Sustainable travel in higher education: a review of institutional policy in the United Kingdom

Purpose As universities give increasing priority to the challenges of sustainability and climate change, so called “sustainable travel” or “green travel” plans and strategies are being adopted that encourage staff to reconsider their options when travelling to and from university campuses and on university business. The purpose of this study is to review the current sustainable travel policies of UK universities, evaluate factors driving significant change in the sector and develop a framework for a university policy on this theme. Design/methodology/approach This study is an interpretive study drawing on a systematic review of the websites of all 130 UK universities. Findings This review found that only 34% of UK universities had a current publicly available sustainable travel policy or plan. The research identifies the provision of active travel information, cycle facilities and opportunities for virtual meetings and remote working as the most common features of a sustainable travel policy. Areas where policies are notably weak compared to good practice include the provision of green travel funding, opportunities for carbon offsetting and personalised travel plans. The authors conclude that both the published coverage and depth of sustainable travel policies in the sector will need to increase if ambitious targets to achieve net zero are to be achieved. Originality/value This is the first systematic review of sustainable travel policies and strategies within UK universities. It includes the development of an original policy framework for sustainable travel in higher education.