Sustainable Opportunities

Education Abroad is proud to offer the following initiatives to help make your time abroad more sustainable.Ìý

Sustainable Travel

Sustainable Study Abroad Pledge

The Sustainable Study Abroad Pledge is an optional tool to help you keep sustainability at the forefront of your Education Abroad experience. By opting in, you are committing to the pledge below, and will receive three emails throughout the semester to help you fulfill the goal of the pledge.Ìý
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During my Education Abroad experience, I pledge to:

Discover my host-country's traditions and environmental practices

Consider why your host culture has this perspective on environmentalist. Will they be impacted by climate change sooner? Are people's basic needs being met? Do they have economic resources to invest in environmental efforts? Check out this to learn about how the Maori people of New Zealand are combatting climate change.

Respect local wildlife and spaces
Is your tourism creating a positive impact? How do you research travel companies or tours and seek out companies with sustainable practices. Check out this for more.

Recognize my role in combatting climate change
Reflect on the impact you have on climate change as an individual, versus the impact of a corporation, government or other large entity. Consider your role and how to get involved in your local community. Read this for more information.

Champion my host-country's conservation efforts and encourage my peers to join me
Learn about local conservation efforts, and share your knew knowledge with your peers, including local recycling, composting and public transit. Read this for more inspiration!

Each term the CU Education Abroad office will award a $1000 scholarship to selected students who demonstrate a commitment to sustainability efforts, both at home and on their program. Use the question prompt in your scholarship application to apply.ÌýApply by completing a Buffs Abroad application, and filling out the optional Sustainable Buffs Abroad essay.Ìý

Does your host city feel like it’s becoming a second home? Spend a weekend exploring everything it has to offer while minimizing your carbon footprint. Turn yourself into a cultural ambassador and be entered to win a $100 gift card! Show off your city by documenting your favorite cafés, parks, museums and more. Sound perfect for you? Here are the nitty-gritty details:
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What:ÌýEdÌýAbroad’s Sustainable StaycationÌý
When:ÌýEducation Abroad will send an email each semester with a couple weekends to choose from
Where:ÌýYour host city!Ìý
How:ÌýDuring your Sustainable Staycation, complete the scavenger hunt challenge and take pictures at each stop.ÌýÌý
  1. Take theÌý
  1. Follow @cubouldereducationabroad on Instagram
  1. Complete each stop of the scavenger hunt
    • Try a new local dish (a snack,Ìýmeal or beverage all count!)
    • Visit a local park, museum, or cultural site (like a localÌý)
    • Find the best place to watch the sunset (or sunrise ifÌýyou’re feeling ambitious)
  2. DM us a photo from each stop by the end of your chosen weekend. (If you don't have Instagram, you can email your photos to abroad@colorado.edu).

Why:ÌýGet to know your host city even better, all while reducing your carbon footprint caused by flying! A weekend roundtrip flight from Italy to Spain for one person produces approximately 300kg of CO2. To put that in perspective, there are 10 million people in the world who emit fewer greenhouse gases than that in a whole year! Plus, staying in for the weekend could save you on travel and be entered to win a $100 gift card.