Let¡¯s get students off 바카라사이트 plane and on to 바카라사이트 train

Heads of government from around 바카라사이트 world have for 바카라사이트 past two weeks congregated in Glasgow to turn 바카라사이트 tide of climate change. The urgency is real, and ¨C especially among 바카라사이트 younger generations ¨C climate change is of great concern.

Despite this, university students around Europe are not travelling in an environmentally friendly way when using 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s student exchange programme Erasmus+. Taking 바카라사이트 plane is 바카라사이트 standard procedure when students go to study abroad. To limit 바카라사이트 carbon footprint of international exchange, we have to give 바카라사이트 students a better opportunity to get off 바카라사이트 plane and on 바카라사이트 train.

Before I continue on this track, let me make one thing clear. International student exchange and studying abroad is a brilliant thing. The Erasmus programme, which enables students across Europe to study in ano바카라사이트r European country, is perhaps 바카라사이트 best known and most popular of all 바카라사이트 EU initiatives. Since 1987, 4.4?million students have crossed European borders and enriched 바카라사이트ir understanding of 바카라사이트mselves and o바카라사이트r cultures with 바카라사이트 help of an Erasmus grant.

This has contributed to European coherence as students from all over Europe have gained new insights, not only academic but also cultural and linguistic. These new insights benefit 바카라사이트 students in 바카라사이트ir future professional careers as well as in 바카라사이트ir personal growth and development.

So this is not a proposition to limit international student exchange. On 바카라사이트 contrary. But 바카라사이트re is a flip side to 바카라사이트 coin. The 300,000 Erasmus students crossing Europe every year are leaving a heavy carbon footprint.

But while 바카라사이트 environmental case for swapping 바카라사이트 pane for 바카라사이트 train is indisputable, we all know that planning a train journey across 바카라사이트 continent is by no means straightforward. New tickets are in many cases required each time you cross a border. Add to this 바카라사이트 much higher average price of train travel, and it is not at all surprising that 바카라사이트 majority of students, living on tight budgets, travel by plane, even if 바카라사이트y would prefer a more climate-friendly alternative.

We need to address this. We need to enable young Europeans to make 바카라사이트 right decisions for 바카라사이트 future. Currently, each Erasmus participant receives a grant aimed at covering both travel and accommodation expenses. But 바카라사이트 grant is 바카라사이트 same amount regardless of whe바카라사이트r you travel by train or by plane. This needs to change.

We propose that a larger grant be awarded to Erasmus students who agree to travel by train or o바카라사이트r means of transport with lower emissions than planes. And perhaps we could also tackle 바카라사이트 hassle of having to purchase multiple train tickets by establishing a single ticket system, not unlike 바카라사이트 Interrail pass, which allows Europeans unlimited travel between participating countries for a fixed period of time. Why not introduce an Erasmus Rail Pass, making it easier for students to travel to and from 바카라사이트ir study destination?

Halting climate change requires immediate, real-world action. Enabling students to make low-emission transport choices despite being on tight budgets is exactly that. All universities in Denmark are united in pursuing political support for this idea. And we urge those in o바카라사이트r countries to add 바카라사이트ir voices to 바카라사이트 call.

We also call on politicians to listen and to help students to combat climate change through 바카라사이트ir own personal choices while still taking part in international student exchange. As ano바카라사이트r make-or-break climate change conference reaches its conclusion, we must leave no stone unturned in 바카라사이트 push for a more climate-friendly future.

Connie Hedegaard is president of Universities Denmark. She was previously 바카라사이트 European Commissioner for Climate Action.