University-related travel represents a significant source of our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Since 2021, our staff and students have developed a program to address travel emissions with co-designed solutions using new tools, technologies and goal setting. University leadership has recently endorsed a milestone target of 50 per cent reduction in emissions from the 2019 baseline. For more information visit University Related Travel and read our ⁠Climate action in practice story.  

These FAQs will be added to and updated as feedback from the community is received.

Does this mean I cannot travel?

Absolutely not. Our community travels for multiple reasons: to do business, build networks, conduct research, participate in events and study. These activities are essential to our work. The approach to reducing emissions considers measures that ensure our research, teaching and businesses continue to advance. Targeted strategies may include:

• Suggestions on how to develop a holistic travel plan and decision-aids to help you to prioritise trips that can bring the most benefit to you or your staff's career/goals 
• Providing tools to enable you to choose lower emissions modes of transport where possible
• Examples of how other staff have reduced their emissions by, for instance, combining multiple activities into one trip

Who was consulted to develop the travel emissions reduction target?

In August 2020, an online survey of the ANU community was conducted as a foundation for broader consultation. In September and October 2020, a University-wide consultation (PDF, 475 KB) program gathered our community’s thoughts on what we could collectively do to reduce emissions as fast as possible. University travel was often suggested as an avenue for investigation.

From 2021 to February 2023, a Below Zero Travel Working Group, comprising ANU academics, professional staff, and HDR students, met regularly and consulted with staff, student representatives and groups from across the University to develop recommendations on how to inform travel-related decision-making and reduce travel-related emissions effectively. 

As a result of this evidence-based collaborative work, sustainability principles were incorporated into the new Travel Policy and Handbook, a low carbon travel guide was developed, and a voluntary pilot program was launched. 

In 2023, the ANU Travel Lab – an interdisciplinary group of ANU researchers – was established with the aim of developing and disseminating research that supports bold and urgent action towards reducing travel-related GHG emissions. 

These efforts by the ANU community identified that goal setting is an integral part of this program. This, combined with science-led climate action advice, resulted in the 50 per cent reduction in emissions recommendation being presented to and endorsed by the ANU Senior Management Group in August 2023. 

Are we cutting travel by 50 per cent?

No, this does not mean we are simply cutting travel by 50 per cent. The new target refers to reduced emissions associated with university business travel. Our approach to achieving this reduction will emphasise proven and effective measures relevant to our geographical context, academic objectives and business outcomes. The focus is on using evidence-based best practices with data and technologies to support our community in making lower carbon travel decisions. 

Will reducing travel emissions disadvantage me or my staff and students compared to other universities?

Reducing emissions from travel is a challenge we share with our peer universities. Worldwide, institutions like ours are grappling with how to reduce emissions whilst ensuring that their research, teaching and businesses can continue to advance and engage. 

ANU is an active participant in several international and national forums, including the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC), Australasian Universities Air Travel Consortium (AUATC), the Group of Eight (GO8) sustainability group and Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS). These groups have been leading collaborative discussions on this shared problem, with many institutions having now either set travel emissions reduction targets or are developing them. 

Travel is essential to my work. What institutional changes is the University making to support this?

We acknowledge that travel is an essential part of university life, and we have been working with people across our community on a nuanced approach to address our travel emissions. As a result of this evidence-based collaborative work, sustainability principles have been incorporated in the new Travel Policy and Handbook, a low carbon travel guide was developed, and a voluntary pilot program was launched. 

With the support of the Below Zero team, multiple areas of the University are incorporating environmental and emissions considerations into their processes. For example, we are working with Shared Services Division in the procurement of the new travel management and booking systems, to ensure the solutions offered to our community make it easier to find and prioritise travel options that are less carbon intensive. We are also working with People and Culture on the People Manager Essentials training that will provide an introduction on the role managers can play in supporting us reaching our climate goals.

Why can’t we just offset as other organisations are doing?

Currently, many organisations, including universities, rely on commercially purchased carbon offsets to reach and maintain their climate goals. However, this form of ‘pay to play’ goes against the international best practice of reduce emissions first which we have adopted as a key foundation of our approach to reach our climate goals. Additionally, global carbon markets are being called out for not delivering on true and long-term emissions removal claims, as are offsets in the Australian carbon market. 

Will this mean I have to spend more time and effort to reduce emissions from my travel?

As travel is essential to our work, research and studies, a systemic organisational and behavioural change approach is necessary to reduce emissions. Several critical enablers have been identified that support our work and these should not involve more time and effort in reducing emissions. These include:

• Leadership action: ANU leaders to support low carbon travel, role-model behaviour and encourage action. 
• Tools and measures: These will be co-designed, tested and evaluated with local areas, including aids to inform decision-making and support knowledge sharing and integration of successful outcomes across the community. 
• Enabling organisational systems: Clear and consistent communication campaigns, data visualisation tools, travel management system with inbuilt sustainability mechanisms, training and guidance for the community and access to support staff and resources. 
• Career development opportunities: Ensuring sustainability is embedded in the ANU employee value proposition and recruitment processes, having performance measures and development that require, recognise and reward sustainable behaviours and building an incentives program that supports positive change. 
• Enabling the built environment: Infrastructure and technology that enhances virtual engagement opportunities and alternatives to travel.  

Will this emissions reduction target disproportionately affect students and Early Career Researchers (ECRs)? 

Ensuring equity across travellers and travel opportunities is a core principle underpinning this emissions reduction program, and ongoing consultation and open feedback channels will be available to develop ways for local areas to ensure that this is a key consideration in decision-making processes. 

Is my commute affected by this target?

Commuting is not in scope for this target and emissions reduction program. Commuting will be the focus of a future project. However, we do encourage everyone to consider how they can reduce emissions from commuting. See the ACT Climate Choices website for ideas.