Making business trips more sustainable
Table of contents
Business trips generate a significant proportion of the environmental impact of a university. However, these trips are also essential for universities. Networking within the framework of conferences and symposia, the mutual exchange of speakers or working meetings within the framework of research projects with national and international partners are a substantial part of the activities of universities. So, while on the one hand a reduction of business trips might be a goal from an environmental perspective, high mobility is also a quality feature of a well-networked university. The focus must therefore be on developing a corresponding awareness about the necessity of business travels among the members of the university. Unavoidable traffic should be handled in the most environmentally friendly way possible. The choice of the mode of transport is a major factor determining the GHG emissions generated by a business trip. For unavoidable emissions, there is the option of offsetting via external providers. However, this practice is controversial and currently not possible in Saxony's public sector.
Below, you can find information about the GHG emissions that arise from business trips at TU Dresden. Moreover, measures are presented how the ecological footprint of business trips can be reduced.
Greenhouse gas emissions from business travel and possible reduction measures
In 2017, the data of the travel cost center could be used for the evaluation of business trips of the TU Dresden within the framework of the HochN project. The analysis of the business trips carried out at the TU Dresden in 2016 showed that around 27.6 million person-kilometers were covered during the approximately 19,000 business trips accounted for and that around 4,700 tons of CO2 were emitted.
Number of business trips, passenger kilometers, and CO2 emissions (evaluation of business trip data 2016)
Of the business trips, 44% were made by car, 28% by train, 23% by plane, 3% by public transport, 2% by long-distance bus and 0.3% by bicycle. It is striking that 71% of the passenger kilometers were covered and 84% of the CO2 equivalent emissions were released in the context of the 23% air travel.
Percentage distribution of CO2-equivalent emissions from mobility at TU Dresden (as of 2017)
Overall, business travel is the cause for 44% of the TU Dresden's mobility-related CO2 equivalent emissions, with business air travel alone responsible for 37% of the TU Dresden's mobility-related CO2 equivalent emissions.
In the past, modern communication technologies for web conferences or virtual meetings were often mentioned as an alternative to business travel. However, statistical data showed that despite the increasing number of virtual meetings, the number of business trips also rose sharply. It has even been suggested that it is precisely these communication technologies that are driving the globalization of science and education and thus, when viewed dynamically, are contributing to the long-term increase in traffic. Virtual meetings make project collaboration between geographically distant universities and other partners possible, while the complete processing of projects without face-to-face meetings is rather rare. However, a single flight e.g. to the USA can exceed the climate impact of regular trips to domestic destinations many times over.
The situation changed with the Corona pandemic in 2020. As business travel became limited or impossible, web conferences took over much of the national and international exchange. Many scientists who were now forced to use web conferencing found that while it was not a complete substitute for real meetings, it did have some significant advantages. Moreover, the intensive global use of the systems led to their technical improvement in a short period of time. It remains to be seen what will happen after the Corona pandemic. Will many postponed business trips be made up and there will be a business trip boom, or will some of the replaced business trips stay with web conferencing permanently?
Currently, there are various considerations to reduce business travel related emissions. Under discussion are:
- Measures to develop appropriate awareness among decision-makers for requesting and approving business trips.
- Imparting knowledge about the different environmental impacts of the individual means of transport
- Self-commitment to refrain from short-haul flights
- Develop guidelines for environmentally friendly business travel
- Shifting to more environmentally friendly means of transport
The controversial CO2 compensation of air travel is also under discussion.
To achieve actual reductions, it is essential to define reduction targets (emissions in total and per employee). To monitor if targets are met the regular balancing of the CO2 emissions of the business trips is mandatory. Within the framework of the CAMPER-MOVE project, the aim is therefore to install an annual balance sheet of the distribution of means of transport, transport performance and CO2 emissions of business trips in a monitoring system. Based on this information, annual decisions can then be taken on whether targets have been achieved or whether further action is required.
CO2 calculator for different means of transport
Various institutions offer comparison calculators or information on mobility-related emissions, e.g. Deutsche Bahn or the Umweltbundesamt (Federal Environment Agency):
Comparison - average emissions of different means of transport (Umweltbundesamt)
Organizing events in a resource- and climate-friendly way
For the sustainable organization of events, the environmental management of the TU Dresden has compiled some information on an info leaflet: ttps://tu-dresden.de/tu-dresden/arbeitsschutz-umwelt/ressourcen/dateien/umweltschutz/informationsblaetter/Infoblatt-GruenerTagen.pdf?lang=de