Climate-sensitive Project Organisation
While international travel plays a vital role in academic exchange, including South-North and South-South collaboration, the TUM SEED Center aims to organize its activities in a climate-friendly manner by implementing the following measures:
Sustainable Travel
International exchange is a core part of the SEED Center. At the same time, travel, especially flights, has a significant environmental impact. We therefore aim to limit funded travel to what is essential for the project.
To reduce emissions, we focus on three approaches:
Online alternatives
We prioritize replacing in-person meetings with online formats whenever feasible. This includes research exchange, coordination meetings, and selected teaching activities.
Clustering events
We aim to combine multiple activities into a single trip. For example, key events, such as the Annual Symposium, are scheduled alongside research seminars, workshops, and governance meetings to reduce the need for separate travel.
Longer, less frequent stays
We seek to reduce repeated short trips by supporting longer stays. Instead of multiple visits, activities are combined into extended research stays where possible.
Sustainable Event Organization
While travel accounts for the largest share of emissions in the SEED Center, we also aim to reduce the environmental impact of our events through practical measures:
Food choices
We prioritize vegetarian and vegan catering options at our events.
Reusable materials
Participants and organizers are encouraged to use reusable materials, such as posters, name tags, and banners, wherever possible.
Water consumption
In contexts where bottled water is commonly used, participants are encouraged to bring reusable bottles. Refill options are provided where feasible.
Accommodation
When organizing events, we aim to select accommodations that consider sustainability, including energy use and water management.
Carbon Offsetting
Carbon offsetting is considered a last-resort measure and does not replace efforts to avoid or reduce emissions.
Some travel within the SEED Center cannot be avoided. In these cases, we aim to raise awareness of carbon offsetting and provide participants with guidance on offsetting travel-related emissions.
You can find practical information and recommendations on our dedicated page: Carbon Offsetting.