Balancing the passion for travel with its significant carbon emissions is a growing challenge, as international tourism contributes nearly 8% of global emissions and is projected to reach 6.5 billion metric tons by 2025. Stanford Travel/Study, with over 50 years of experience, is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2025 through the implementation of a carbon emission tracking and reduction system. This project aims to measure and reduce tourism’s environmental impact, setting an example for sustainability in the travel industry and contributing to climate change mitigation.
The primary objective of this project is to contribute to Stanford’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2025 through the development of a comprehensive climate action plan. This plan will focus on reducing emissions, particularly those associated with transportation and food consumption during travel, while encouraging behavioral shifts toward sustainable practices among participants. By engaging key stakeholders across sectors, including transportation, accommodation, and food services, the Stanford Alumni Association aims to foster collaboration and set a benchmark for sustainable travel practices, ultimately contributing to industry standards and global environmental initiatives.
To assess the current level and sources of travel-related emissions, a questionnaire was created to help understand and extract insights. Notably, average aviation emissions per trip decreased from 2022 to 2023, while hotel and food emissions per person per trip were explained by specific calculation methods.
The questionnaire highlighted the positive impact of direct flights and vegan/vegetarian meal options on reducing emissions and promoting sustainable practices.
These insights offer inspiration and potential for operational improvements on campus, contributing to the overall reduction of travel-related carbon emissions.
The project succeeded in data analysis and productive discussions with my mentor and advisory board, though data collection from local contractors proved challenging due to their limited sustainability expertise. Despite these hurdles, the project offers scalable solutions, recommending sustainable travel practices like direct flights, vegan/vegetarian meals, and minimizing waste. This experience has significantly shaped my career, providing valuable skills in sustainability and change management that I will apply in future efforts to combat climate change.
Based on our extensive data collection and analysis, the university would benefit from the Travel/Study department and the broader Stanford community implementing a comprehensive carbon emission tracking system to ensure more accurate and timely data collection. Involving more local partners in future phases will also strengthen our action plans and create mutually beneficial relationships, positively impacting travel destinations. As for my future, I am committed to pursuing a career in carbon neutrality, focusing on energy-saving and emission reduction projects. The experience I’ve gained in change management and negotiation will be invaluable in my efforts to combat global warming.
PRIMARY PARTNER: Stanford Alumni Association
COLLABORATING PARTNERS: Scope 3 Emissions Team, Stanford Food Institute, Stanford Dining Hospitality and Auxiliaries, Planet FWD, Humane and Sustainable Food Lab
Yuan Tang (she/her) is a master’s student in the Sustainable Design and Construction program in CEE, specializing in sustainable urban systems and net-zero energy building design. Having previously garnered invaluable experience in the realm of life cycle assessment project in SFO international airport and LEED assessment experience in Starbucks China Coffee Innovation Park (CIP) , Yuan’s background equips her with a strong foundation in sustainable practices and eco-friendly design principles. With experience in carbon neutrality, she joins the travel/study carbon assessment & action plan team for her Living Lab Fellowship. She’s excited to contribute to reducing scope 3 carbon emissions at Stanford University and building a more sustainable community.
Stanford has set a new benchmark for sustainability at live events through its first major concert hosted by Stanford Athletics and Stanford Live. Sustainable Stanford hosted a fireside chat with sustainability leadership from Live Nation and Warner Music Group in tandem with this milestone.
From reducing embodied carbon in construction to piloting organic landscape management, the annual Student Sustainability Symposium highlighted how student-led innovation is driving sustainability at Stanford.
The Responsible Purchasing Department hosted an information session to inform the Stanford community about how everyday purchasing choices — like reusing, sourcing locally, and slowing shipping — can drive big sustainability impacts.
