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Offsetting Miami's Carbon Emissions

Potential for internal carbon offset projects

bachelor pond in winter

Miami University Natural Areas

Nearly half of the Oxford campus is designated as forest, and 1,000 acres of the 2,000 acre campus is preserved in perpetuity as the Miami University Natural Areas (above, Bachelor Pond, part of the Natural Areas).  Internal offset projects such as a tree-planting program could generate carbon credits (Goal 2).
a woman and a white dog walk on a trail in the natural areas

Conversions to natural land use

Goal 2, Target 3 calls for investigating conversion of Oxford campus grass lawns and leased farm land to more natural land uses and/or farming practices that sequester carbon (above, a student and friend on one of the 17 miles of hiking trails in the Natural Areas).
Hamilton campus drone view

Miami University Regionals

Internal offset projects, such as investing in renewable energy at the Regionals campuses (Hamilton campus, above) could create  carbon credits for the Oxford campus (Goal 2).

Goal 1

Establish a Carbon Offset Fund Committee to recommend an annual carbon fee and select offset projects. The standing committee will ensure that the university’s offsets are appropriate each year, given the changing offset price and continuous development of new offset projects.

Target 1: Establish a university-wide policy for Purchasing of Carbon Offsets by 2035.

Action: Integrate transport-related emissions offset into employee travel purchase (using Chrome River or a similar program identified by the office of procurement.)

Goal 2

Goal 2: Establish internal offset projects that can be used by 2040 to help achieve carbon neutrality.

Target 1: Target 1: Begin accelerated tree-planting program by 2025.

Target 1: Begin accelerated tree-planting program by 2025.

Target 2: Create additional carbon credits by investing in renewable energy at the Regionals campuses

Target 2: Create additional carbon credits by investing in renewable energy at the Regionals campuses.

Target 3: Use student research teams to investigate the conversion of grass lawns and leased farm land to more natural land uses and/or farming practices that sequester carbon

Target 3: Use student research teams to investigate the conversion of grass lawns and leased farm land to more natural land uses and/or farming practices that sequester carbon.