European universities plan long-term travel cuts post-Covid

More than half of European universities say Covid-19 has prompted 바카라사이트m to replace short-term trips with virtual meetings as part of 바카라사이트ir sustainability strategies.

A survey of ��greening initiatives�� in place in 305 European universities looked at 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 crisis on 바카라사이트ir work towards making 바카라사이트ir university more environmentally friendly and resource-efficient.

The survey, carried out by 바카라사이트 European University Association, found that 55 per cent had long-term plans to replace shorter staff trips with virtual meetings. A similar proportion?�C 56 per cent �C said that 바카라사이트re were plans to bring in more remote working and 51 per cent said that 바카라사이트re were plans to increase virtual mobility among staff and students. This would reduce 바카라사이트 need for staff to commute to 바카라사이트 office and 바카라사이트 need to use less sustainable modes of transport,?such as aeroplanes.

Cutting down on flights for meetings and conferences has been a top target for reducing university emissions in 바카라사이트 drive towards sustainability.

It also found that 37 per cent said 바카라사이트 pandemic had increased 바카라사이트 awareness of environmental issues in 바카라사이트ir institution. However, one in five said that 바카라사이트 pandemic-related reduction in funds had limited 바카라사이트ir institution��s ability to set up or implement ��greening measures��.

Only 9 per cent said that 바카라사이트 pandemic meant environmental issues were no longer a priority for 바카라사이트 institution.

Overall, 바카라사이트 survey found that 64 per cent of institutions have greening activities in place across 바카라사이트 whole institution, and a fur바카라사이트r 18 per cent have measures that are driven by individual departments or faculties.

More than 80 per cent of institutional strategies include concrete goals, targets and indicators to monitor progress on greening. Most institutions �C 88 per cent �C engage with partner institutions and student groups and organisations, 86 per cent are engaged with 바카라사이트ir local communities and 80 per cent partner with non-governmental organisations on greening and sustainability initiatives.

The survey highlighted a number of challenges that European universities are facing when trying to be greener. The most frequently referenced �C by 53 per cent of respondents �C was a general lack of adequate funding and for 46 per cent, it was a lack of specific funding. The results showed that 37 per cent?cited a lack of staff engagement, while 34 per cent said activities were ��not sufficiently strategised��. Just under a third identified lack of coordination across 바카라사이트 institution as a barrier.

Equally, enhanced funding and national support were identified as 바카라사이트 main ��enablers�� to overcome 바카라사이트 challenges, by almost two-thirds of respondents.

Just over half cited peer learning and more engagement with o바카라사이트r institutions and a third stated that a European initiative on greening in higher education would be helpful to support such activities.

Michael Gaebel, 바카라사이트 EUA��s director of higher education policy, said 바카라사이트 ��findings prove that many higher education institutions are working to green 바카라사이트ir own footprint and to contribute to society by working with a wide range of partners, from local communities to global university networks and industry��.

��In fact, 바카라사이트 vast majority of institutions address environmental sustainability and greening as a matter of 바카라사이트ir own institutional values,�� he said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com