The Targeted Emissions Reduction Agreement (TERA) at UCSF
The University of California, San Francisco has a robust sustainability program with multiple initiatives across the entire campus and medical center designed to reduce its impact on the planet. Its newest program, TERA, is a student-led initiative that targets carbon emissions associated with air travel. While business and academic air travel is necessary and unavoidable, TERA asks UCSF departments to compensate for the associated emissions by purchasing carbon credits from a grass roots project that verifiably reduces greenhouse gases. The partnership with Cool Effect will offset travel emissions with a cookstove project that creates a healthier home.
90%+ Directly to Projects
More than 90% of each dollar you donate goes directly to helping our projects, with a small fee of only 9.87% to help us cover credit charges, research, and possible registration fees.
Here’s a breakdown:
- 1.5% Research Fee
- 2–4% Credit Card Fee
- Registry Fee (where applicable)
- Remainder for Cool Effect Administration Fee
Instructions for Processing
TERA utilizes the BearBuy system.
- Determine your department’s carbon emissions using the calculator.
- Ask your department Requester to submit an amount-based form to BearBuy matching the amount you have calculated.
- Include Cool Effect supplier number = #0030249938
- BearBuy will send Cool Effect the proper documents for processing.
- Once payment is received, the carbon credits will be retired on your behalf and you will receive a certificate of your retirement from Cool Effect via email.
This process will take 30-60 days.