9. U of G’s Centre for International Programs launches its carbon neutral initiative in partnership with Planetair

The Centre for International Programs' new carbon-neutral initiative allows students to discover new cultures, ideas, and landscapes, while also being environmentally-friendly. CREDIT: KIRA MORTIMER

U of G’s Centre for International Programs launches its carbon neutral initiative in partnership with Planetair

As study abroad programs make their return, students, faculty, and staff will have the opportunity to offset their travel emissions through CIP’s new program

ALYSSA MARKS

After over two years of pandemic-related travel bans, we are beginning to see the incremental removal of COVID-19 travel restrictions. Many people are taking this long-awaited opportunity to book the flights and vacations that they have missed out on over the past two years. But these flights and travel plans may have lingering environmental consequences.

Flying produces massive amounts of carbon emissions, and is heavily dependent on fossil fuels. A flight from Montreal to London produces as much CO2 as heating a European home for a year, says the David Suzuki Foundation.

Many industries have taken action in reducing their carbon footprint, but the aviation sector has grown theirs by 75 per cent from 1990 to 2012. If the industry continues on its current trajectory, carbon emissions are expected to continue growing. We are at a point where, if the aviation industry were a country, it would be amongst the top 10 carbon emitters in the world.

As people begin to purchase tickets for tropical resorts and relaxing vacations, study abroad and exchange school programs are amping up as well. In fact, U of G’s Centre for International Programs (CIP) has begun reopening many of their study abroad programs, with some starting as soon as the summer 2022 semester.

In light of the growing knowledge about the environmental impact of air travel, the CIP has developed a carbon neutral initiative to offset and reduce the carbon emissions associated with international study programs. The CIP has also vowed to offset the carbon emitted as a result of their daily business and operation of the office, says Dr. Lynne Mitchell, director of the CIP.

“We know that studying abroad is important in developing intercultural competence, professional development … and academically [as well]. But it is also a large contributor to carbon emissions and climate change. In order to see a future for the environment and to see a future for study abroad, we feel that this is an important initiative,” said Jacqueline Veres, marketing and communications coordinator at the CIP.

The carbon neutral initiative, which was launched at the beginning of March, is a collaborative project with Planetair, a non-profit organization and service that provides individuals and companies with the opportunity to offset and compensate for their carbon footprint.

Planetair accomplishes this by helping users calculate their emissions and offsetting those emissions through environmentally positive projects. These projects can consist of reforestation efforts, research, sustainable housing, investments in renewable energy, and so on.

With this new initiative, the CIP plans to achieve complete carbon neutral study abroad by 2025. Students participating in summer 2022 study abroad programs will be the first to have access to it.

With the initiative’s launch, the CIP and Planetair have also initiated a lighthearted contest by providing members of the U of G community with unique codes to mark which group they identify with–students, staff, faculty, or alumni. These codes will then be tallied up in a year's time to see which group purchased the most carbon offsets.

Interestingly enough, this isn’t the CIP’s first time launching a carbon neutral initiative. Just a few years ago, the CIP launched a similar carbon neutral

In order to see a future for the environment and to see a future for study abroad, we feel that this is an important initiative.

program with Planetair. But Mitchell said that there wasn’t much uptake or interest, which caused them to abandon the program.

“I don’t think people really had the same awareness of climate issues. . . I think we are also seeing people realise that this isn’t an extra that you could do to be more climate-friendly in your travel, now there is a lot more talk about a climate emergency,” Mitchell said.

The CIP has also expanded its virtual exchange programs. With a virtual exchange, students can experience studying abroad and intercultural exposure without leaving their home or using air travel. They can do so by collaborating with a university or NGO in another country through online learning platforms.

“It may not be the exact same thing, but at least that ability to interact with people in a similar discipline but from different perspectives and different places in the world [is there],” said Mitchell.

Veres says that, although it was a program that existed before COVID-19, there has since been a greater push for it.

“We are hoping with this [that] there are more connections and possibilities in the future. And we can kind of build on what we have learned through COVID-19 and develop this program further,” she said.

Mitchell shared this view and said that, based on the things that the university and students alike have learned from COVID-19 in terms of conducting business and studies online, it allows for the seamless delivery of virtual exchange programs.

Mitchell added that there is also an aspect of accessibility and inclusiveness with the expansion of virtual exchange programs.

“When we look at equity and inclusion, there are many students who could never go on a study abroad program because of their life situation. Maybe they have responsibilities, families, kids, whatever the reasoning might be. But the virtual exchange may be an opportunity that people could have where they don’t have to leave home. So in this sense, it is more accessible.”

The broadening of accessibility has been a part of the CIP’s broader set of goals. Among those goals is also spreading awareness about climate change and travel, and holding ourselves accountable for our carbon footprints.

“There is an education piece that broadens your awareness of what is going on with climate change instead of just getting on a plane, doing your study abroad, and not worrying about it. We want students to go on study abroad experiences, but we also want students to be aware of the negative aspects that it can entail,” said Mitchell.

So far the feedback from students, staff, faculty, and alumni about the carbon neutral initiative has been positive and supportive.

“One person told us that this was the push that she needed to offset her own carbon emissions. It doesn’t just have to be flights, it can also be things like running your house, or driving your car; those kinds of emissions. Our program was the push that she needed,” Veres said.

Both Mitchell and Veres noted that the CIP will be able to better gauge the success of the initiative once the study abroad programs resume in summer 2022.

To find more information about the CIP’s carbon neutral initiative, and to take action in offsetting your own carbon emissions, feel free to visit their website at uoguelph.ca/cip/carbon-neutral-studyabroad.

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After nearly two years of COVID-19 travel restrictions, U of G’s study abroad programs are making an exciting return. CREDIT: DANIELLE AHRENS

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