Oregon Health & Science University Decarbonization Plan

Challenge

OHSU is Oregon’s only public academic health center. The institution spans hospitals, clinics, research facilities, and schools of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, and public health. As a signatory of the US Department of Health and Human Services Health Sector Climate Pledge, OHSU committed to a 50 percent greenhouse gas reduction by 2030, net zero emissions by 2050, and a full Scope 3 emissions inventory by 2024. OHSU recognized the need for a clear strategy, established priorities, and actionable next steps to meet these goals.

Solution

Mazzetti developed a Strategic GHG Emission Reduction Plan organized into five core tasks.

Task 1

Strategic engagement and project management. Mazzetti facilitated a kickoff meeting to align mission and vision, clarify expectations, define stakeholder roles, and gather input using interviews, focus groups, surveys, and decision support tools. Workgroup sessions helped identify priorities across departments.

Task 2

Creation of the baseline Scope 1 and 2 inventory. Mazzetti established inventory boundaries, collected historical data, and developed the baseline year required by the Health Sector Climate Pledge.

Task 3

Preliminary Scope 3 inventory. Mazzetti evaluated all GHG Protocol categories, confirmed appropriate boundaries, assessed data quality, and delivered a gap analysis with recommendations for improved Scope 3 tracking and reporting. Mazzetti identified priority categories for deeper assessment and potential emissions reductions.

Task 4

Strategic emissions reduction planning. Mazzetti created a “Business As Usual” projection based on OHSU’s growth plans and utility factors. Using human-centered design methods, the team collaborated with OHSU stakeholders to generate and evaluate emissions reduction strategies. Strategies were assessed for impact, ease, cost, and alignment with OHSU values. Mazzetti used its decision support tool, Allovance, to prioritize options and develop glidepath scenarios with associated timelines, costs, and benefits.

Task 5

Final report and recommendations. Mazzetti delivered a comprehensive report with a 25-year phased implementation plan, GHG inventory summaries, financial analysis, risk assessment, and recommended next steps including additional studies, audits, and funding opportunities.

Outcome

The resulting plan gives OHSU a clear roadmap to achieve its climate commitments. The plan supports organizational alignment, long term capital planning, risk mitigation, and a structured path toward net zero emissions. Through this process, OHSU strengthened its ability to evaluate future investments and advance resilience for the communities it serves.