The Green Travel Guide began as just a thought between the Office of Sustainability and Office of International Affairs (OIA). To put this project into motion, I was hired as a student intern and began creating what it is today. The Green Travel Guide was created with assistance from all units of OIA and Office of Sustainability, to ensure an effective guide was created to help curb carbon emissions emitted by university travelers and spread awareness of the impact of the climate crisis.
As a student who has studied abroad, the ways that I could reduce my greenhouse gas footprint surprised me when I began creating this guide. Traveling can teach about other ways of life, but it comes with the cost of contributing to climate change. The environmental damage can be devastating to think about, that is why it was important to support those who want to continue educating themselves. Reliable access to this information can create a difference in how we travel, so we can begin to do so more sustainably. Within the guide, I included sustainable alternatives for nearly every part of the traveling experience – packing, in the airport, while abroad, and even back at home.
In creating this guide, I wanted to make clear that I was not discouraging people from traveling. The experiences of international learning that come from studying abroad can alter us and those we meet – abroad and at home. With this Green Travel Guide, we can care for the environment and create a better understanding of our role in the world.
From my own experience in learning about sustainability, I am aware that in the beginning it seems insurmountable; it was a priority of mine to create the Green Travel Guide as user friendly as possible. That way, everyone in their own sustainable journey has something to learn and can pass it on to others who care for our environment. The Green Travel Guide is only a starting point for those who are more interested in living sustainably. To learn more about what you can do at home or on campus, visit the Office of Sustainability’s website.
Download the IUPUI Green Travel Guide.
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This blog post was written by Gracie Lyons, OIA Sustainability Intern, a junior studying Psychology and Spanish. Gracie dual reports to IUPUI Sustainability and the Office of International Affairs, where she supports the work of the OIA Green Team by researching and executing their sustainability goals.
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