Kingston University launches new travel plan in effort to reduce carbon emissions

Posted Friday 13 September 2024

Kingston University has launched a new five-year Travel Plan, which confirms its commitment to encouraging and enabling more environmentally conscious travel by students, staff and visitors to the University.

The Travel Plan sets out targets over the next five years, with the overarching goal of reducing carbon emissions. Achieving these targets would see carbon from commuting alone reduced by 12 per cent over the five-year period.

The Travel Plan will be instrumental in supporting the University's ambitious five-year Sustainability Plan, including helping it meet its target of a net zero campus by 2050. The Travel Plan also aligns with travel related actions being pursued by the Royal Borough of Kingston (RBK) as part of its RBK Climate Action Plan.

The targets will be achieved through a combination of more sustainable travel options, continued support for agile working, capital investment and technological advances.

Extensive consultation with Kingston University students and staff has informed the Travel Plan's objectives and targets, with more than 1,250 students and more than 860 staff surveyed. It was found that public transport is the most popular means of transport for students, accounting for between 60 – 85 per cent of student commuting, while travelling by car is currently the preferred option for staff, accounting for 39 per cent of travel to campus, followed by public transport at 37 per cent.

Chief Operating Officer Caroline Harries said the University has dedicated significant time and resources to developing the new Travel Plan. "The plan aims to ensure that travel is undertaken sustainably, supporting accessibility needs and without compromising academic, research, business and educational objectives. Its success will depend on engagement at all levels across the University community," she said.

"We are committed to implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) with an aim to leave a lasting positive impact upon our environment, students and staff and local communities," she added.