Sustainable business travel
As a global University that engages with the world through research, field trips, conferences and collaborations, it is recognised that travel will be necessary for learning, teaching, research and developing partnerships. We do not want to limit essential travel, but we do want to ensure we use the most sustainable travel options available.
We are proud signatories to the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice and Climate Action Network for International Educators (CANIE) Accord and we are keen to play our part in encouraging more sustainable practices across international education and research.
We encourage our staff to:
- Prioritise virtual collaboration where possible: use video conferencing or digital tools to replace non-essential business travel
- Choose low-carbon transport: Opt for buses, trains, electric or hybrid vehicles and/or shared transport for shorter journeys. Where flying is unavoidable, opt for direct flights and economy class, particularly for journeys under 8 hours.
- Stay Sustainably: select accommodation providers who share our sustainability values and aim to stay local to the place you're visiting to avoid the need for transport.
Staff can access more information about business travel, including our travel booking system on the staff SharePoint site. There is a lot of information about sustainable business travel, including all the benefits of lower carbon travel options, testimonials and an emissions calculator on the Travel with CANIE website.
Carbon offsetting travel emissions
Offsetting for travel booked using university funds should be avoided unless expressly agreed by the University Sustainability Steering Group, in partnership with an external research funder. If approved, University researchers must book travel via the official university travel portal and select the prescribed offset option. Only a few external research funders currently allow offsets in their funding terms.