Sustainability
Contact
Center for Study AwayMarkim Hall, Second Floor 651-696-6300
studyaway@macalester.edu
Sustainability and care for the environment are central to being responsible global citizens. We strongly believe in the power of study away to foster lifelong growth in our students and also recognize that these off-campus learning opportunities do come at an environmental cost. We want to help you make informed choices about your study away experience and think intentionally about the ways you can offset the emissions produced by your flights, support your host country and community, and care for the planet while you are studying away. What is considered sustainable in the U.S. may not work elsewhere, and practices elsewhere may not translate directly back home. Still, you can find many opportunities to support local communities and protect the environment in your host destination—and to bring new ideas and sustainable practices with you when you return. How can you begin or strengthen your commitment to sustainability while studying away? We hope these resources give you a useful place to start.
Tips & Resources
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Pre-Departure Plan to:
- Pack reusable items such as water bottles, shopping bags, food containers, etc. to cut back on waste.
- Pack light. Less weight on the plane means less fuel burnt and lower carbon emissions.
- Pack a solar powered charger. They cut back on energy usage and are portable, making them ideal for travel.
- Pack multi-purpose and solid toiletries to cut back on waste.
Check out:
- CoolClimate Network’s carbon footprint calculator to identify and quantify specific behavior changes that can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.
- Denver University’s Sustainability Country Guides and other resources.
- Middlebury’s guide to choosing a study away program with sustainability in mind
- The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to see how global environmental protection is connected to peace, justice, and other issues.
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Travel Plan to:
- Walk, bike, or take public transportation. Cut back on greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from private vehicles.
- When possible, travel by bus, train, or ship (but avoid cruise ships). Traveling by methods other than flying is usually more environmentally friendly and has a smaller carbon footprint.
- Book non-stop flights. Carbon emissions are higher during taxiing, takeoff, and landings.
- Fly during the day. Airplane contrails reflect some sunlight away from the earth. At night, those contrails trap heat into the earth, causing night flights to have a greater warming effect.
- Fly with airlines that use biofuel, which is made from biomass, a renewable source of energy. A few of the airlines that use biofuels are United Airlines, Lufthansa, and British Airways. Check out the Sustainable Aviation Fuel User Group to see others.
Check out:
- EcoPassenger to compare environmental impacts of transportation options.
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While You Are Away Plan to:
- Choose eco-friendly lodging. Eco hotels find sustainable ways to limit their environmental impacts. There are many resources and websites to assist you in finding ecofriendly, sustainable lodging. A couple examples are Ecobnb and EcoHotels.
- Buy locally made products to give financial support to local communities. Avoid kitschy souvenirs. Commonly bought souvenirs are mass produced and likely to be thrown away. Choose ones that are locally made and have lasting value, such as food or indigenous artisanal products.
- Choose local restaurants instead of international chains. Eating at local restaurants benefits local communities and economies.
- Do not barter excessively. Every dollar helps local communities.
- Live like a local. Talk with the locals, eat what the locals eat, do what the locals do. It is the best way to sustainably respect their lifestyle.
- Volunteer in your local community. Find local sustainability initiatives and other ways to give back. Also be aware of and avoid unethical voluntourism.
- Avoid touristy destinations. Overtoursim has harsh consequences for local communities such as increased litter, waste, and water consumption, air pollution, and destruction of natural habitats.
- Document what you learn about sustainability while abroad and share these stories with the Macalester community upon your return
Check out:
- DIS’s blogs on slow travel and sustainable living
- Localvore app to find locally-sourced food and locally-owned eateries
- MyMizu or Closca apps to find nearby places in public to refill your water bottle
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Sustainability Study Away Programs Programs with sustainability-related themes:
- SEA: Sea Education Association
- SES: Semester in Environmental Science
- SIT Iceland: Climate Change and the Arctic
- SIT Madagascar: Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management
Programs with notable sustainability-related courses:
Learn something about sustainability in your host culture? SHARE IT WITH US!