Transport has become one of the largest sources of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) worldwide. This sector, in the European Union, is responsible for generating a quarter of total emissions.
Moreover, some studies say that climate scientists tend to travel by plane more often than researchers from other disciplines.
Facing this situation, it is particularly important to stand for a transportation which gives priority to the use of clean and sustainable options. This is the reason why we decided, a few weeks ago, to approve our Travel Policy.
The document comes within the framework of the Let’s Stay Grounded campaign, which aims to reach all types of organizations and institutions. In our case, it aims to be a long-term strategy that guides us towards reducing our carbon footprint.
Below, we show some of the concrete measures we have committed to:
- Carrying out an inventory of journeys and measuring the emissions associated with them, taking 2019 as the base year.
- Evaluating these emissions on an annual basis and setting new targets for subsequent years.
- The selection and prioritization of land and collective means of transport as opposed to those for private use.
- The assessment of the real need for any activity involving air travel. Wherever possible, alternative routes will also be sought or, in the latter case, direct flights and airlines with lower emissions.
In addition to reduce our emissions, the travel policy document aims to raise awareness about the polluting impacts of transport, and especially aviation, as well as to motivate to action and to take responsibility.
If you want to consult the document further, you can find the Travel Policy here.