Green Erasmus: sustainable travel tips

Sustainable travel is an important part of Ghent University's climate plan there. Every year, many hundreds of our students and staff travel abroad. On this website, you will learn how to make this educational experience more sustainable too. Read our practical travel and accommodation tips and find out how you can get up to 50 euros financial support if you choose sustainable transport (within Europe).

Before you leave: practical travel support

Financial benefits

Inside the European Union, the Erasmus+ programme foresees an extra 50 euros and up to 4 days of additional individual support for your sustainable journey.

Find out more information in the Erasmus Study Roadmap (search for Green travel).

Before you book

Travelling by train

Travel planners

European train tickets

Train passes

Traveling by bus

While mostly still powered by fossil fuels, travelling by bus has a considerably lower impact on the environment than flying. More often than not, it's also one of the most affordable options.

Still need to fly

  • Fly with no or fewer stopovers since direct flights are less polluting.
  • Fly to places close to your final destination and switch to alternative transport modes for the final part.
  • Prefer a day flight over a night flight, since the contrails’ effect of the latter is higher.
  • Compensate your flight through Treecological.

Travelling light: #zerowastetravel

  • Make sure you have a reusable kit: water bottle and cup for hot drinks, reusable bag, reusable cutlery, toiletries in refillable bottles and/or soap bar.
  • Check the local weather reports, so you can pack more accurately.

During your stay: how to live more sustainably abroad

The Green Erasmus Portal has been developed by the Erasmus Student Network to provide students with information on how to be sustainable before, during and after their Erasmus experience.

Green Erasmus tips

Staying and getting around locally

  • Choose accommodations with a Green Key label.
  • Make the most of public transport.
  • Discover the regions surrounding your host city.

Buying things

  • Use sustainable or second hand furniture.
  • Check with your host university if they offer items on loan.

Eating and drinking

Living life

  • Integrate in a local student or sports club.
  • Follow a local course with a sustainability-focus.
  • Become a volunteer in a local, social or sustainable project.

After your return: how to integrate newly learned habits back home

Tips from the CIS Australia Green Book

The Centre for International Studies (CIS) Australia has developed a Green Book to help you understand the positive impact you can have on the world and what steps you can take to lighten your environmental footprint.

The guide is filled with practical tips and useful resources on what to pack and how to choose the lowest carbon travel options, as well as how sustainability can help you make local connections and build skills that will benefit your future and career.

UGent Climate Plan

Ghent University supports the EU ambition to be climate neutral by 2050 and makes this path specific for the next 10 years with a climate plan. For all relevant policy domains, goals are set, boundaries are defined and actions are formulated. The results are monitored annually by the Board of Directors and the actions are adjusted where necessary. The Climate Plan deals with 3 major aspects: climate mitigation (CO2 reduction), climate adaptation and circular economy.

Contact

There is a lot of information to process here, so it's natural to feel overwhelmed and unsure what to decide upon. On the other hand, you may have some green mobility tips that we haven't thought of yet, and you would like to see included on this page.

In both cases, feel free to reach out to us.

Contact the Green Office at duurzaam@ugent.be