assessing whether the university is on the right track in reducing its CO₂ emissions.

The figures in the Aarhus University GHG emissions report are calculated retrospectively every autumn, when the emissions factors for the past year have been determined.

Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG)

Aarhus University's GHG emissions report is based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol), which is a recognised method of calculating emissions of greenhouse gases by converting them into CO₂ equivalents divided into three so-called scopes:

1. Direct emissions from the university's property, e.g. from boilers or combined heat and power production at AU, as well as in connection with the use of motor vehicles, operating the research vessel Aurora, or emissions from agricultural activities.
2. Indirect emissions related to the university's purchase of heating, electricity and cooling, for example.
3. Value-chain emissions, which include purchases and air travel.

This approach is used by both companies and public institutions as a framework for determining the company's/institution's CO₂ emissions. 5,000-7,000 companies and institutions use the tool globally. Fewer than 10% of them use scope 3.