UBC Sauder as a Living Lab, led by Centre for Climate and Business Solutions, transforms the business school's carbon emissions into practical learning and reduction opportunities for students, faculty, and staff. Historically, UBC Sauder purchased carbon offsets to fully offset emissions and be recognized as a carbon neutral business school. While carbon offsets play an important role in addressing unavoidable emissions and supporting biodiversity, they recognized that relying on them can reinforce a “business as usual” approach. The program redirects some of the offset funds into the UBC Sauder Emissions Reduction Fund, which supports internal emission-reduction projects and improved emissions-tracking initiatives.
The program addresses UBC Sauder's largest Scope 3 emissions categories—Purchased Goods and Services (42.3%) and Commuting (42.6%)—which together represent 85% of the school's total footprint. The living lab approach shifts from passive offsets to active engagement, bringing the UBC Sauder community along as active contributors. Current projects include research-based initiatives such as research on smart EV charging solutions, sustainable commuting barriers, and social norms in carpooling, alongside operations-based projects like e-bike education programs and rebates, and sustainable orientation week initiatives.
UBC Sauder’s efforts support the broader university-wide climate strategy by piloting new tools, testing behaviour-based strategies, and improving data accuracy, and understanding which solutions are scalable across campus. At the same time, this work generates insights for businesses across BC and beyond, especially those grappling with scope 3 measurement, supply-chain engagement, and offset strategies.
UBC Sauder’s Centre for Climate and Business Solutions aims to support the university’s sustainability goals and empower faculty-led climate action by providing tools, expertise, and opportunities to measure and reduce emissions across UBC.
Interested in addressing your department’s Scope 3 emissions? Contact climatecentre@sauder.ubc.ca to learn how they can help.
Learn more about UBC Sauder as a Living Lab.