Climate Action in On-Site Study Abroad in Europe
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v37i1.992Keywords:
Climate action, Europe, study abroad, sustainabilityAbstract
Study abroad travel by plane forms the largest component of a programme’s carbon footprint. This paper stresses the importance of embedding climate action into study abroad and outlines climate action steps for on-site programmes in Europe to become more sustainable, including 1) calculating carbon footprints, 2) reducing emissions, 3) offsetting remaining emissions, and 4) embedding climate and sustainability education into our programmes. Practitioner survey results show that many programmes have already implemented some actions, but more could be done with targeted effort. Student survey results show that while they favour climate action outcomes in their programme, most students view their abroad semester as an opportunity to be hypermobile without consideration to climate. We view climate action and sustainability education within our programmes as being critical to the future of study abroad in Europe.
Abstract in Italian
Le emissioni di carbonio di un programma di studio all’estero sono causate principalmente dal fatto che si viaggi in aereo. Questo articolo sottolinea l'importanza di includere un piano di contrasto al cambiamento climatico nei programmi di studio all’estero e suggerisce delle azioni concrete per rendere più sostenibili i programmi in Europa, tra cui: 1) calcolare le emissioni relative al programma 2) ridurle 3) compensare le residue 4) incorporare nei programmi la formazione sulla sostenibilità ambientale. I risultati di un sondaggio fatto tra operatori del settore in Europa mostrano che molti programmi hanno già implementato alcune misure, ma che con uno sforzo mirato si potrebbe fare di più. I risultati di un sondaggio tra gli studenti rivelano invece che, sebbene essi ritengano importante il tema del cambiamento climatico, tendono a considerare il semestre all'estero come un'opportunità irripetibile per viaggiare senza doversi preoccupare delle conseguenze che la loro ipermobilità ha sull’ambiente e sul cambiamento climatico. Crediamo dunque che la lotta al cambiamento climatico e l'educazione alla sostenibilità nei nostri programmi siano elementi fondamentali per il futuro dello studio all'estero in Europa.
Abstract in Irish
Formaíonn staidéar thar lear le eitleán an comhpháirt is mó de clár lorg carbóin. Cuireann an paipéar seo béim ar an tábhacht a bhaineann le daingniú gniomhaíochta aeráide in staidéar thar lear agus míniú gníomhú aeráide le haghaidh clár ar an láthair san Eoraip chun a bheith níos inbhuanaithe, lena n-áirítear 1) ag áiriú lorg carbóin, 2) ag laghdú astaíochtaí, 3) cúiteamh a dheanamh ar astaíochtaí atá fágtha, agus 4) ag daigniú oideachas aeráide agus inbhuanaitheacht isteach inár gcláracha. Mínítear gníomhaíochtaí a bhaineann le staidear thar lear ar an láthair le haghaidh na céimeanna seo. Taispeánann suirbhé na gcleachtóirí líon móir cláracha i mbun cuid de na ghníomhaíochtaí cheana féin, ach is féidir níos mó a dhéanamh le hiarracht dírithe. De réir torthaí suirbhé na ndaltaí, cé go bhfuil siad i bhfabhar torthaí gníomhaíochtaí aeráide in a gcláracha, tá dearcadh acu ar a dtéarma thar lear mar deis chun a bheith níos soghluaistí gan machnamh a dhéanamh ar an aeráid. Tá léargas againn ar oideachas athrú aeráide agus inbhuanaitheacht i measc ár gcláracha mar a bheith criticiúil de todhcaí staidéar thar lear san Eoraip.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Stephen Robinson, Mark Barneche, Mark Blakemore, Karl Dowling, Margherita Pasquini, Daniel Ponce-Taylor
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