Improve the efficiency of travel

Even if you have to drive or fly, there are numerous ways of improving the efficiency or otherwise limiting the environmental impacts of your next business trip. 

For car journeys:

• Choosing the vehicle with lowest available emissions rating is a good start. Even if there’s no EV or hybrid option, the CO₂ emissions of some larger petrol or diesel-powered cars can be more than double those of the most efficient model in real-world driving conditions.
• Car-sharing with colleagues travelling to the same meeting or event should be an obvious option for saving money as well as cutting emissions.
• Research shows that simple eco-driving techniques can improve fuel efficiency by up to 15% and are likely to improve safety at the same time. Slowing down, driving smoothly and switching off when idling are all proven ways of reducing emissions when driving.
• Finally, there are several ways your department can improve the environmental performance of all the road transport it uses for University purposes, whether it operates fleet vehicles of its own, or makes regular use of hire vehicles or staff-owned vehicles. A Quick Guide to Greening your Fleet Operations (PDF, 1,474kB) is available to view. 

For air journeys: 

• University policy allows higher classes of air travel under specific conditions, in particular for certain long-haul flights. But flying business class can double the emissions per passenger when compared with economy on the same flight because of the extra space needed on the aircraft, so staff are encouraged to use discretion within the bounds of policy to limit their carbon footprint. 
• Air travellers may also be able to limit the carbon footprint of their flight by flying non-stop. It has been estimated that up to 25% of aircraft emissions come from taking off and landing, including taxiing to and from the runway, so taking a direct route will save CO₂ as well as time. 
• Even on the same route, it may be possible to reduce emissions further by opting for the airline with the most fuel-efficient fleet. The University's travel management company can advise on selecting the most carbon-efficient air travel option.
• Carbon offsetting is widely promoted as a tool for limiting the climate change impacts of air travel and other carbon-intensive activity. The University is developing its policy on offsetting as part of its broader carbon reduction plan. This will seek to ensure that any chosen offsetting schemes are procured compliantly and that their emissions savings are both verifiable and additional to those required to meet global climate goals. 

For all journeys:

• Time permitting, it may be possible to undertake additional University work as part of the same trip, helping to maximise its value and reduce the need for further travel. This might involve attending additional meetings, events or site visits related to your own area of work during the same trip, or coordinating your travel plans with others in advance.