Sustainability in Study Sustainability in Study Abroad: An IntroductionAbroad: An Introduction

Emily Capdeville, Tulane UniversityEmily Capdeville, Tulane University

Courtney de Vries, Rice UniversityCourtney de Vries, Rice University

Megan Wood, SIT Study AbroadMegan Wood, SIT Study Abroad

Objectives of this sessionObjectives of this session

Gain a better understanding of sustainability and Gain a better understanding of sustainability and responsibilities within a study abroad contextresponsibilities within a study abroad context

Increase knowledge of ways you can reduce the Increase knowledge of ways you can reduce the environmental impacts of your campus environmental impacts of your campus

Gain a better understanding of ways you can promote Gain a better understanding of ways you can promote sustainability amongst study abroad students and on sustainability amongst study abroad students and on your campusyour campus

Learn about resources available to you, your students Learn about resources available to you, your students and your campusand your campus

Sustainability Sustainability

What does it mean? Several definitions exist, including:

a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged (Webster)

development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (’87 World Commission on Environment and Development)

But how do we define it in relation to Education Abroad?

Sustainability and Sustainability and Education AbroadEducation Abroad

Forum Standards of Good PracticeForum Standards of Good PracticeThe organization minimizes negative impacts on the environment and host culture and maximizes economic and social benefits. Program Design Curriculum Office Management Promotion

Building a Sustainable Building a Sustainable OfficeOffice

Tulane’s Center for Global EducationTulane’s Center for Global Education

Step One! How Step One! How sustainability-consciencesustainability-conscience is my office now?is my office now?

www.TheGreenOffice.com/carbon/

TransportationTransportation

Facility, Energy & WasteFacility, Energy & Waste

Products & Misc. ServicesProducts & Misc. Services

COCO22 Output Output

48.7 tons of CO48.7 tons of CO22

Annual greenhouse gas emissions from Annual greenhouse gas emissions from 8.1 8.1 passenger vehicles passenger vehicles COCO22 emissions from emissions from 5,015 5,015 gallons of gasoline consumed gallons of gasoline consumed

COCO22 emissions from emissions from 103 103 barrels of oil consumed barrels of oil consumed

COCO22 emissions from the emissions from the electricityelectricity use of use of 5.9 5.9 homes for one yearhomes for one year

COCO22 emissions from the emissions from the energyenergy use of use of 3.9 3.9 homes for one year homes for one year

Carbon sequestered by Carbon sequestered by 1,133 1,133 tree seedlings grown for 10 years tree seedlings grown for 10 years Carbon sequestered annually by Carbon sequestered annually by 10 10 acres of pine or fir forests acres of pine or fir forests Carbon sequestered annually by Carbon sequestered annually by .31 .31 acres of forest preserved from deforestation acres of forest preserved from deforestation COCO22 emissions from emissions from 1,841 1,841 propane cylinders used for home barbeques propane cylinders used for home barbeques

COCO22 emissions from burning emissions from burning .23 .23 railcars’ worth of coal railcars’ worth of coal

Greenhouse gas emissions avoided by recycling Greenhouse gas emissions avoided by recycling 15.2 15.2 tons of waste instead of sending it to the landfill tons of waste instead of sending it to the landfill

http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html

MethodsMethods

www.maps.google.comwww.maps.google.com www.convertunits.com www.convertunits.com www.entergy.comwww.entergy.com Facility Services (on-campus)Facility Services (on-campus) Materials Management (on-campus)Materials Management (on-campus) http://www.swbno.org/ http://www.swbno.org/

Proactive ApproachesProactive Approaches

University ActionsUniversity Actions President’s CommitmentPresident’s Commitment Recycling ProgramsRecycling Programs Sustainability Appointed Position Sustainability Appointed Position

Study Abroad ActionsStudy Abroad Actions Study Abroad FairsStudy Abroad Fairs Pre-Departure OrientationPre-Departure Orientation AbroadAbroad

Study Abroad Fairs

Transportation (consider carpooling)

https://www.goloco.org/learn_more Green Hotels Association

http://www.greenhotels.com/grntrav.htm Carbon offsets Local food

Study Abroad Fairs

Give aways and program materials Reduce handouts Publicity Water in bulk containers Compost and recycle bins

Green Passport ProgramGreen Passport Program

Awareness, Actions, Advocacy, ReportingAwareness, Actions, Advocacy, Reportinghttp://www.greenpassport.us/http://www.greenpassport.us/

As a Green Passport holder I acknowledge the interconnectednessof the world’s people and the environment. I pledge to explore andtake into account the social and environmental consequences ofstudying, living, working, traveling, or volunteering abroad and willtry to improve these aspects of my international experience. Whileoverseas, and when I return home, I will do my best to:

• Minimize my impact on the environment;• Act in culturally respectful ways;• Engage with locals and participate in the local community;• Give back to my host community(ies).

Programs Abroad

Program Component Impacts Environmental Policy Curriculum Integration

Transportation Waste Green office and classroom

Program Component Impacts

Travel with the herd (more people per vehicle) Plan ahead (reduce the number of trips by combining

activities, locate accommodation close to activities) Take it slow (the faster the more energy needed) Don’t go far (distance makes big difference) Stay for a while (longer in one place) Avoid friction (travel light in efficient vehicles)

Transport options are from best to worst: walking, bicycle, train, bus, car, airplane. Airplanes emit extremely high levels of greenhouse gases and should be avoided if possible.

Transportation

Waste

Reduce use of plastics Reuse program readings and texts Purchase recycled paper Use rechargeable batteries Use refillable printer cartridges or Recycle used ink-jet

cartridges Avoid goods with lots of packaging Composting bin Recycling Bins Recycle or Auction all Used Electronic Equipment Use a water filter rather than bottled water

Green Office and Program Site Get an office and classrooms that require minimal or no

heating, cooling and lighting Buy electricity from renewable sources Buy the most energy efficient appliances Use the backs of already-used paper in fax machines, and as

scratch pads Use double sided printing and copying Set thermostats to conserve energy Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents Turn off computers and lights if not needed Set appliances to power-saving modes and don’t leave on

standbywww.cleanair-coolplanet.org/action/documents/GreentheOffice.pdf

Environmental Policy

Identify major impacts How to reduce these impacts Include students in the process Publish and Share

Add it into the syllabi, student handbook or orientation materials given to students

Give a copy to program contributors and staff Put on program website

Curriculum Integration

Create dialogue through assignments Trash log Analysis of economic community

development projects in relations to environmental impact

Explore host country culture and philosophy Create expectations of reciprocity and

contribution.

5 Things!5 Things!

Room for ImprovementRoom for Improvement

The CGE made 5 simple changes to go The CGE made 5 simple changes to go from 48.7 tons of COfrom 48.7 tons of CO22 to 40.6! to 40.6!

Find this presentation at: Find this presentation at: http://global.tulane.edu/studyabroad/green.html http://global.tulane.edu/studyabroad/green.html

ResourcesResources

Forum Standards of Good PracticeForum Standards of Good Practice Sustainability listservSustainability listservsustainabilityabroad@lists.livingroutes.orgsustainabilityabroad@lists.livingroutes.org Report of the Task Force on

Environmental Sustainability in Education Abroad

http://www.livingroutes.org/NAFSA_Sustainability_TF_Report.pdf

Special Thanks to:Special Thanks to:

Daniel GreenbergDaniel GreenbergStacey Woody ThebodoStacey Woody ThebodoAmber GarrardAmber GarrardSylvia SegerSylvia SegerPeter BrennanPeter Brennan