Recommendations from the Rector of The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague for Environmentally Responsible Travelling
Travel, which includes business and study trips, is a significant contributor to the global greenhouse gas emissions. If we want to stay on the move and in personal contact with our colleagues, partners, students, teachers and audiences while acting responsibly towards the environment, we should change our approach to travel and systematically seek to reduce the carbon footprint of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague and its activities.
How do we reduce greenhouse gas emissions when travelling?
A. International trips
1. Find an alternative to travel – only go when necessary
The simplest way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by travel is travelling only in justified and inevitable cases. New technologies help us efficiently get in touch, communicate and work with colleagues, teachers and students in many situations. The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us to make a maximum use of virtual platforms and online meetings, which can be advantageous and desirable even after the epidemic. While there are meetings and activities (such as creative and artistic meetings) that should take place primarily in a personal form, we recommend carefully considering the potential alternatives. The leaders of AMU and its faculties will work towards providing the background, technologies and technical support for organising virtual meetings and events, inform teachers and others at AMU that such alternatives exist, and motivate everyone to use them.
2. Reduce air travel – fly only when absolutely necessary
Air travel is one of the major air pollution factors, making it important to focus on reducing it. The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague recommends its students, teachers and others at AMU to use land transport whenever possible, especially for shorter distance trips or when going to destinations where alternative modes of transport work well. If flying is inevitable, we recommend choosing direct flights in the economy class and carrying less luggage.
3. Act more environmentally soundly – use land modes of public transport
When travelling over longer distances (on international trips), trains or buses can often offer a feasible alternative. The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague recommends its students, teachers and others at AMU to prefer land modes of public transport.
4. Information for students, teachers and others at AMU – bonus for sustainable travel
Informing, motivating, and seeking shared paths towards reducing emissions play a great role in seeking environmentally sounder travel alternatives. Students, teachers, and others at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague can use incentives under the Erasmus+ programme, which offers time and financial bonuses in the 2021-2027 programming period to those international mobility participants who use alternatives to flying (Green Erasmus). The International Department can provide information about this option to those who are interested (including instructions on how to use the bonus). More.
5. Book sustainable accommodation
These days, the array of accommodation options includes many facilities that rank themselves as “sustainable” or “environmentally sound” in all price ranges. Therefore, we recommend seeking and using accommodation facilities that subscribe to sustainable business practices and place emphasis on protecting the environment in their business.
B. Domestic trips
1. Use public transport to the maximum
Frequent use of public transport is a tool that can greatly reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Encouraging the students, teachers and others at AMU to use trains and buses for their business and study trips instead of driving or using taxis is the key to making travel at AMU more sustainable. We also encourage using public transport, walking, and riding bicycles in the city and when commuting to work and school, if possible.
2. Reduce transfers between sites
When organising (and taking part in) social and specialised events, it is possible to take into consideration how the participants relocate between the individual sites that may host the various parts of the event. Accommodation, collective suppers and team activities can all do without unnecessary local travel if the various parts of the programme take place in a single location or close to each other.