Reducing the carbon footprint from academic air travel
Worldwide CO2 emissions have to be dramatically reduced and universities have a responsibility to address their carbon footprints. The Faculty of Law, in cooperation with the Maastricht Sustainability Institute, brought together experts to investigate the policy approaches that are needed.
When looking at the carbon footprint of universities, one activity stands out—air travel for academic purposes. The aim of the workshop was to investigate the best practices regarding the reduction and compensation of carbon emissions and to explore options for establishing acceptable offsetting mechanisms within the academic world.
Shortly after this workshop, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out and that resulted in a dramatic change in academic pursuits with a sudden decline in travelling. The issue of minimising aviation emissions will still be relevant after recovery from the pandemic, but the insights gained during the workshop may also be relevant for addressing the enormous increase of greenhouse gas emissions caused by ICT services.
For more information, read the blog post on academic air travel and climate-friendly behaviour from Prof. Marjan Peeters, Professor of Environmental Policy and Law and coordinator of the workshop.
View the workshop programme
| Return to lawreview2020 |
Also read
-
Maastricht Montesquieu Institute (MMI) to be discontinued as of 1 September 2025
MMI to be discontinued as of 1 September 2025; research continues elsewhere.
-
UM stands firm for academic freedom and international law
The world is going through turbulent times. The horrific violence in places like Gaza and Ukraine, as well as anti-academic trends in countries such as the United States, have also sparked discussion within our university community. These discussions range from the role universities should play in...
-
More green, more life: how FS is working on biodiversity on campus
Facility Services (FS) at Maastricht University is actively working to create a greener, more vibrant, and more sustainable university campus, in line with the ambitions of the new UM Sustainability Roadmap. Through initiatives such as Bioblitz – in which students and staff can spot and register...
