Sustainable Travel

Consider sustainability as you select a particular program. How much and via what mode of transportation do students travel? Do partnerships contribute to local communities? Do you have the opportunity to learn about local sustainability practices?

Understand the carbon footprint of travel. Compare how different modes of international and local transportation, electricity usage, food consumption, and waste affect our impact on the environment. There are a number of online carbon footprint calculators, including this one.

Educate yourself about potential host countries and cities. Where can you best live like a local? This is better for sustainability but also for your overall experience.

If you are purchasing your own flight, try to take a direct flight. Several shorter connecting flights emit more carbon than one longer flight. If you are traveling on a group flight with your program, Study Abroad will make an effort to limit connections while considering flight availability and cost.

Pack refillable travel containers for toiletries, a water bottle, and reusable containers and shopping bags. This will reduce the number of single-use plastics you need to purchase, use, and dispose of while on your program.

Bring your own headphones, water bottle, and snacks on the flight. This will save you money, reduce packaging waste, and keep you hydrated and well-fed as you begin your program.

Consider joining the community of students making sustainability pledges in in their study abroad programs.

Practice quality (not quantity) travel. Explore your city and country in-depth so that you really know it. If you are participating in a term-long program, it can be tempting to take short, cheap flights to nearby countries on the weekends. Doing that misses chances for truly experiencing your destination and forming relationships, in addition to environmental impacts. When you do travel, consider taking trains and buses. If you are participating in a short-term program, keep in mind that you are part of a community. Most of your itinerary will be pre-planned and required, but you can be mindful of how you explore during your free time. 

Learn from locals what sustainability means in your destination communities, while you keep in mind your safety and health needs. This may mean walking, biking, and taking public transportation instead of single-passenger transit, conserving electricity and water by limiting or adjusting climate control and housekeeping services, unplugging devices when charged, washing clothes in the sink, and adjusting the length and temperature of your showers. It may also mean eating locally sourced foods and including plant-based meals, reducing waste packaging and learning to grocery shop, recycle, and compost like a local. Consider buying second-hand and/or locally-sourced gifts.

Reflect on sustainability practices you observed and incorporate those into your life back home. What worked well in your host country, and how can you translate and adapt that?