Sustainability & Your Gap Semester

While we know the positive outcomes of a program like ours can outweigh its negative  climate impacts, we must first be open - and honest - in acknowledging the extra impacts inherent to international travel. We consider these impacts on every program and feel that we have not just a moral obligation, but also a practical one that can add to our students’ learning experience as a changemaker.   

Our largest carbon footprint is airfare, affecting our students, their families, the communities we visit, and the global community. To reduce this impact, we’re investing heavily in educational curricula and program development that connects students directly to the impacts of climate change; inspirational partners who are making a difference; and meaningful work in sustainability in each program. It’s our hope that seeing the real impacts of climate change will connect & inspire further action as our students (future leaders) return to their home communities. 

Below are a few ways that Carpe Diem Education and Global Routes are working to minimize the carbon footprint of our programs - and how we ask our students and families to contribute.

Why is this important?

According to the EPA, human activities are responsible for almost all of the greenhouse gas increases over the last 150 years. Greenhouse gasses (GHG) trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere and make the planet warmer. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most common greenhouse gas emission, caused especially by burning fossil fuels (for electricity, heat, construction, transportation, and everything that drives our modern economy).  

The amount of carbon dioxide a person or group emits due to the consumption of fossil fuels is known as their “carbon footprint.” While the concept of an individual “carbon footprint” was initially pioneered by the fossil fuel industry to shift responsibility to consumers, the reality is that carbon footprints are a necessary tool to work towards net-zero, and a pedagogical tool to educate about climate change. Equally as important however, is the need to be honest about our impacts first: even as airlines become more efficient, increased demand for travel represents roughly 8% of total carbon emissions annually.

So what to do?  Our plan is this:

  • STEP 1: Be honest and take action: Each of us, … even if it’s a small adjustment.
  • STEP 2: Talking about our own behavioral changes influences two-thirds of listeners: Talk about it.
  • STEP 3: Drive meaningful collective & political action through inclusive means: Build allies, don’t shame, listen, and advocate. 
four friends in raincoats a the coast
leraning from regreen experts
student holding bananas plucked from tree

Here's what we're doing

From our Pacific Northwest Headquarters

We choose to be headquartered in the Pacific Northwest not only because the people are smart, caring, kind, and solution-oriented, but also because we believe it’s a community moving in the right direction to minimize our carbon footprint. A few examples: 

  • Electricity is largely renewable (OR and WA represent 2 of the top 5 renewable producing states in the US).
  • Climate change will affect this area less than others - Portland and the Pacific Northwest are home to many refugees. Our geographic location is predicted to have fewer impacts that represent a risk management issue.a
  • Our home community of Portland collects trash biweekly and recycling/compost weekly. At our office, we compost as much as possible and have managed to rarely fill our trash for each pick up! 

Actions Across the ENTIRE Organization

We commit to: 

  • Reduce our entire organization’s Carbon Footprint to zero by the end of 2025*
    • This will include reducing our footprint as a first priority, then insetting wherever possible, and only for that remaining, using offsetting projects with direct contributions to highly reputable and thoroughly-vetted partners. 
  • Carpe Diem purchases $88/leg of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for each employee’s air travel
  • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
    • Research and buy used items unless risk management is of concern. 
    • Buy bulk and “upcycle” office and program materials.
    • NO single-use plastics.
    • Recycle every battery and prioritize rechargeables. 
    • Purchase only recyclable envelopes and paper products. 
    • Bring reusable takeaway/refillable containers when needed. 
    • Favor vegetarian options for Carpe Diem/Global Routes sponsored meals. 
    • Recycle or donate all technology not currently in use. 
  • Prioritize hybrid and electric vehicles when renting vehicles or ordering rideshares, when possible. 
  • Support organizations working toward solutions, such as: 
    • The Glasgow Climate Accords,
    • B-Corps Commitments,
    • CANiE Accords.
  • Improve the profile of Climate Change across our brands and influence others to do the same.
  • Publish “carbon nutritional facts” for each of our programs.  
  • Continue to offer a “match” for all students who choose to inset a portion of their carbon emissions.
  • Encourage alumni to support climate-related initiatives through messaging, workshops, and scholarships.  

Actions In Our Office

We commit to: 

  • Have an in-house position to focus on the issue of climate change (currently, Ethan Knight, Carpe Diem’s Founder, serves in this position). 
  • Maintain an EV Level 2 charger for community electric cars.
  • Publish (at least) annual benchmarks.
  • To reduce long-haul travel, hire new office employees locally when possible. 
  • Favor virtual meetings wherever distance necessitates travel, and combine travel obligations to minimize our footprints.
  • Allow staff to work remotely, minimizing daily commuting.
  • Continue having 100% of our power come from clean sources through a program with our electricity provider at the Portland, Oregon headquarters.
  • Provide mugs and thermoses at our office to avoid the need for disposable cups.
  • Drink tap water (from our insulated Carpe Diem water bottles!).
  • Expect all employees to recycle/reuse all paper products and participate in the city’s curbside recycling program. 
  • Use only LED bulbs.
  • Maintain only low-flow toilets and showers in the office and faucets fitted with aerators to minimize the amount of water used.  
  • Continue to abstain from central air in the office, instead using a programmable thermostat and cellular shades to reduce energy.
  • Continue offering 401k options to Carpe staff that are carbon-conscious. 

Actions On Our Programs

We commit to: 

  • Provide all student groups with rechargeable steri-pens. This alternative purification system allows for safe drinking water without the need for plastic bottled water or disposable filters. During a typical semester this allows us to save over one thousand plastic bottles of water!
  • Reduce in-country flights as much as possible; replace with safety-conscious road and rail transportation.
  • Encourage students to leave non-essential wifi devices at home, resulting in less energy use.
  • Avoid corporate international hotels and restaurants. Instead, support smaller, locally owned businesses.  
  • Encourage a Sustainability Role (along with others) for students to lead within each cohort.
  • Support (with templates and organizing) civic action through dialogue with legislators. 
  • Include the following questions in our partner and vender vetting: 
    • “Are hybrid or electric vehicles available?”
    • “How has climate change affected your community?  Do you talk about it much?”
    • “Can we learn what your community is doing to mitigate the impacts of climate change?”
  • Educate about climate change through project focus and learning outcomes, experience and reflection, and meaningful curricula, resources, and experts. 
  • Participate in emissions-reducing projects while we travel! Examples of projects we support on our programs include:
    • Mangarara Farm in NZ is a 1,500 acre site dedicated to producing local, organic, sustainable food using endemic trees, food crops, animal grazing, and human activity. Carpe Diem students have various jobs depending on season and current needs, including planting/harvesting food crops, planting endemic trees/flora, and tending to farm animals.
    • Atitlan Organics in Guatemala is a permaculture farm and education center where Carpe Diem students work alongside local youth leaders and farmers on sustainability projects, organic farming, and environmental education activities.  
    • The Arajuno Foundation in Ecuador works to protect 65 hectares of primary forest in the Amazon rainforest where they improve the quality of life of the local indigenous population and educate the next generation about rainforest ecology.  Carpe Diem students help participate in riverbank restoration, river turtle conservation, and reforestation efforts.
    • CASA Interamericana in Ecuador promotes conservation, social justice, and better living alternatives for people in the Tropical Andes region.  We partner with them both in carbon offsetting projects, native species reforestation, and educational activities.   
    • Sadhana Forest India focuses on reforesting 70 acres of severely degraded land with the Indigenous TDEF (Tropical-Dry-Evergreen-Forest). Carpe Diem Students work on the land to plant trees, conserve water, and develop sustainable infrastructure.
    • ProtoVillage India is a community committed to respecting, preserving and nurturing the soil, water and the air in the process of building this self-reliance.  The community serves as a prototype for how to blend traditional wisdom with modern appropriate technology to achieve ecological sustainability. Carpe Diem students work in their permaculture gardens and help with work to restore the water table as well as other projects. 
    • Conscious Impact works towards long term sustainable change in rural Nepal with projects that range from natural building to regenerative agriculture.  Carpe Diem Students will engage in building projects as well as working in the permaculture gardens and learning about other initiatives to build a thriving sustainable rural Nepal. 
    • Aurobindo Ashram is a spiritual community that is home to hundreds of Nepali youth and families living and working together to create an intentional community based on the idea that “all life is yoga” or all life is one. This community has been at the forefront of sustainable solutions and educational advancements in Nepal. Growing all of their own organic food and providing a world class education to all of the kids, this community has become a model for their way of life and the nourishment of the land and spirit.  Carpe Diem students engage in all of the work of the ashram, from the garden to the cow shed to the classroom. 
    • Totnes in Devon in the UK is a town renowned the world over for being at the epicenter of urban sustainability. Home of the Transition Movement- a community driven initiative to transition towns off of fossil fuels as well as  a number of grassroot groups with a focus on sustainability and a progressive college focused on ecological studies. Here, Carpe Diem diem students will connect with many different organizations with focuses ranging from food, renewable energy, energy neutral living, and the local economy to much more. 
    • Findhorn Ecovillage represents the synthesis of some of the very best of current thinking on sustainable human settlements, with models of sustainable homes, energy systems and waste management, as well as natural building and regenerative agriculture, Findhorn inspires communities the world over and was identified as the place in the UK with the lowest ecological footprint. Carpe Diem students will learn and engage with many of the practices in Findhorn as well as their process of attunement to help connect more deeply with nature. 
    • Boekel Ecovillage is considered to be the most sustainable community in the Netherlands, Boekel is a new ecovillage committed to all of the sustainability focused SDG’s, when finished it will feature 30 climate-adaptive and climate-positive rental homes, 6 informal care homes, a community center , knowledge and education center , workshop and offices, with options for their own food supply , their own own energy supply , ecological water purification and sustainable businesses. Carpe Diem students will get to engage with the community in all of the work-from the gardens, to building to education as well as creative endeavors. 
    • Climate Force in Queensland Australia is a group committed to developing and scaling organic reforestation methodologies that are economically self-sustaining. Their Tropical ReGen, is a 527-acre pilot project in the world's oldest rainforest, the Daintree, located in Far North Queensland, Australia. Carpe Diem students will learn about the nursery and take place in replanting and well as survey work.
    • Re-Green in Greece is a permaculture sanctuary and retreat space where students have time to reflect and connect with the world around them.  Through classes in permaculture, activities and discussion around sustainable living, and a supportive community, students learn about impacts of and responses to climate change.  
    • Centro Panta Rei in Italy is a sustainable living and learning center where Carpe Diem students learn about natural building, community development, and learning through doing with the goal of becoming more empowered change makers!  

What you can do on your program

  • Bring a reusable water bottle, a thermos, reusable straw, and Tupperware for leftover food and takeaway drinks.
  • Bring biodegradable soaps / shampoos and other environmentally friendly toiletries (especially reef-safe sunscreen if you are SCUBA diving or snorkeling!).
  • Buy or borrow used gear, rather than buy new.
  • Refuse plastic bags when purchasing items in stores. Consider bringing a reusable bag.
  • Consider reducing meat consumption while traveling.
  • Choose snacks with less packaging - reduce waste.
  • Be intentional about souvenir purchases to promote buying locally. 
  • Bring rechargeable batteries.
  • Especially in homestays - be conscious of your energy and water use.
    • You are a guest in someone else’s country – sometimes in their home. Learn about and respect their customs and culture. Be open to discussions about your own.

Climate Change FAQ

What is carbon offsetting?

Carbon offsetting doesn’t get rid of the carbon dioxide produced when you fly, for instance - but it does try to factor for your share of the CO2 which gets released by (in varying ways) reducing it somewhere else.  

Flight emissions calculators measure the amount of carbon dioxide produced by each trip you take.  When you purchase a carbon offset, you’re typically investing in a project which reduces CO2 levels.

However, carbon offsetting is complicated largely because it doesn’t honestly account for the price of removing a ton of carbon, true accountability for projects is very hard (especially internationally), and the projects are frequently hard to make permanent (think of forest fires burning newly planted trees).  Any reputable carbon offset project has to meet three criteria to be considered effective. First, the project wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t been funded by the money from the carbon offsets. Second, it can’t reduce emissions in one place but somehow increase them in another.  Third, it has to be permanent, so it won’t be reversed in the future.  

In addition to these criteria, there are other factors to be considered: Is the project taking into account the potential social impacts?  For example, there have been a number of cases of large companies buying land in developing countries to use for tree planting and forcing local communities off that land.  Not all projects are bad!  But it can be tricky to evaluate which ones are truly doing positive, effective work.

How can I offset some of my flights?

Rather than contribute to the larger carbon offsetting industry, Carpe Diem has chosen to  support smaller organizations in the places where we work that are working on projects related to renewable energy, environmental justice, or reforestation. By partnering with organizations we know and trust, we are able to not only participate in the projects we fund, we can also have a better understanding of the impact of the funds we spend.  

While it isn’t as clear as purchasing a certain amount of tonnes of carbon offsets specific to the flights our students and staff are taking, it is an option we feel good about and allows us to give additional support to our partner organizations.     

If you choose to offset CO2 through Carpe Diem, we will match your donation up to $30.00. 

If you’d prefer to make sure that you are offsetting 100% the carbon emissions your flights produce, you are welcome to do some research on your own and contribute to an official carbon offsetting program that you feel good about supporting.