Green journeys: Sustainable travel with the EAIE

While we aim for the EAIE Conference and Exhibition to leave a lasting impact on our participants and exhibitors, we’re mindful to minimise our impact on the planet. That’s why sustainability is one of our key commitments. As the Conference and Exhibition is a roaming affair, sustainable travel is something we’re passionate about promoting and discussing. That is why, if it’s feasible and possible to do so, we encourage those attending the conference and exhibition to travel green and avoid flying to and from the conference.  

One participant who travelled green to our last conference in Rotterdam, is Matt Tips. This week he’s jumping on the blog to share his experience biking from Antwerp to Rotterdam, unveil his travel plans for his journey to Toulouse, and give you some helpful advice for planning your green travel.  

Biking to Rotterdam

Last year, I joined a green travel initiative organised by various Flemish higher education institutions. Gathering with friends and colleagues outside the train station in Antwerp, we were itching to set off on our journey. Before departing, however, I began to worry slightly at the sight of their very professional looking road bikes and their stories about their extensive preparations for the journey ahead.  

The journey was great fun. My highlight was how much time we were able to spend in nature.

As it turns out, there really was no need to worry. The journey was great fun. My highlight was how much time we were able to spend in nature. We biked through some beautiful nature reserves, including the Klamthoutse Heide, which transported me to an African savanna. We stopped in Dinteloord, a charming Dutch village, to have lunch and rest, before soldiering-on towards Rotterdam. And when we finally arrived at the conference venue, we were greeted with a warm welcome by EAIE President Piet Van Hove. All in all, it was an exhilarating way to start the conference week! 

Travelling to Toulouse 

While my cycling adventure was certainly a positive experience, I’m not sure biking to Toulouse from Antwerp is entirely feasible. So this year, I’ll be taking the high-speed train to the conference. From Brussels-Midi, I’ll take the Eurostar to Paris, where I’ll change stations and travel on Ouigo (a low-cost high-speed train company) to Toulouse.  

What’s even more exciting is that I’ll be joining a colleague from Estonia, who has also decided to travel green. I met them at a staff training week in Estonia that I attended in June. I travelled to and from the training week sustainably. I departed on a train to Berlin (with a pitstop in Warsaw) followed by a night bus to Tallin and returned via ferry to Stockholm and a night train to Belgium. Inspired by my journey from Belgium to Estonia, they have decided to travel from Estonia to Toulouse via train. I’m really looking forward to meeting up with them as their train passes through Belgium. 

Matt Tips’ top tips

Travelling can sometimes be gruelling, so three things I always bring with me are a reusable water bottle, a reusable coffee mug, and a homemade lunch. 

Sustainable travelling is a conscious choice that invariably requires more thought and planning. So, to set yourself up for success, it’s always a good idea to check out a good travel website (I like The man in seat61). Also, make sure to reach out to colleagues and friends. It’s always a fruitful topic to discuss, and they might have some idea you wouldn’t have thought of. Also, make sure to check out the Climate Action Network for International Educators. The #travelwithCANIE community is always there to offer support! 

Also, it can be reassuring to know that if you miss a connection due to a delay, there are various European agreements (including the HOTNAT Hop on the next available train (HOTNAT) Guarantee and the Agreement on journey continuation (AJC)) that allow you to take the next available train. 

Be aware though, train booking is following the footsteps of airline companies, meaning the tickets get more expensive closer to the travel date. So, it’s always best to book early. However, if you’re travelling with several colleagues on the same train, you can request a group discount which can save you up to 75%. Also, don’t overlook the option to take a long-distance bus. You can find really good deals with companies like Flixbus and BlaBlaCar. Finally, avoiding air travel is, of course, not possible or feasible for many. If flying is unavoidable, you can still take steps to minimise the climate impact: choose flights without connections, compare the pollution estimates of potential flights and (if you can afford it) opt in to paying the compensation fee when booking. 

What can we do?

As we gear up for the EAIE 2024 Conference and Exhibition in beautiful Toulouse, let’s all take a moment to consider the impact of our travel choices. Our interviewee has shared some inspiring ways to make the journey more sustainable, showing that whether you travel by bike, train, car, or plane, there's always a way to lessen your climate impact. 

This year, let’s all make a commitment to reduce our carbon footprints and embrace sustainable practices. Participants can sign the sustainability pledge and show how we can collectively make a significant difference and set an example for future events. 

Don't miss out on the opportunity to be part of this incredible gathering of educators and innovators. Register today before prices increase at the end of August! Be sure to explore the sustainability tab on our event page for more insights and resources on traveling sustainably to EAIE 2024.