Study abroad and climate change

An implication of study abroad that has not received a lot of attention is the environmental impact of travel. Elizabeth Redden provides good background on the question by saying that, "programs run the risk of environmental and social harm not only when the distance traveled is far but also 'when the size of the student group is such that it is forced to set up a separate and self-sustaining foreign enclave within the host community'; when the backgrounds of participants allow for only limited intercultural contact, perspective taking, and foreign language learning': and 'when the primary motivation of participants has more to do with the promised thrill of travel and immediate goals gratification than the opportunity to learn from and with community residents,' among other factors."

International educators want to see travel increased but perhaps more consideration should be given to return on investment related to intensity and length of study abroad experiences as well as how far a destination is necessary in order for students to learn. Learning locally in a cross-cultural environment may help students learn more than a short-term study abroad experience that is simply a "bubble" of students traveling to a foreign location.