Academic travel
In 2024, employees from the University travelled a combined 4.2 million kilometres by air, i.e. more than 100 times the earth’s circumference. Business trips account for over 40% of the University’s climate footprint. Taking action to reduce air travel emissions is thus essential if we are to achieve climate neutrality by 2045. Although progress has been made (-19% air travel emissions since 2019), there is still a long way to go to reach the University’s climate targets.
Flying should not be a default choice, but the result of a careful assessment of alternative possibilities (travelling by land, combining trips, reducing the size of delegations, participating remotely, etc.). Forgoing travel to a conference does not mean forgoing participation!
Travel policy
Since 2019, the University has gradually introduced measures to reduce the number of flights and promote existing alternatives.
- Sustainability contribution on flights: a contribution corresponding to the amount of greenhouse gas emitted is levied on each flight processed by the accounting department. These levies are allocated to the climate fund, which finances projects to reduce emissions on campus and protect the climate.
- 10-hour rule: Business trips within Europe that can be made in less than 10 hours by train are not reimbursed if made by air. This means for example that flights from Switzerland to Paris, London, Brussels, Hamburg or Rome cannot be reimbursed.
- Class: only economy-class flights are eligible for reimbursement. No reimbursement (even partial) is made for travel in any other class.
- Monitoring and information: the University monitors its air travel and reports on its impact annually. Decision-making tools and resources on existing alternatives are made available to the community.
- Support for videoconferencing: the University provides remote participation tools to its members. The IT department offers technical assistance and advice in this area.
For staff and students
More information on applicable rules are available on the intranet.
