This policy has been developed as part of the wider Environmental Sustainability Strategy and applies to all business travel from 1 August 2022.
While the University recognises that some travel is necessary for learning, teaching, and research, this policy aims to reduce the environmental impact of travel. The policy was developed after extensive consultation and a pilot rollout in five departments.
It includes
- encouraging virtual alternatives to travel
- encouraging a shift from flights to rail
- eliminating 20% of flights by 2024/25
- charging a flight levy on University business travel
Money raised through the flight levy will be allocated to the Oxford Sustainability Fund to finance the implementation of the Environmental Sustainability Strategy. We will use offsetting from 2034 onwards to offset the University’s residual carbon emissions and biodiversity impact and achieve the strategy’s 2035 targets. This approach of prioritising reducing emissions to minimise offsetting is in line with the Oxford Offsetting Principles.
Below you will find a summary of the policy. The full policy can be downloaded from this page.
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Starts
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1 August 2022
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Intention
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Reduce the environmental impact of travel
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Travel on University business
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Travel necessary for meeting the University’s business needs, paid for or reimbursed by the University for staff, students or visitors. Travel that is funded by research grants must also adhere to any additional travel requirements of funders.
Includes
- meetings, conferences, working elsewhere
- student field trips
- research fieldwork
- placements
- Interviews
Excludes
- international students travelling to/from the University
- domestic students travelling between home/the University
- staff travelling between home/normal place of work
- staff relocation flights
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Travel not permitted
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- No domestic flights
- No flights to Paris and Brussels (use Eurostar)
- No first-class flights
Except for reasonable adjustments and exceptions
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Reasonable adjustments and exceptions
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- Disability
- Protected characteristics
- Impracticality
- Emergency
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Flight levy
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£30 tco2e for all flights
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Checklist for departments
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- Inform department staff of Travel Policy
- Provide a separate cost centre for recharging of flight levy by Estates Finance
- Agree on department process to approve travel as necessary
- Agree on additional approval process to approve premium economy and business-class flights
- Departments to agree on travel that will be prioritised by 31 January 2023
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Travel hierarchy
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To be followed
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Travel safety
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Guidance provided on health, visas, insurance and risk assessments
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Value for money
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Optimum balance between cost, quality, risk and environmental sustainability
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Preferred travel supplier
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Use of Key Travel strongly recommended
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Flight reduction target
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35% reduction by 2035 against 2018/19 baseline; interim targets
- a 20% reduction by 2024/25
- a further 10% reduction by 2030/31
- a further 5% reduction by 2034/35.
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