The Erasmus+ Mobility programme can be a life-changing opportunity and experience for the hundreds of thousands of students who participate in it every year across Europe.
It has contributed to a more integrated and inclusive European continent. On the flip side, it is important to recognise the potential challenges of the programme, such as its environmental impact. It's been estimated that between 2014-2020, the Erasmus+ programme generated between 414,000 and 672,000 tonnes of CO2 (or equivalent), and with the intention to increase participation, the footprint is likely to increase further unless significant action is taken.
Green Erasmus wants to see significant changes in the mobility patterns of university students going on Erasmus+ exchange to reduce the environmental impact of the programme:
Increasing the current €50 to a universal top up to individual support of up to €250 for green travel, proportionate to distance covered
And increasing the current 4 days up to 7 days of additional individual support covering additional subsistence costs and/or accommodation needs linked to green travel - for the round trip
If you want to support the initiative, you can sign the petition here.