FORT COLLINS, CO – Beginning with its Fall 2026 Voyage, the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE) | Semester at Sea will offset the ship’s operational carbon emissions for each 105-day voyage, which are estimated at 8,113 metric tons of emissions for the voyage.
Through a partnership with Climate Impact Partners (CIP), voyagers’ Environmental Impact Fee will support projects such as clean water access, reforestation, sustainable infrastructure, cookstove distribution, and alternative energy initiatives. These efforts will benefit projects in countries voyagers visit each fall and spring.
Climate Impact Partners selects and monitors high-quality, certified carbon offset projects worldwide, ensuring that Semester at Sea has a real and measurable impact. As an added benefit, all CIP brokered projects meet at least one, and often many, of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Between the CIP-brokered offsets and credits purchased through the European Union’s Emissions trading system (EUETS), Semester at Sea aims to fully offset the ship’s direct operational emissions. The program will give students a tangible example of carbon offset and SDGs when learning about the selected projects during their voyage. Each voyager will be assessed the $300 fee as part of their program costs.
“Our program’s mission is to spark bold solutions to global challenges, including the challenges of a warming climate. This project puts that commitment into action while directly benefiting those countries who welcome and host us each fall and spring,” said ISE President and CEO Scott Marshall.
A spokesperson for Climate Impact Partners explained, “We work with leading organizations to deliver action on climate change and create a more sustainable world. Our joined-up approach helps organizations address their environmental impacts through high-quality carbon market solutions that also deliver positive impact for nature and local communities.”
About Semester at Sea
Semester at Sea voyagers earn between 12-15 college credits through academic partner Colorado State University while traveling to 10+ countries on three continents. The shipboard community is truly its own college campus and features classrooms, cabins, lecture halls, a theater, a library, fitness facilities, indoor and outdoor dining, a professional residential and student life staff, and counseling and medical teams, in addition to a maritime captain and crew. Learn more at staging.semesteratsea.org
About Climate Impact Partners
Climate Impact Partners is a leader in developing and delivering high-quality, high-impact carbon market solutions for climate action. For more than 20 years, the company has worked with climate-leading businesses to support more than 600 carbon removal and reduction projects in 56 countries. With a focus on helping to transform the global economy, improve health and livelihoods, and restore a thriving planet, Climate Impact Partners develops and delivers the highest quality carbon-financed projects. Learn more at www.climateimpact.com.
Media Contacts:
Jennie Montgomery, Strategic Communications Manager at Semester at Sea, jmontgomery@isevoyages.org | 970.432.9036
Hannah Blackmore, Global PR Manager for Climate Impact Partners media@climateimpact.com | +44 (0) 2045 703147
