Mobility

We encourage students, faculty and staff to consider low-carbon commuting and travel choices, as our daily commutes and overseas travel have a significant impact on SMU's carbon footprint.

Campus Commute

Situated in the city centre of Singapore, our campus benefits from excellent public transport connectivity and pedestrian access. Sheltered above- and under- ground passageways provide all weather access within our campus for our students, employees and visitors.

We have also set aside space for bicycle parking and provide shower facilities at each of our buildings for those who are keen on cycling to and from, and within campus.

We promote active commutes through walking and cycling, and the use of public transport when commuting to and from the University or when travelling around Singapore. Should the use of a car be necessary, we strongly encourage car pooling and the use of electric vehicles. 7 charging points are available at our carparks to make it easier for our community and visitors to charge their electric vehicles.

Travel

Travel is essential for SMU to deliver its mission - to develop our students as engaged global citizens; to generate and disseminate research; and to forge regional and global alliances, and project collaborations. We strive to strike a balance between fulfilling our mission and the negative environmental impact of travel. In 2022, we launched our climate conscious travel guide, providing our community with guidance on how to reduce their travel footprint.

The easiest way to avoid emitting carbon is to not travel. Use technology to replace travel by connecting remotely. Avoiding travel saves time, money and carbon.

Some alternatives:

  • Network virtually
  • Attend virtual meetings
  • Participate in virtual or hybrid conferences/ seminars

If some travel is necessary, it is still possible to reduce your emissions and save time and money by reducing the number of trips. You could also weigh your options to lower the impact on the environment.

Being mindful or creative about the way we travel around on a daily basis could also serve to reduce our carbon footprint.

The Climate Conscious Travel Hierarchy

Creative ways to travel around:

  • Carpool or car share if all passengers are going in the same direction or have a common destination.
  • Minimise the size of your travelling group if you are going to the same event.
  • Combine business travelling with your family or leisure trips.

Several ways to travel without flying:

  • Rail: The customisable options range from sleeper trains to high-speed trains, to suit your itinerary and needs.
  • Car: Should your destination not fall within the vicinity of a rail network, consider taking the train most of the way and book a hired car for the final leg of the journey.
  • Coach: An alternative mode of travel for many domestic and European journeys, taking the coach can also be a viable option.
Image from https://www.aef.org.uk/

To minimise your flight emissions, opt for:

  1. Economy Class
  2. Non-stop, direct flights
  3. The most fuel-efficient carrier
  4. Airlines/ transit hubs that utilise Sustainable Aviation Fuel
  5. Offsetting Schemes
Image from https://www.aef.org.uk/

What you can do

  • Walk, cycle or take public transport to get to and around campus.
  • Practise climate conscious travel with our handy guide above. Choose transport and accommodation options with a lower environmental impact when travelling.
  • For SMU students and employees, use SMU appointed travel management companies when booking university-related travel as that will help us measure and monitor our travel emissions more accurately and reliably.