Sustainable Travel Tips

By Brian Webb, Director of Campus Sustainability at the College of Wooster, June 2024

Studying abroad is an incredible opportunity, and we’re so glad you’re choosing to supplement your Wooster education with a cross-cultural learning experience.  Unfortunately, traveling abroad also has a significant environmental impact, most notably from the emissions associated with flying.  In fact, 4% of the college’s total carbon emissions come from study abroad air travel.  That said, there are many ways that you can work to minimize the environmental impact from your overseas experience.  See below for a few sustainable travel tips, along with an environmental impact ranking of various forms of local and long-distance modes of transportation.

Tips

Less Travel—More Experiences

If you’re tourist traveling before/during/after your program, try to avoid maximizing the number of locations you visit and instead invest longer in fewer locations so you can get to know the local culture better. Spend more weekends in your host country and less trying to hit every nearby nation!

Buy Local

Shop local markets; eat local food; buy souvenirs from local artisans; choose homestays and guesthouses over hotel chains; and hire local guides.  Keeping your tourist dollars local benefits the community you’re in; buying local reduces the environmental impact of your purchases.  In places where bargaining is expected don’t be too stingy.

Buy Carbon Offsets for Your Flights

While there are many important critiques of offsets, they are nevertheless an important step in the right direction for reducing the environmental impact of unavoidable air travel. 

For more information, read this extremely helpful article from Greenly Institute which offers a review of the debate around offsets, when it’s best to use them, and links to some reputable organizations selling them.

Choose Sustainable Modes of Transportation

The largest environmental impact from your study abroad experience undoubtedly comes from the travel itself.  Being mindful of selecting more sustainable options can go a long way in reducing your impact.

    Most sustainable local travel. Best - 1. walk/bike, 2. e-bike, 3. subway, 4. tram. Okay options are 5. Electric vehicle, 6. city bus. Avoid 7. gas vehicle, 8. taxi/Uber (if gas).
    Most sustainable long distance travel options are: 1. international train, 2. ferry, 3. domestic train, 4. EV. Okay options are 5. bus, 6. gas vehicle with 2+ people, 7. long-haul flight, 8. medium-haul flight. Avoid 9. gas vehicle with 1 person, 10. short-haul flight, 11. cruise ship
    This visual shows the carbon cost of transportation, offering the carbon footprint of travel for different vehicles measured in grams of CO2 equivalents per passenger-kilometer.