Institute of Development Studies

IDS Policy on Responsible Travel

September 2008

Background

Climate change currently commands significant political and media attention. Evidence that the earth’s temperatures are rising is now unequivocal and global changes are very likely to have been caused by human-driven increases in greenhouse gases.

The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) has been keen to emphasise the development aspects of climate change issues. Poor people in developing countries are likely to be the worst affected by climate change due to their geographical location, reliance on natural resources, and limited assets with which to cope. These same people have done the least to cause the problem, leaving a moral and equity-based imperative for rich people, particularly those in industrialised countries, to cut emissions first and to help poor people to adapt. This moral development imperative for action extends to individuals and to organisations as a whole.

As an international research institute, IDS has a significant impact on the generation of greenhouse gases. The moral development imperative of climate change impacts means that in order to work within its core values, mission and vision, IDS must take action to manage its carbon footprint.

Some of the carbon emissions come from operations at the Institute itself, particularly through appliances, publishing, light and heat in the IDS building, and the use of stationary and other resources. Measures are underway at IDS to tackle the domestic elements of its footprint, and more needs to be done.

Most significantly, however, IDS needs to manage its travel in the light of the emissions it produces. This policy is an important first step in this process, and signals our desire to be proactive in this respect. Many of our comparators and partners are producing similar policies.

Guiding principles

In developing this policy, IDS has attempted to ensure consistency with several underpinning principles. These include developing a policy that is:

1. Endorsed and reviewed by the Strategic Management Group (SMG) and applicable across the Institute

2. Consistent with the IDS mission and values, which include:

• raising awareness of climate change impacts on developing countries and a subsequent commitment to travel responsibly
• maintaining our work as an international institute and therefore an ability to work overseas in partnership with others
• taking the lead in reducing our footprint, rather than relying on our partners to do so

3. Practical for all members of IDS, for example:

• using incentives for behavioural change, rather than fixed targets
• avoiding adding unnecessarily to levels of bureaucracy around travel
• supporting flexibility and innovation in ways to take action within an overall commitment for responsible travel

4. A tool for reflection and innovation, which includes:

• using our policy and actions to challenge conventional approaches to research and teaching
• targeting donors to demand responsible travel across their work

IDS Policy on Responsible Travel September 2008