Sustainability Impact Statement

The Learning Abroad Center (LAC) is keenly aware of the climate crisis at hand and the impact of travel on our planet. Our goal is to promote studying abroad in an environmentally conscious way. We are committed to taking the steps necessary to reduce our collective carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable world. Individual actions are not enough, which is why we've created a pledge as a department, as individuals, and for our students.

The LAC’s initiative aligns with the University of Minnesota's Climate Action Plan (PDF), which was adopted by the Board of Regents on May 9, 2023. The LAC is seeking ongoing guidance from the Office of Sustainability to carefully craft the details of our plan and utilize the expertise of staff to support the direction of our work.

Pledges and Commitments

Future plans include:

• Adding social media campaigns about being a carbon-literate traveler when you’re studying abroad.
• Creating a pledge for students and instructors to adopt for traveling sustainably.
• Embedding arrival activity for students to assess their carbon footprints
• Analyzing and documenting consumption savings in our programs (electricity, gas, travel, food, etc.)
• Familiarizing ourselves with the work of our industry through continued training and practices to lessen the impact of our operations.
• Helping students consider program location, length, and design when thinking about carbon footprint impact when studying abroad.
• Collaborating with the Office of Sustainability to implement a carbon offset/onset program.

Sustainable Programs

The programs below have sustainability programs, certification, and initiatives that students can participate in:

• University Study in New Zealand: University of Auckland
• University Study in Ireland: University of Limerick

Resources