Smith College is part of a broad network of institutions using the SIMAP greenhouse gas emissions tracking system to measure and understand its environmental impact. This dataset provides a longitudinal view of campus emissions from 2009 to the present , reported in metric tons of greenhouse gases.
Smith College has set a goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, and looking at this dataset helps show how close the college is to that goal, and where challenges remain.
The data is grouped into three categories: Scope 1 (emissions generated from on-campus operations), Scope 2 (emissions generated offsite by direct campus demands), and Scope 3 (indirect emissions from sources like commuting and travel).
This graph shows carbon emissions at Smith College over time, broken down by scope. Using data from 2009 to 2025, measured in metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (mt CO₂e), it reveals how different sources contribute to the college's overall footprint.
Looking at the line graph, you can trace the rise and fall of emissions over time, moments of progress, and periods where change has been slower. The dotted line shows the overall emissions trend, while the other lines represent each scope. Together, they show not just numbers, but a trajectory, where Smith has been, and where it might be headed.
This visualization represents Scope 3 emissions, which specifically target what is emitted created by transportation to and from the college. The bar graph above details emissions in metric tons of Co2 equivalent from 2009 to 2024, focusing on three areas: faculty commuting, staff commuting, and directly college-funded air travel. Directly funded air travel does not include emissions from students who travel to study abroad.
Each bar represents a year, but upon clicking a pie chart appears, which breaks down that year's emissions across the three sub categories categories of in metric tons of CO₂e.
Electric vehicles offer a way to keep the convenience of driving while greatly lowering greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional gas-powered cars. If more members of the Smith community choose electric vehicles, Scope 3 emissions from commuting could decrease in a measurable way. At the same time, everyday choices still matter. Carpooling, biking, walking, or using public transit all contribute to lowering emissions. Year by year, changes in commuting and travel patterns can shape the fall of Scope 3 emissions and contribute to Smith's goal of carbon neutrality by 2030.
This data was collected by the Center for the Environment, Ecological Design and Sustainability (CEEDS) at Smith College. This data comes from surveys, where community members report their travel habits. From these everyday choices, how we get to campus, how often we travel, emerges a larger picture of transportation-related emissions.
The Center for the Environment, Ecological Design and Sustainability (CEEDS) exists with one purpose: We facilitate academic and applied experiences for students that help them excel at integrating knowledge across disciplines, in support of environmental decisions and action.
To reach that purpose, we support the integration of sustainable practices into Smith's operations and connect campus operations with student learning. We also support faculty in their efforts to deepen their understanding of salient environmental issues and to integrate those issues into the curricula. We promote institutional innovation and progress toward the college's commitment to be a model of sustainability.
If you are interested in learning more about this dataset, Smith's goal of carbon neutrality, or ways to reduce emissions, feel free to contact the CEEDS center at (ceeds@smith.edu). Students interested in working on a capstone project focused on environmental issues or reducing carbon footprints are also encouraged to reach out.