{"id":409,"date":"2020-08-12T13:02:17","date_gmt":"2020-08-12T11:02:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/?page_id=409"},"modified":"2021-05-02T16:14:01","modified_gmt":"2021-05-02T14:14:01","slug":"good-practices","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/index.php\/good-practices\/","title":{"rendered":"Good practices"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"alignwide wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-b6aacf9 ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-basic ugb-main-block\"><style>.ugb-b6aacf9-wrapper.ugb-container__wrapper{border-radius:0px !important;padding-top:0 !important;padding-bottom:0 !important;background-color:rgba(73,113,184,0.8) !important}.ugb-b6aacf9-wrapper > .ugb-container__side{padding-top:35px !important;padding-bottom:35px !important}.ugb-b6aacf9-wrapper.ugb-container__wrapper:before{background-color:#4971b8 !important}.ugb-b6aacf9 h1,.ugb-b6aacf9 h2,.ugb-b6aacf9 h3,.ugb-b6aacf9 h4,.ugb-b6aacf9 h5,.ugb-b6aacf9 h6{color:#000000}.ugb-b6aacf9-content-wrapper > h1,.ugb-b6aacf9-content-wrapper > h2,.ugb-b6aacf9-content-wrapper > h3,.ugb-b6aacf9-content-wrapper > h4,.ugb-b6aacf9-content-wrapper > h5,.ugb-b6aacf9-content-wrapper > h6{color:#000000}.ugb-b6aacf9-content-wrapper > p,.ugb-b6aacf9-content-wrapper > ol li,.ugb-b6aacf9-content-wrapper > ul li{color:#ffffff}.ugb-b6aacf9.ugb-container{z-index:0 !important}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-b6aacf9-content-wrapper.ugb-container__content-wrapper{width:80% !important}}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-container__wrapper ugb-b6aacf9-wrapper ugb--shadow-0\"><div class=\"ugb-container__side\"><div class=\"ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-b6aacf9-content-wrapper\">\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color\" style=\"color:#1c1c1c\">The good practices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color\" style=\"color:#171616\">Be inspired by initiatives, thoughts and experiences of other people from the ExPlane network!<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-container--width-small ugb-8ca94eb ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-plain ugb-main-block ugb-main-block--inner-center ugb--has-block-background\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block ugb-inner-block--center\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-container__wrapper ugb-8ca94eb-wrapper\"><div class=\"ugb-container__side\"><div class=\"ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-8ca94eb-content-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-left\" id=\"soeren-sorbonne-university\">Soeren from LOCEAN, Sorbonne University<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><strong>During Soeren Thomsen\u2019s visit at Universit\u00e9 Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) in Dakar, Senegal in mid 2018, he and his Senegalese colleagues investigated climate change impacts on the West African coastal ocean. Soeren tells us about the insights he had about pushing for more inclusivity in the academic world while cutting carbon emissions.&nbsp;<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"289\" height=\"289\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-24-at-10.46.00-1-edited.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1123\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-24-at-10.46.00-1-edited.png 289w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-24-at-10.46.00-1-edited-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 289px) 100vw, 289px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>During Soeren\u2019s visit, the team did not only work on the research, they also had long discussions on how difficult it is for the growing African scientific community to join the international debate. Together with colleagues from around the world, Soeren and his colleagues decided to work on concrete solutions to set the path for inclusive, just, and sustainable international collaborations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Soeren explains: \u201cThe international scientific knowledge exchange system is simply too slow and too broken to offer solutions at the required speed and scale so that everyone can participate.\u201d In his opinion, virtual communication is key to making the scientific community more inclusive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn 2020 when virtual communication became the norm, this was unfortunately not in response to long lasting issues like inclusion, justice, or the massive CO<sup>2 <\/sup>emissions from to fly-in events, but due to the deadly coronavirus,\u201d Soeren says. \u201cThis is a sad but important fact. After this crisis is over, we need to ensure that the scientific community doesn\u2019t simply go back to \u201cnormal\u201d. Structural change is needed; implementing strict new travel policies within universities can play a key role.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-expand ugb-expand ugb-a009e82 ugb-expand--v2 ugb-main-block\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-expand__less-text\"><p>Below, Soeren presents <strong>two simple and concrete solutions<\/strong> to pursuing a more inclusive and less carbon-intensive method of scientific collaboration. These options allow (young) researchers as well as students to skip international fly-in events while <em>increasing their international network<\/em>. <\/p><\/div><div class=\"ugb-expand__more-text\" style=\"display:none\"><p>Below, Soeren presents <strong>two simple and concrete solutions<\/strong> to pursuing a more inclusive and less carbon-intensive method of scientific collaboration. These options allow (young) researchers as well as students to skip international fly-in events while <em>increasing their international network<\/em>. <\/p><p>\u201cNot only can you feel good about being part of an international effort to cut away unnecessary carbon emissions and high barriers of entry from scientific discovery,\u201d Soeren states, \u201cyou are joining a movement of like-minded people who see the world as you do, and who will want to help you. Keep pushing!\u201d<\/p><p>1. Gather a group of diverse people from around the world and organise regular online seminars about your research topic. Always offer virtual networking sessions during your events. Two examples here: <a href=\"https:\/\/ebuswebinars.wixsite.com\/ebuswebinars\">EBUS Webinars<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/oceanplasticwebina.wixsite.com\/homepage\">OceanPlasticWebinars<\/a>. Below, you can download a Best Practice Guide for how to launch your own scientific webinar channel.<\/p><p>2. Engage in already existing virtual communication projects and offer your support in organising virtual events. If you are interested in ocean, climate and biodiversity, environmental and social justice issues, check out the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.virtualbluedecade.org\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"www.virtualbluedecade.org\">Virtual Blue Decade<\/a> project. We are an open, diverse, cross-generation and very effective virtual community. During the COP25 we organised the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.virtualbluecop25.org\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"www.virtualbluecop25.org\">Virtual Blue COP25<\/a> and have always been advocates for flying less.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Your benefits by engaging in virtual communication projects:<\/strong><br>&#8211; High visibility in your specific research community&nbsp;<br>&#8211; Engagement in a rapidly-growing and <em>truly<\/em> global network<br>&#8211; Contact with any of the seniors in your field that you ever wanted to talk to<br>&#8211; Lead by example and inspire others<br>&#8211; You will always be up to date&nbsp;<br>&#8211; No need to worry anymore about missing international conferences<br>&#8211; You will have a lot of fun<\/p><p><strong>How does it relate to transforming your department or university:<\/strong><br>&#8211; It will make it easier for your department to reduce flying as a whole as you have created an alternative for your specific research topic&nbsp;<br>&#8211; It helps during the transformation process to have a solution before the whole system has changed<br>&#8211; Virtual communication alone does not reduce flying and even there is a huge risk of rebound effect, more collaborations, more flying in the long term<br>&#8211; Travel policies are key to keep emissions low<\/p><p><strong>How to ask for support:<\/strong><br>&#8211; Request that financial resources are reserved to support your virtual communication project<br>&#8211; Funding for software or tech is less relevant but human resources are needed<br>&#8211; Ask for support in maintaining a website<\/p><\/div><div class=\"ugb-expand__toggle-wrapper\"><a class=\"ugb-expand__toggle\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"ugb-expand__more-toggle-text\">Show more<\/span><span class=\"ugb-expand__less-toggle-text\" style=\"display:none\">Show less<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Best_Practice_to_lauch_a_webinar_series_for_TimeToExplane_final-2.pdf\">Best Practice Guide: How to launch a webinar series <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Best_Practice_to_lauch_a_webinar_series_for_TimeToExplane_final-2.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button\" download>Download<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-container--width-small ugb-534657d ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-plain ugb-main-block ugb-main-block--inner-center ugb--has-block-background\"><style>.ugb-534657d.ugb-container{background-color:rgba(73,113,184,0.8)}.ugb-534657d.ugb-container:before{background-color:#4971b8}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block ugb-inner-block--center\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-container__wrapper ugb-534657d-wrapper\"><div class=\"ugb-container__side\"><div class=\"ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-534657d-content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-f1aa6bc ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-basic ugb-main-block\"><style>.ugb-f1aa6bc-wrapper.ugb-container__wrapper{border-radius:0px !important}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-container__wrapper ugb-f1aa6bc-wrapper ugb--shadow-0\"><div class=\"ugb-container__side\"><div class=\"ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-f1aa6bc-content-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-left\" id=\"abi-edinburgh-university\">Abi from Edinburgh University<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When PhD-student <strong>Abi Whitefield<\/strong><\/strong> <strong>was a MSc student <strong>in Environmental&nbsp;Protection and Management at Edinburgh, she decided to not participate in a compulsory course field trip due to its carbon emissions.<\/strong><\/strong> <strong>This decision did not only send a clear message to her teachers and peers, it also benefitted her: she got to design her own research project instead.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/abi.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-854\" width=\"484\" height=\"321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/abi.png 638w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/abi-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 484px) 100vw, 484px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Abi knew a field tour to Morocco was a compulsory component of the degree when she applied for the MSc course in Environmental Protection and Management. She didn\u2019t want to go. Not only due to a slight fear of flying, but due to the immense environmental impact of the journey there. Luckily, her course director was completely supportive of her decision: \u201cThey started planning alternative activities for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"aligncenter wp-block-ugb-blockquote ugb-blockquote ugb-38d9e6b ugb-blockquote--v3 ugb-blockquote--design-basic ugb-main-block ugb--has-custom-content-width\"><style>.ugb-38d9e6b .ugb-blockquote__item{border-radius:0px !important}.ugb-38d9e6b .ugb-blockquote__quote{width:70px !important;height:70px !important}.ugb-38d9e6b.ugb-blockquote > .ugb-inner-block{max-width:1710px !important}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-blockquote__item ugb--shadow-0\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 50 50\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"ugb-blockquote__quote\" width=\"70\" height=\"70\"><path d=\"M19.8 9.3C10.5 11.8 4.6 17 2.1 24.8c2.3-3.6 5.6-5.4 9.9-5.4 3.3 0 6 1.1 8.3 3.3 2.2 2.2 3.4 5 3.4 8.3 0 3.2-1.1 5.8-3.3 8-2.2 2.2-5.1 3.2-8.7 3.2-3.7 0-6.5-1.2-8.6-3.5C1 36.3 0 33.1 0 29 0 18.3 6.5 11.2 19.6 7.9l.2 1.4zm26.4 0C36.9 11.9 31 17 28.5 24.8c2.2-3.6 5.5-5.4 9.8-5.4 3.2 0 6 1.1 8.3 3.2 2.3 2.2 3.4 4.9 3.4 8.3 0 3.1-1.1 5.8-3.3 7.9-2.2 2.2-5.1 3.3-8.6 3.3-3.7 0-6.6-1.1-8.6-3.4-2.1-2.3-3.1-5.5-3.1-9.7 0-10.7 6.6-17.8 19.7-21.1l.1 1.4z\"><\/path><\/svg><div class=\"ugb-blockquote__content\"><p class=\"ugb-blockquote__text\"><em>It&#8217;s somewhat ironic that a university school that focuses on climate change and the impacts of excessive carbon release causes a large carbon footprint through compulsory field trips.<\/em><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Abi knew a field tour to Morocco was a compulsory component of the degree when she applied for the MSc course in Environmental Protection and Management. She didn\u2019t want to go. Not only due to a slight fear of flying, but due to the immense environmental impact of the journey there. Luckily, her course director was completely supportive of her decision: \u201cThey started planning alternative activities for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s somewhat ironic that a university school that focuses on climate change and the impacts of excessive carbon release causes a large carbon footprint through compulsory field trips,\u201d says Abi. \u201cI think my refusal has made both the course director and the School of GeoSciences more aware that they need to offer less carbon-intensive options for students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-expand ugb-expand ugb-980c52c ugb-expand--v2 ugb-main-block\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-expand__less-text\"><p>Abi: \u201cEventually, it was decided that I would undertake an individual study, which focussed on environmental behaviours. I sent out a survey on environmental beliefs, behaviour changes and barriers to change, even asking the public about their opinions on flying.\u201d<\/p><\/div><div class=\"ugb-expand__more-text\" style=\"display:none\"><p>Abi: \u201cEventually, it was decided that I would undertake an individual study, which focussed on environmental behaviours. I sent out a survey on environmental beliefs, behaviour changes and barriers to change, even asking the public about their opinions on flying.\u201d<\/p><p>This decision came out of a strong belief that it is time to stop engaging in unnecessary plane travel: \u201cWe can do so much without travelling by plane: we can travel via land, or experience new cultures online. Do you really need to fly to meet those people?\u201d<\/p><p>Moreover, she believes that for many field trips, UK alternatives may provide better opportunities. \u201cIn Morocco, for instance, the drone work that my class had wished to undertake was not allowed in the country. This could have taken place in the UK and enhanced the students\u2019 experience.\u201d<\/p><p>Currently, Abi is helping create the University of St Andrew&#8217;s environmental strategy and attempting to include a reduction of the number of flights as part of the strategy. Read Abi&#8217;s blog post about her decision <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ed.ac.uk\/sustainability\/2019\/why-i-refused-to-go-on-my-course-field-trip\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"ugb-expand__toggle-wrapper\"><a class=\"ugb-expand__toggle\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"ugb-expand__more-toggle-text\">Show more<\/span><span class=\"ugb-expand__less-toggle-text\" style=\"display:none\">Show less<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"aligncenter wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-container--width-small ugb-a6864b6 ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-plain ugb-main-block\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-container__wrapper ugb-a6864b6-wrapper\"><div class=\"ugb-container__side\"><div class=\"ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-a6864b6-content-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-left\" id=\"groene-locomotief-ghent-university\">Groene Locomotief from Ghent University <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The group of students called Groene Locomotief (Green Locomotive) at Ghent University offered the university a set of ideas to make their travel policy greener. This eventually resulted in a new travel policy.    <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/groene-locomotied-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-973\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/groene-locomotied-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/groene-locomotied-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/groene-locomotied-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/groene-locomotied-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/groene-locomotied-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/groene-locomotied-1980x1114.jpg 1980w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/groene-locomotied.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Through discussion nights and an awareness campaign, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/degroenelocomotief\/?ref=page_internal\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/degroenelocomotief\/?ref=page_internal\">the Groene Locomotief<\/a> managed to convince Ghent University to rethink the way they travel and facilitate travel. The group of students came with a set of ideas which they offered to the university. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was important for them to prove that an internationalisation strategy can be combined with lowering carbon emissions from travel. Among the ideas in their proposal was the simple solution to only reimburse travel by train or bus if the trip by train or bus is 6 hours or shorter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ghent University was one of the first universities to implement a more sustainable travel policy: take a look at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ugent.be\/nl\/univgent\/waarvoor-staat-ugent\/duurzaamheidsbeleid\/projecten\/duurzaamreisbeleid\/overzicht.htm\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.ugent.be\/nl\/univgent\/waarvoor-staat-ugent\/duurzaamheidsbeleid\/projecten\/duurzaamreisbeleid\/overzicht.htm\">an overview of all measures here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Nota-duurzaam-reisbeleid.pdf\">The proposal of the Groene Locomotief<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-container--width-small ugb-232a124 ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-plain ugb-main-block ugb-main-block--inner-center ugb--has-block-background\"><style>.ugb-232a124.ugb-container{background-color:rgba(73,113,184,0.8)}.ugb-232a124.ugb-container:before{background-color:#4971b8}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block ugb-inner-block--center\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-container__wrapper ugb-232a124-wrapper\"><div class=\"ugb-container__side\"><div class=\"ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-232a124-content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-container--width-small ugb-ac7f3ed ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-basic ugb-main-block\"><style>.ugb-ac7f3ed-wrapper.ugb-container__wrapper{border-radius:0px !important}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-container__wrapper ugb-ac7f3ed-wrapper ugb--shadow-0\"><div class=\"ugb-container__side\"><div class=\"ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-ac7f3ed-content-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-left\" id=\"christoph-eth-z\u00fcrich\">Christoph from ETH Z\u00fcrich<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Christoph K\u00fcffer is a senior researcher at the Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Z\u00fcrich, and professor for urban ecology at the University of Applied Sciences Rapperswil. He is now into his fifth year of (almost) not flying. This is what he learnt. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This blog post is based on his publications at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ethz.ch\/de\/news-und-veranstaltungen\/zukunftsblog.html\">ETH Zukunftsblog<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/stay-grounded.org\/grounded-academics-christoph-kuffer-eth-zurich\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/stay-grounded.org\/grounded-academics-christoph-kuffer-eth-zurich\/\">Stay Grounded<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Christoph-Kuffer-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-881\" width=\"341\" height=\"255\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Christoph-Kuffer-1.jpg 930w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Christoph-Kuffer-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Christoph-Kuffer-1-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 341px) 100vw, 341px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-ugb-blockquote ugb-blockquote ugb-75b8cef ugb-blockquote--v3 ugb-blockquote--design-basic ugb-main-block\"><style>.ugb-75b8cef .ugb-blockquote__item{border-radius:0px !important}.ugb-75b8cef .ugb-blockquote__quote{width:70px !important;height:70px !important}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-blockquote__item ugb--shadow-0\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 50 50\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"ugb-blockquote__quote\" width=\"70\" height=\"70\"><path d=\"M19.8 9.3C10.5 11.8 4.6 17 2.1 24.8c2.3-3.6 5.6-5.4 9.9-5.4 3.3 0 6 1.1 8.3 3.3 2.2 2.2 3.4 5 3.4 8.3 0 3.2-1.1 5.8-3.3 8-2.2 2.2-5.1 3.2-8.7 3.2-3.7 0-6.5-1.2-8.6-3.5C1 36.3 0 33.1 0 29 0 18.3 6.5 11.2 19.6 7.9l.2 1.4zm26.4 0C36.9 11.9 31 17 28.5 24.8c2.2-3.6 5.5-5.4 9.8-5.4 3.2 0 6 1.1 8.3 3.2 2.3 2.2 3.4 4.9 3.4 8.3 0 3.1-1.1 5.8-3.3 7.9-2.2 2.2-5.1 3.3-8.6 3.3-3.7 0-6.6-1.1-8.6-3.4-2.1-2.3-3.1-5.5-3.1-9.7 0-10.7 6.6-17.8 19.7-21.1l.1 1.4z\"><\/path><\/svg><div class=\"ugb-blockquote__content\"><p class=\"ugb-blockquote__text\">As an ecologist I have the choice between flying to conference rooms where I discuss how to better analyse more data that shows ever more dramatically how badly affected our ecosystems are, or I can work together with social scientists, artists, urban planners, and practitioners at home to innovate carbon-free cities.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-expand ugb-expand ugb-0318b2f ugb-expand--v2 ugb-main-block\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-expand__less-text\"><p>I got off to a slow start with flying. Before I finished my studies, I\u2019d never even set foot in a plane, nor did I have a driving licence. That was nothing unusual at the time \u2013 not for an environmental science student, anyway.<\/p><p>Fifteen years later, I have travelled at least ten times around the world for work, I regularly flew to other continents, and I have a driving licence in three different countries. Nowadays that\u2019s nothing unusual either, not even for an environmental scientist.<\/p><p>Five years ago, I decided to give up flying. I like travelling, and I don\u2019t like changing my life. So it would be convenient if I could now report that it\u2019s impossible for a researcher to give up flying. But that\u2019s not the case. Flying less, or not at all, is indeed possible \u2013 sometimes even there are benefits. Here then are three points in favour of not flying.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"ugb-expand__more-text\" style=\"display:none\"><p>I got off to a slow start with flying. Before I finished my studies, I\u2019d never even set foot in a plane, nor did I have a driving licence. That was nothing unusual at the time \u2013 not for an environmental science student, anyway.<\/p><p>Fifteen years later, I have travelled at least ten times around the world for work, I regularly flew to other continents, and I have a driving licence in three different countries. Nowadays that\u2019s nothing unusual either, not even for an environmental scientist.<\/p><p>Five years ago, I decided to give up flying. I like travelling, and I don\u2019t like changing my life. So it would be convenient if I could now report that it\u2019s impossible for a researcher to give up flying. But that\u2019s not the case. Flying less, or not at all, is indeed possible \u2013 sometimes even there are benefits. Here then are three points in favour of not flying.<\/p><p><strong>Keeping your feet on the ground<\/strong><\/p><p>Flying affects how we do science. Abstaining from flying has served to increasingly focus my research work on real, local problems in my local environment. This means that I\u2019m working with colleagues from other disciplines and practitioners here in Switzerland. And that\u2019s exactly why I find not flying exciting \u2013 it spurs me to reconsider my role as a scientist in solving environmental problems.<\/p><p>As an ecologist I have the choice between flying to conference rooms where I discuss how to better analyse more data that shows ever more dramatically how badly affected our ecosystems are, or I can work together with social scientists, artists, urban planners, and practitioners at home to innovate carbon-free cities.<\/p><p>Better to fly less often, and tackle real, thorny issues more vigorously. Better to deal with your own problems \u2013 even if there\u2019s no acclaim for it \u2013 than to explain to others theirs. Better to help train more scientists from less developed countries than consider ourselves as indispensable experts.<\/p><p><strong>The real challenge&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>Our society has somehow forgotten how to debate about alternative ways of life and social utopias. Partly to blame for the paralysing lack of discussion and orientation in our society are (technical) universities. People here would rather talk about technological breakthroughs than about social change.<\/p><p>It is unlikely that new technologies will make air travel carbon neutral in the next few decades. Technological innovations and digitalisation might indeed provide solutions, but what we urgently need are social innovations: new forms of living and an ecological economy.<\/p><p>Inventing flying was an innovation, and inventing non-flying will be as well. Innovation happens only if we try, experiment, and learn by doing. Why should the discovery of flying be considered such a milestone, while not flying doesn\u2019t feature on any innovation programme?<\/p><p>We\u2019re entering a decisive decade, and if we want to radically reverse CO2 emissions, resource consumption and species extinction, then we have to talk about system change and the consequences for our everyday lives. Thirty years from now, we\u2019ll be living in a fundamentally different world \u2013 and we still have time to shape it.<\/p><p><strong>Some further tips:<\/strong><\/p><p>1. Cancel a flight, and spend the time in a remote alpine hut, where you can finally finish writing that long overdue article.<\/p><p>2. ETH Zurich has initiated a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ethz.ch\/services\/en\/organisation\/executive-board\/vice-president-infrastructure\/mobilitaetsplattform\/air-travel.html\">mobility platform<\/a>&nbsp;that serves as a contact and coordination office for sustainable mobility at ETH, and aims to specifically address the dilemma of business air travel. (See also the description of ETH\u2019s efforts on the Stay Grounded website&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/stay-grounded.org\/project\/eth-zurich\/\">here<\/a>.)<\/p><p>3. Take a look at these two initiatives for reducing the academic CO2 footprint by flying less:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/academicflyingblog.wordpress.com\/\">Academic flying blog<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.parncutt.org\/flying.html\">reduce flying to academic conferences<\/a>.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"ugb-expand__toggle-wrapper\"><a class=\"ugb-expand__toggle\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"ugb-expand__more-toggle-text\">Show more<\/span><span class=\"ugb-expand__less-toggle-text\" style=\"display:none\">Show less<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"aligncenter wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-container--width-small ugb-ceb8fb5 ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-plain ugb-main-block\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-container__wrapper ugb-ceb8fb5-wrapper\"><div class=\"ugb-container__side\"><div class=\"ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-ceb8fb5-content-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-left\" id=\"erasmus-by-train\">Erasmus by Train<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Aiming to link the Erasmus and Interrail programmes for a more sustainable and united Europe, the student-led initiative <a href=\"https:\/\/erasmusbytrain.eu\/\">Erasmus by Train<\/a> was founded in January 2020.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ever since, they have been actively trying to raise public awareness of these two European youth programmes and promote the idea of thinking of them collectively. To Erasmus by Train, it seems contradictory that the EU, which sees itself as a sustainable player, indirectly supports air travel; central organisations close to Erasmus, such as ESN, cooperate closely with airlines like Ryanair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/EbT-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-771\" width=\"503\" height=\"335\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/EbT-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/EbT-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/EbT-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/EbT-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/EbT-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/EbT-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/EbT-1-1980x1320.jpg 1980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 503px) 100vw, 503px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Participants therefore often prefer to travel by air because of low prices and discounts. As a result, the Erasmus programme continuously contributes to the EU&#8217;s high CO2 emissions, which runs counter to its obligations under the Paris Convention and its own sustainability efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Erasmus by Train calls on the relevant EU institutions to cover the travel costs of all Erasmus participants who renounce climate-damaging air travel and switch to environmentally friendly means of transport such as rail. Specifically, they are campaigning for free Interrail passes for travel to and from the exchange location!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find out more by visiting <a href=\"https:\/\/erasmusbytrain.eu\/\">erasmusbytrain.eu<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-container--width-small ugb-08eede8 ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-plain ugb-main-block ugb-main-block--inner-center ugb--has-block-background\"><style>.ugb-08eede8.ugb-container{background-color:rgba(73,113,184,0.8)}.ugb-08eede8.ugb-container:before{background-color:#4971b8}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block ugb-inner-block--center\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-container__wrapper ugb-08eede8-wrapper\"><div class=\"ugb-container__side\"><div class=\"ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-08eede8-content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-container--width-small ugb-78825ee ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-basic ugb-main-block\"><style>.ugb-78825ee-wrapper.ugb-container__wrapper{border-radius:0px !important}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-container__wrapper ugb-78825ee-wrapper ugb--shadow-0\"><div class=\"ugb-container__side\"><div class=\"ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-78825ee-content-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-left\" id=\"daantje-utrecht-university\">Daantje from Utrecht University<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Utrecht University aims to be CO\u2082-neutral by 2030 and wishes to reduce air travel by 50 percent in 2030 (compared to 2019). A large part of the UU\u2019s carbon footprint is caused by study-related trips. The UU, therefore, encourages students to travel to their European exchange destination by bus or train. To better facilitate students who want to travel overland, the university came up with a project to reimburse travel costs: the Travel Green Grant. We spoke to Daantje Berghuis of Green Office Utrecht, who is one of the initiators of the project.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Daantje-1024x682.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-715\" width=\"385\" height=\"255\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Daantje-1024x682.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Daantje-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Daantje.png 1036w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 385px) 100vw, 385px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-ugb-blockquote ugb-blockquote ugb-b4d1ac0 ugb-blockquote--v3 ugb-blockquote--design-basic ugb-main-block\"><style>.ugb-b4d1ac0 .ugb-blockquote__item{border-radius:0px !important}.ugb-b4d1ac0 .ugb-blockquote__quote{width:70px !important;height:70px !important}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-blockquote__item ugb--shadow-0\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 50 50\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"ugb-blockquote__quote\" width=\"70\" height=\"70\"><path d=\"M19.8 9.3C10.5 11.8 4.6 17 2.1 24.8c2.3-3.6 5.6-5.4 9.9-5.4 3.3 0 6 1.1 8.3 3.3 2.2 2.2 3.4 5 3.4 8.3 0 3.2-1.1 5.8-3.3 8-2.2 2.2-5.1 3.2-8.7 3.2-3.7 0-6.5-1.2-8.6-3.5C1 36.3 0 33.1 0 29 0 18.3 6.5 11.2 19.6 7.9l.2 1.4zm26.4 0C36.9 11.9 31 17 28.5 24.8c2.2-3.6 5.5-5.4 9.8-5.4 3.2 0 6 1.1 8.3 3.2 2.3 2.2 3.4 4.9 3.4 8.3 0 3.1-1.1 5.8-3.3 7.9-2.2 2.2-5.1 3.3-8.6 3.3-3.7 0-6.6-1.1-8.6-3.4-2.1-2.3-3.1-5.5-3.1-9.7 0-10.7 6.6-17.8 19.7-21.1l.1 1.4z\"><\/path><\/svg><div class=\"ugb-blockquote__content\"><p class=\"ugb-blockquote__text\">I hope that the UU will keep on supporting students in the future, and of course it would be amazing if other universities will copy the project.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-expand ugb-expand ugb-f6ca4e3 ugb-expand--v2 ugb-main-block\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-expand__less-text\"><p>Since the academic year of 2019-2020, Utrecht University offers Travel Green Grants of up to \u20ac185,- for students who choose to take the train or bus to their European study destination. Is \u20ac185,- sufficient to cover all of the travel costs if you go on exchange to a destination on the other side of Europe? Berghuis:&nbsp;&#8220;We chose \u20ac185,- as an upper limit because this equals the price of an Interrail Pass. With this pass, you can travel all across Europe. So even if your exchange university is far out, you should be able to (almost) get there &#8216;for free&#8217;.&#8221;<\/p><\/div><div class=\"ugb-expand__more-text\" style=\"display:none\"><p>Since the academic year of 2019-2020, Utrecht University offers Travel Green Grants of up to \u20ac185,- for students who choose to take the train or bus to their European study destination. Is \u20ac185,- sufficient to cover all of the travel costs if you go on exchange to a destination on the other side of Europe? Berghuis:&nbsp;&#8220;We chose \u20ac185,- as an upper limit because this equals the price of an Interrail Pass. With this pass, you can travel all across Europe. So even if your exchange university is far out, you should be able to (almost) get there &#8216;for free&#8217;.&#8221;<\/p><p><\/p><p>The universities of Lund and Uppsala have introduced similar reimbursement schemes for students. Utrecht University is the first Dutch university that covers the travel costs of students that choose to travel more sustainably. Berghuis, therefore, is proud of the project. <\/p><p><\/p><p>&#8220;The UU wants to encourage internationalisation and at the same time is trying to become more sustainable. Given these goals, I am happy the university takes actual responsibility by facilitating students that want to travel more sustainably. Before we started this project, for UU employees it was already possible to reimburse their (train) travel costs. As students are the group within the university with the least financial means, I feel that besides informing them about the adverse environmental effects of flying, it would be fair to also offer some financial compensation.&#8221; <\/p><p><\/p><p>The UU has agreed to make the grant available for four years. Do you want to know more about the Travel Green Grant project? Click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uu.nl\/en\/organisation\/green-office-utrecht-university\/themes\/mobility\/travel-green-grant\">here<\/a>.<\/p><p><\/p><p>If you have any questions, don&#8217;t hesitate to contact the Travel Green Grant team via travelgreengrant@uu.nl.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"ugb-expand__toggle-wrapper\"><a class=\"ugb-expand__toggle\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"ugb-expand__more-toggle-text\">Show more<\/span><span class=\"ugb-expand__less-toggle-text\" style=\"display:none\">Show less<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-container--width-small ugb-da02041 ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-plain ugb-main-block ugb-main-block--inner-center ugb--has-block-background\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block ugb-inner-block--center\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-container__wrapper ugb-da02041-wrapper\"><div class=\"ugb-container__side\"><div class=\"ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-da02041-content-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-left\" id=\"jelle-maastricht-university\">Jelle from Maastricht University<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>As part of the Green Impact challenge Jelle Kouwenhoven took on the challenge to address the flying behaviour of Maastricht <strong>University<\/strong>: in a team he worked on a proposal to change the travel culture and policy of the university. Their hard work was successful: they won the challenge! The <strong>project has now been handed over to the UM sustainability team for implementation<\/strong>.We spoke to Jelle Kouwenhoven, who was part of the team.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/jellekou-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-596\" width=\"396\" height=\"263\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/jellekou-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/jellekou-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/jellekou-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/jellekou-1536x1021.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/jellekou-1200x798.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/jellekou-1980x1316.jpg 1980w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/jellekou.jpg 1999w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 396px) 100vw, 396px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-ugb-blockquote ugb-blockquote ugb-d46f2a7 ugb-blockquote--v3 ugb-blockquote--design-basic ugb-main-block\"><style>.ugb-d46f2a7 .ugb-blockquote__item{border-radius:0px !important}.ugb-d46f2a7 .ugb-blockquote__quote{width:70px !important;height:70px !important}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-blockquote__item ugb--shadow-0\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 50 50\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"ugb-blockquote__quote\" width=\"70\" height=\"70\"><path d=\"M19.8 9.3C10.5 11.8 4.6 17 2.1 24.8c2.3-3.6 5.6-5.4 9.9-5.4 3.3 0 6 1.1 8.3 3.3 2.2 2.2 3.4 5 3.4 8.3 0 3.2-1.1 5.8-3.3 8-2.2 2.2-5.1 3.2-8.7 3.2-3.7 0-6.5-1.2-8.6-3.5C1 36.3 0 33.1 0 29 0 18.3 6.5 11.2 19.6 7.9l.2 1.4zm26.4 0C36.9 11.9 31 17 28.5 24.8c2.2-3.6 5.5-5.4 9.8-5.4 3.2 0 6 1.1 8.3 3.2 2.3 2.2 3.4 4.9 3.4 8.3 0 3.1-1.1 5.8-3.3 7.9-2.2 2.2-5.1 3.3-8.6 3.3-3.7 0-6.6-1.1-8.6-3.4-2.1-2.3-3.1-5.5-3.1-9.7 0-10.7 6.6-17.8 19.7-21.1l.1 1.4z\"><\/path><\/svg><div class=\"ugb-blockquote__content\"><p class=\"ugb-blockquote__text\">It contributes to a new academic culture, in which long distance business travel is not viewed as imperative for a successful international network and academic career.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-expand ugb-expand ugb-bff46bd ugb-expand--v2 ugb-main-block\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-expand__less-text\"><p>Kouwenhoven: &#8220;This proposal outlines an institutional policy framework to springboard Maastricht University\u2019s air business travel culture into a holistic carbon-conscious air travel cycle. The aim is to encourage and support the UM community in making low-emission travel choices as well as to spread awareness about travelling necessity. It contributes to a new academic culture, in which long-distance business travel is not viewed as imperative for a successful international network and academic career.&#8221;<br><\/p><\/div><div class=\"ugb-expand__more-text\" style=\"display:none\"><p>Kouwenhoven: &#8220;This proposal outlines an institutional policy framework to springboard Maastricht University\u2019s air business travel culture into a holistic carbon-conscious air travel cycle. The aim is to encourage and support the UM community in making low-emission travel choices as well as to spread awareness about traveling necessity. It contributes to a new academic culture, in which long distance business travel is not viewed as imperative for a successful international network and academic career.&#8221;<br><br>The policy holds a UM Sustainable Travel officer responsible for informing and supporting the UM community on how to make the best travel choices in terms of carbon emissions and usability, depending on travel destination. Additionally, the policy proposes compensating 100% of UM\u2019s community air travel emissions by investing in an internal UM Air Travel Mitigation Fund. The fund is part of a larger system to gather financial resources to support low-emission travel choices and other sustainability projects at UM.<br><\/p><p>Kouwenhoven: &#8220;For our proposal we explicitly went for a combination of informing and helping staff about making carbon-conscious travel choices, and implementing a compensation scheme that fairly compensates 100% of the carbon emissions produced during flying. This way we make sure that real action happens instead of just talking, but also help staff in taking that action (by finding less carbon intensive methods of travel).&#8221;<br><\/p><p>The university is going to communicate what it will do with the proposal in September or October 2020. Until then, it is definitely worth taking a look at the proposal (see download link above).&nbsp;You can also read more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maastrichtuniversity.nl\/about-um\/sustainability\">the Green Impact Challenge 2020 here<\/a>.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"ugb-expand__toggle-wrapper\"><a class=\"ugb-expand__toggle\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"ugb-expand__more-toggle-text\">Show more<\/span><span class=\"ugb-expand__less-toggle-text\" style=\"display:none\">Show less<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/DEF-Establishing-a-carbon-conscious-air-travel-cycle-at-UM.pdf\">Establishing a carbon conscious air travel cycle at UM<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-container--width-small ugb-5c860c8 ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-basic ugb-main-block ugb-main-block--inner-center ugb--has-block-background\"><style>.ugb-5c860c8-wrapper.ugb-container__wrapper{border-radius:0px !important;background-color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-5c860c8-wrapper.ugb-container__wrapper:before{background-color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-5c860c8-content-wrapper > h1,.ugb-5c860c8-content-wrapper > h2,.ugb-5c860c8-content-wrapper > h3,.ugb-5c860c8-content-wrapper > h4,.ugb-5c860c8-content-wrapper > h5,.ugb-5c860c8-content-wrapper > h6{color:#222222}.ugb-5c860c8-content-wrapper > p,.ugb-5c860c8-content-wrapper > ol li,.ugb-5c860c8-content-wrapper > ul li{color:#222222}.ugb-5c860c8.ugb-container{background-color:rgba(73,113,184,0.8)}.ugb-5c860c8.ugb-container:before{background-color:#4971b8}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block ugb-inner-block--center\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-container__wrapper ugb-5c860c8-wrapper ugb--shadow-0\"><div class=\"ugb-container__side\"><div class=\"ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-5c860c8-content-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-left\" id=\"lund-university\">LUCSUS, Lund University <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><strong>In 2018, the Centre for Sustainable Studies at Lund University (LUCSUS) adopted a travel policy in which it committed to serious and significant efforts to reduce work-related emissions.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"609\" height=\"342\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Wrangel.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Wrangel.jpg 609w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Wrangel-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 609px) 100vw, 609px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>LUCSUS is a leading center for sustainability research and teaching. It\u2019s diverse engagements take students and staff all across the globe, which comes at the cost of a large environmental footprint. In December 2018, LUCSUS adopted a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lucsus.lu.se\/sites\/lucsus.lu.se\/files\/lucsus_travel_policy.pdf\">travel policy<\/a> aimed at facilitating serious and significant efforts to reduce work-related emissions from travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After an initial 1-year commitment period, the current challenge is to raise ambition, gain wider participation and set more concrete reduction targets for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How did it start?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The idea for a travel policy first came up in informal discussions among LUCSUS staff, who began to question their frequent travels for field work, study trips or conferences. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lucsus.lu.se\/henner-busch\">Henner Busch<\/a>, one of the initiators of the process, recalls that \u201cit all started with individual researchers adopting their own approach, deciding to take the train instead of the plane\u201d. These actions paved the way for the later adoption of the travel policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-expand ugb-expand ugb-d49290c ugb-expand--v2 ugb-main-block\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-expand__less-text\"><p>The change was not only driven by staff, but also by students beginning to examine academic travel practices critically and, in some cases, even directing their research towards it. In 2018, <a href=\"https:\/\/lup.lub.lu.se\/student-papers\/search\/publication\/8947780\">Isabell Burian<\/a> established that Swedish sustainability academics fly on average 72% more frequently for work alone than average Swedes do in total per year, driven mostly by a lack of alternatives and time constraints. And <a href=\"https:\/\/iopscience.iop.org\/article\/10.1088\/1748-9326\/aa7541\/meta\">Seth Wynes<\/a> found in his 2017 thesis that education and government recommendations miss the most effective individual actions &#8211; including aviation.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"ugb-expand__more-text\" style=\"display:none\"><p>The change was not only driven by staff, but also by students beginning to examine academic travel practices critically and, in some cases, even directing their research towards it. In 2018, <a href=\"https:\/\/lup.lub.lu.se\/student-papers\/search\/publication\/8947780\">Isabell Burian<\/a> established that Swedish sustainability academics fly on average 72% more frequently for work alone than average Swedes do in total per year, driven mostly by a lack of alternatives and time constraints. And <a href=\"https:\/\/iopscience.iop.org\/article\/10.1088\/1748-9326\/aa7541\/meta\">Seth Wynes<\/a> found in his 2017 thesis that education and government recommendations miss the most effective individual actions &#8211; including aviation.<\/p><p>Henner remembers that \u201ctheir work deepened conversations and was really helpful in implementing the travel policy.\u201d But it didn\u2019t stop there, and currently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kimnicholas.com\/the-takeoff-of-staying-on-the-ground.html\">Sara Ullstr\u00f6m<\/a> is undertaking her doctoral research on the rising movement in Sweden to reduce flying, and the potentially transformative cultural shift it represents.<\/p><p><strong>What is being done?<\/strong><\/p><p>The final policy adopted by LUCSUS is partly based on Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research\u2019s approach (see our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/index.php\/good-practices\/#tyndall-centre\">good practice<\/a>). It contains a range of measures, for example tracking and collecting carbon emissions via the university\u2019s travel agency and through encouraging staff to use an individual carbon tracker. According to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lucsus.lu.se\/wim-carton\">Wim Carton<\/a>, another flying-less advocate at LUCSUS, these numbers play an important role in \u201cevaluating progress, raising awareness and keeping the conversation going\u201d. However, improving data availability is an ongoing challenge.<\/p><p>As part of the policy, LUCSUS staff also agreed to prioritize train travel for all international destinations within 12 hours, and seriously consider it for all trips within Europe. In order to visualise what this means in practice, a map showing the train travel times to destinations within Europe was created. While Lund is not even located in the center of Europe, it makes clear that a large number of flights could (more or less) conveniently be replaced by travel on the ground.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"ugb-expand__toggle-wrapper\"><a class=\"ugb-expand__toggle\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"ugb-expand__more-toggle-text\">Show more<\/span><span class=\"ugb-expand__less-toggle-text\" style=\"display:none\">Show less<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-0a070c2 ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-basic ugb-main-block\"><style>.ugb-0a070c2-wrapper.ugb-container__wrapper{border-radius:0px !important}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-container__wrapper ugb-0a070c2-wrapper ugb--shadow-0\"><div class=\"ugb-container__side\"><div class=\"ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-0a070c2-content-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-left\" id=\"travel-better-package\">The Travel Better Package<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you looking for more resources? The Travel Better Package might be something to check out. The package was created by the Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education (EAUC) and aims to support the reduction of air travel in the further and higher education (FHE) sector, specifically amongst academics and staff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It not only aims to support reflection on and reconfiguration of the sector&#8217;s relationship to air travel on an institutional and individual basis, it also hopes to encourage individuals to travel better. Moreover, the package is concerned with improving equity and diversity while reducing air travel in the sector and offers support in doing this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Travel Better Package includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>A Questions &amp; Answer tool addressing concerns individuals may have about reducing air travel<\/li><li>The Travel Better Pledge Template used to inform individual behaviour change, as well as departmental and\/or institutional policies, pledges and statements<\/li><li>The Air Travel Justification Tool, which is an extension of a decision tree &#8211; the tool supports individuals in justifying\/reflecting on attending a conference, meeting and\/or event that is only accessible through flying<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sustainabilityexchange.ac.uk\/travel_better_package\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.sustainabilityexchange.ac.uk\/travel_better_package\">Take a look at the package here<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-38112a9 ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-basic ugb-main-block ugb-main-block--inner-center ugb--has-block-background\"><style>.ugb-38112a9-wrapper.ugb-container__wrapper{border-radius:0px !important}.ugb-38112a9.ugb-container{background-color:rgba(73,113,184,0.8)}.ugb-38112a9.ugb-container:before{background-color:#4971b8}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-38112a9-content-wrapper.ugb-container__content-wrapper{width:100% !important}}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block ugb-inner-block--center\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-container__wrapper ugb-38112a9-wrapper ugb--shadow-0\"><div class=\"ugb-container__side\"><div class=\"ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-38112a9-content-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-left\" id=\"eth-z\u00fcrich\">ETH Z\u00fcrich <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ETH Z\u00fcrich has announced to take steps to reduce their emissions by addressing their travel policy as well as travel culture. The Swiss university has committed to a&nbsp;reduction of 11% of their flight emissions from 2019 to 2025. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/eth-zurich-e1598010506742-1024x632.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-688\" width=\"539\" height=\"332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/eth-zurich-e1598010506742-1024x632.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/eth-zurich-e1598010506742-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/eth-zurich-e1598010506742-768x474.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/eth-zurich-e1598010506742-1536x948.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/eth-zurich-e1598010506742-1200x741.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/eth-zurich-e1598010506742-1980x1222.jpg 1980w, https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/eth-zurich-e1598010506742.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 539px) 100vw, 539px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This cut in emissions is based on the effective reduction of flight emissions by ETH members. This means it does not include compensation or the efficiency gains of the airlines due to technological progress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Concrete measures to reduce air travel range from awareness raising, expansion of videoconferencing through trainings and infrastructure improvements, sustainable travel planning&nbsp;(e.g. bundling travels and preference of train rides over flights for journeys less than 8 hours) and new monitoring and evaluation system&nbsp;of flight emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find more information on <a href=\"https:\/\/stay-grounded.org\/project\/eth-zurich\/\">the website of Stay Grounded<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-container--width-small ugb-d5a6bda ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-plain ugb-main-block ugb-main-block--inner-center ugb--has-block-background\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block ugb-inner-block--center\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-container__wrapper ugb-d5a6bda-wrapper\"><div class=\"ugb-container__side\"><div class=\"ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-d5a6bda-content-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-left\" id=\"tyndall-centre\">Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><strong>The Tyndall Travel Strategy includes a voluntary code of conduct and a system to monitor and justify travel emissions. It also supports individual commitments to reducing emissions. To justify travels made, staff can use a decision tree: <a href=\"https:\/\/tyndall.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/travel-strategy-treeofdecisions2.png\">check it out<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the code of conduct to support a low-carbon research culture that is being used:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Monitor and reduce<\/strong>: I will keep track of the carbon emissions of my professional activities, and set personal objectives to reduce them in line with or larger than my country\u2019s carbon emissions commitments (see \u2019Set your targets below).<\/li><li><strong>Account and justify<\/strong>: I will justify my travel considering the location and purpose of the event, my level of seniority, and the alternative options available.<\/li><li><strong>Prioritise, prepare and replace<\/strong>: For activities that I organise, I will chose the location giving high priority to a low carbon footprint of travel of the participants, and I will encourage, incorporate and technically support online speakers and webcasts to reduce unnecessary travel.<\/li><li><strong>Encourage and stimulate<\/strong>: I will resist my own FoMo (Fear of Missing Out) from not attending everything and work towards sensitizing others to the need of the research community to walk the talk on climate change.<\/li><li><strong>Reward<\/strong>: I will work with my peers, Institute and Funders to value alternative metrics of success and encourage the promotion of low-carbon research as a realisable alternative to a high-carbon research career.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>An overview of all measures can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tyndall.ac.uk\/travel-strategy\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","post-thumbnail":"","twentytwenty-fullscreen":""},"post_excerpt_stackable":"<p>The good practices Be inspired by initiatives, thoughts and experiences of other people from the ExPlane network! Soeren from LOCEAN, Sorbonne University During Soeren Thomsen\u2019s visit at Universit\u00e9 Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) in Dakar, Senegal in mid 2018, he and his Senegalese colleagues investigated climate change impacts on the West African coastal ocean. Soeren tells us about the insights he had about pushing for more inclusivity in the academic world while cutting carbon emissions.&nbsp; During Soeren\u2019s visit, the team did not only work on the research, they also had long discussions on how difficult it is for the growing African&hellip;<\/p>\n","category_list":"","author_info":{"name":"explane","url":"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/index.php\/author\/explane\/"},"comments_num":"0 comments","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/409"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=409"}],"version-history":[{"count":112,"href":"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/409\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1221,"href":"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/409\/revisions\/1221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.timetoexplane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}