With the COP26 Climate Accord having just taken place in November, higher education will be looking to consider how continued internationalisation of the sector will evolve over the near and distant future.
Around five million students study abroad every year placing a significant cost in global emissions through international travel and related activities.
The education sector as a whole has an important part to play in cutting greenhouse gases – whether through reducing the carbon footprint of university campuses and accommodation, or making active decisions to divest from oil and gas-related funding.
The sector must respond to new challenges by becoming more environmentally conscious, and making climate-oriented approaches central to their policy, strategy and actions.
Although it is not expected that universities will make signification changes, the impacts of the climate crisis will still have far-reaching effects on education; university life, research, learning and travel will all continue to be shaped by climate change. Students graduating now will be breaking into a job market defined by these critical changes, influencing entire professions and even the future of work.
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