28 janvier 2026
Quantification for Action: An Innovative Guide for Reducing Indirect GHG Emissions
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After months of collaborative work, the Québec University Network for Sustainable Development (RUQDD) has published a methodological guide for quantifying Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This tool will provide an effective framework for universities and organizations looking to make their GHG inventories more accurate. It also aims to improve access to the collective knowledge and expertise needed to improve and harmonize quantification practices. By providing a clear, shared operational framework for quantifying Scope 3 emissions—which have yet to be standardized, unlike Scope 1 and 2 emissions—the guide will support more thorough and comparable measurement of climate impact. It will also help organizations better understand their sources of emissions, bolster their reduction strategies, and more effectively steer their climate action.
A leap forward in quantifying GHG emissions
Scope 3 emissions include those related to travel, events, and the purchase of goods and services. While these emissions are indirect and often outside of operational control, they frequently make up the largest part of an organization’s carbon footprint.
Scope 3 emissions can be difficult to quantify, given the nature of the activities that generate them. For that reason, the guide clearly indicates the quantification approaches to favour, the categories of activities to consider, and the relevant emission factors to use.
This initiative testifies to Québec universities’ ongoing dedication to climate action and illustrates their willingness to become leaders in sustainable development.
Next steps
The release of this guide marks a new step in the continuous improvement process for carbon quantification. The intention for the coming year is to monitor best practices and regularly update the tool by improving its recommendations. The RUQDD also hopes to develop a complementary tool, such as a Scope 3 emissions calculator, to make quantification even more operational and accessible for organizations.
Participating universities
École de technologie supérieure
HEC Montréal
Institut national de la recherche scientifique
Polytechnique Montréal
Concordia University
Université de Montréal
Université de Sherbrooke
Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
Université du Québec à Montréal
Université du Québec à Rimouski
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Université du Québec en Outaouais
Université Laval
McGill University
Université TÉLUQ
