Travel can be necessary in conducting and disseminating research. However, using alternatives to travel can provide a range of benefits, including:
- making events more accessible
- more efficient use of staff time
- reducing environmental impacts
- saving money
The impact of travel on our carbon footprint
The University has committed to cutting its carbon footprint to net zero by 2040 across all areas of our activities. Travelling for research contributes to the University's carbon footprint, with staff business travel representing about 6% of our total annual footprint.
Reducing research-related travel is an important way in which you can help drive the change needed for us to deliver meaningful impact on tackling climate change.
Funder expectations
The Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice has been created by the UK research sector to ensure research and innovation can continue to play a critical part in tackling some of the biggest challenges we face, while helping the sector act responsibly to protect and promote our environment.
The Concordat covers all aspects of environmental sustainability, and reducing the impact from business and academic travel is noted as a priority area. We have a responsibility to change how we travel for both research and business, and funders not only expect the research community to do so but are willing to fund sustainable alternatives.
The Wellcome Trust requires all grant applicants, and existing grant holders, to offset all research-related travel carbon emissions as part of their grant funding conditions. The trust will cover the cost of this requirement as part of their research grant funding. Please note, the University approach and best practice is to not use offsetting, this scheme has been set up purely to satisfy Wellcome Trust requirements.
Reduce the environmental impact of your research travel
There are a number of ways that you can reduce the environmental impact from research travel. These ideas are listed in priority order.
Review whether or not travel is necessary
- Prioritise online and hybrid options where possible
- Reduce the number of people travelling
- Consolidate research activities and meetings to minimise journeys
- Agree on meeting places (for example, for conferences) that allow the largest number of attendees to avoid flying
- To complete fieldwork, you could collaborate with partner organisations rather than visiting other countries yourself, or reduce the total number of trips you need to take
Use low-carbon travel options
If you must travel:
- look for alternative travel solutions using sustainable-travel resources like Sustainability Exchange's Air Travel Justification Tool and Questions & Answers Tool
- prioritise public transport and avoid air travel where possible, as outlined in the University’s Business Travel and Expenses Policy
- use the carbon calculator to help you choose low-carbon travel options
Read experiences from Bath’s research community on the benefits of grounded travel.
Minimise the impacts of air travel
If you absolutely need to fly:
- combine activities with colleagues so that you’re making the most of your flight
- travel by economy rather than business class - international business class flights increase the carbon emissions from your journey by 190% compared to economy class1
- take direct flights, avoiding any options with stopovers
Reduce the environmental impact of your commute
Changing the way we travel goes beyond research and business travel. Changing your daily commute is an important step you can take to reduce your environmental impact and can also provide positive benefits to your health and wellbeing. Discover more about how the University supports active travel commuting.