UC Santa Barbara is committed to Climate Action and has reduced total emissions ~60% below 1990 levels despite the tremendous growth in students served by our institution. The UCSB campus has over 6.2 megawatts of on-site solar energy, which provides approximately 15% of UCSB’s electrical demand. The campus’ remaining electricity demand for the main campus is met through the procurement of carbon-free electricity through the UC Clean Power Program.
UC Climate Policy
The UC Sustainable Practices policy requires:
- Each location achieves at least a 90% reduction in total emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3) by no later than the calendar year 2045, and negates any residual emissions by carbon removal.
- Each UC location set Scope 1 GHG reduction targets for 2030, 2035, and 2040.
- Each UC location prepares an updated climate action plan (CAP) to establish and achieve the above GHG emission reduction goals.
Emissions Reporting
UC Santa Barbara reports its official Scope I and II emissions to the nonprofit The Climate Registry (TCR), a nonprofit emissions registry for North America. These emissions follow TCR's General Reporting Protocol, are third-party verified, and are reported publicly on TCR's website. UCSB also reports emissions for scope III sources listed below:
Scope 1- Direct Emissions: on-site combustion and fugitive emissions
Scope 2- Indirect Emissions: purchased electricity
Scope 3- Indirect Emissions (Other): University-funded business travel, commuting, and municipal solid waste
Climate Action Planning
The 2025 draft Climate Action Plan assesses and analyzes UCSB’s current, historical, and projected emissions and evaluates the campus’s progress toward meeting the UC Climate Policy. Planned and conceptual climate change mitigation strategies are outlined in the plan and provide a potential pathway towards achieving the 90% reduction in total emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3 shown in the figure) by calendar year 2045 from a 2019 baseline.