New travel policy for employees
Climate and environmental considerations will from now on weigh more heavily when booking travels. See what's new and what rules apply in OsloMet's new travel policy for employees.
The travel policy applies to all business trips at home and abroad, and a new version has now been approved by rector Curt Rice, after having been discussed in rector’s management meeting.
“The new travel policy is an important step forward in OsloMet's efforts to become more sustainable. With it, we ensure that climate and environmental impact are considered every time a trip is to be booked. I believe that this will have a clear effect on the university's greenhouse gas emissions,” says Vice-Rector and head of OsloMet’s sustainability work, Per Martin Norheim-Martinsen.
Read the OsloMet travel policy
In OsloMet's carbon emission assessment for 2019, travel accounted for 22 per cent of the university's greenhouse gas emissions. Air travel accounted for as much as 77 per cent of the emissions from the total travelling by OsloMet employees. Therefore, an important purpose of the new travel policy is to contribute to less flying and more use of trains or buses.
What is new in OsloMet’s travel policy?
- Trips in the local community should preferably be made on foot, by bike or by public transport.
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Alternatives to air travel must always be considered when travelling in Norway south of Trondheim and within the Scandinavian countries.
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Travel within and outside Europe must be limited to the number of trips deemed strictly necessary. Alternatives to air travel must be considered where expedient, based on an overall assessment
- In instances where car hires are deemed necessary, electric or hybrid cars must be used if possible. Carpooling must be practised as much as possible.
Greener travel with OsloMet - Checklist for sustainability
To make it easier for employees to make climate and environment friendly choices, a checklist for sustainability has been prepared. Some trips may be replaced by digital meetings, while others may be made by train or bus instead of by plane - one or both ways. In other cases, it may be possible to achieve an environmental benefit by combining several short journeys, or by using public transportation instead of a car.
You will find a step-by-step overview of what you need to think about before, during and after a business trip on the employee website.
What about international cooperation?
OsloMet's travel policy applies to researcher mobility and the use of international guest lecturers, but not student exchange at bachelor's and master's level.
“Student exchange and physical meetings are still important, but the pandemic has shown us that it is possible to have good meetings digitally. In the future, we will use these experiences to create a good mix of physical and digital activities - also internationally,”, says Norheim-Martinsen.
