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Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ is going to offer a green travel grant for outbound exchange students. For the academic year 2020-2021, a total of 25,000 euros will be made available to students who choose to travel to their European destination by train or bus. The project is part of the university's ambition to be CO₂-neutral by 2030.​

In 2018, flights taken by UU exchange students accounted for 4% of the university's total carbon footprint. The Travel Green Grant project is intended to contribute to the ambition of halving the number of flights by students and staff by 2030. In addition, the university wants to stimulate students to think about more sustainable travel alternatives.

Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ is the first Dutch university with a green travel grant

In the Netherlands, there are not yet any other universities who offer a green travel grant. Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ is the first. 

If the pilot turns out to be a success, the possibility of expanding the financial compensation scheme will be investigated. In Sweden, a similar green travel grant is already offered by Uppsala ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ and Lund ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ.

Travel differently
ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ employees have been encouraged to travel differently for some time now. For example, there is a UU train zone map that indicates which destinations are easily accessible by train. A train fund has also been made available for PhD students and postdocs. If a train ticket is more expensive than a flight, the university pays the difference from the train fund. Additionally, in coming years the university will invest heavily in new audiovisual resources to make working remotely easier.

Travel Green Grant is an initiative of the International Offices and the Green Office of Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ.