University of Wisconsin–Madison

Handbook – Sustainability

Studying or interning abroad is an opportunity to gain the skills, knowledge, and intercultural understanding necessary to build a more sustainable future, but it can also have significant environmental, economic, and social impacts along the way. In alignment with our Commitment to Sustainability and the UW-Madison’s Resilience Commitment, all students are encouraged to use a sustainability lens to make decisions throughout their study abroad process, and practice sustainable living before, during, and after their time abroad.

The carbon footprint of going abroad

Participating in study abroad includes many components that have a carbon footprint, including flights to and from the program location and for personal travel; daily activities using electricity for appliances, lighting, and air conditioning; on-site transportation; food consumption; waste disposal; and more.

Flying, in particular, emits large amounts of greenhouse gases. In one year, the carbon footprint due to UW-Madison study abroad student air travel just to and from their host country is approximately ~4.2 MTCO2e. That’s equivalent to 2,743 homes’ electricity use for one year.

What can you do?

Adopt sustainable travel practices

There are many things you can do to study abroad more sustainably.

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  • Consider the distance you will have to travel – is there a program that allows you to meet your goals that may have a smaller carbon footprint?
  • Study abroad for longer periods of time if possible
  • Consider living with a host family, sharing space and resources as well as culture
  • Look for opportunities to contribute to community-led initiatives with culturally appropriate, pro-social, or carbon-positive impacts
  • Explore programs with an environmental or social sustainability focus – and remember that you can use a sustainability lens to approach any field of study!
  • Investigate what a particular program provider or institution is doing to make their experiences abroad more sustainable
  • Consider purchasing carbon offsets

  • Purchase direct flights if possible; limit the number of connections; research which airlines are working to reduce their carbon footprint
  • Practice minimalism by packing light and bringing only the essentials
  • Reduce waste by bringing a refillable water bottle and/or travel mug, refillable travel containers for toiletries, reusable silverware, reusable shopping/grocery bag, etc.
  • Check out resources like the Badger’s Guide to Sustainability, as well as events and initiatives offered by the Office of Sustainability

  • Practice ethical community engagement
  • Contribute to community-led initiatives that benefit your host community
  • Spend weekends exploring your host city/country rather than more distant destinations
  • Walk, bike, or take public ground transportation (e.g., buses, trains) instead of flying or driving
  • Avoid creating plastic waste by carrying a refillable water bottle, travel mug, reusable silverware, and reusable shopping/grocery bag
  • Buy second-hand items (e.g. cookware, bedding, clothes) and find a new home for them before you leave
  • Eat locally sourced food; shift to a more plant-based diet; purchase food with minimal or no packaging – fruit can be a great replacement for pre-packaged snacks
  • Conserve electricity by limiting use of lights/heat/AC, unplugging devices when not in use, and hanging laundry to dry
  • Limit water consumption by taking shorter showers and turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth or washing dishes
  • Support local businesses rather than large retail chains and purchase locally made goods
  • Clean up after yourself, don’t litter, and learn how the local recycling system works
  • Do not purchase souvenirs or food products made from exotic or endangered animals (e.g. turtle shells, ivory, animal skins, bones, feathers, or bushmeats)
  • Do not feed or bait wild animals
  • Do not pay for “experiences” or photos with captive wild animals like elephants, big cats, or dolphins; this encourages people to capture them for money, harming the animals and their species
  • Teach others – show your peers how to live and travel more sustainably

  • Reflect on how you lived while abroad and what sustainable practices you can incorporate into your life back home
  • Continue learning about sustainability and get involved locally

Calculate your carbon footprint

Visit the Office of Sustainability’s Travel, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Carbon Offsets page to calculate how much carbon you may emit by participating in a particular program. If you have already purchased flights, be sure to submit your results and participate in UW-Madison’s Greenhouse Gas accounting.

Consider purchasing carbon offsets

In addition to flying less and adopting sustainable living practices, you can reduce the carbon impact of your experience by purchasing carbon offsets. Visit the Office of Sustainability’s Travel, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Carbon Offsets page to find a list of vetted carbon offset providers.

To learn more, explore the articles linked below.

Learn about past student experiences

Check out past study abroad students’ blog posts on sustainability topics!

Handbook resources