Title: Making Astronomy Meetings Greener and More Inclusive: A Systematic Study of CO2 Emissions and Proposed Solutions
A new study published in PNAS Nexus has estimated the CO2-equivalent emissions for conference travel to all 362 open meetings in the field of astronomy in 2019. The total is an estimated 42,500 tons, or about 1 ton per participant per meeting. This hefty carbon cost can be reduced through adjustments, such as virtual meetings and preferential location of conferences.
The researchers, all members of the grass-roots organization Astronomers for Planet Earth (A4E), propose hybrid formats and meetings held at a small number of physical hubs, which can then be virtually linked. This approach has the potential to reduce long-haul travel, which contributes the majority of emissions. If intercontinental travel is unavoidable, the study authors suggest maximizing the time spent at the travel destination.
These choices not only make astronomy meetings greener but also make astronomy more inclusive as a discipline. Traveling to meetings is often more challenging for those from less-wealthy institutes, those farther from North American and European hubs, people who have to manage complex visa bureaucracies, researchers with disabilities, and those with caretaking responsibilities.
The study’s findings and suggestions can be applied to other academic disciplines as well. The lead author, Dr. Gokus, is an astronomer who focuses on the high-energy emission of active galactic nuclei. She believes that making use of technology to connect virtually can foster a more inclusive collaborative approach and advance our understanding of the universe.
As Dr. Gokus said, “What is great about making meetings more sustainable is that it can easily go hand in hand with making astronomy more inclusive as well. By making use of technology to connect virtually, we can foster a more inclusive collaborative approach, which can help us advance our understanding of the universe further. It is important that we work together as a community to achieve this goal, because there is no Planet B.”
References:
[Insert citation for the PNAS Nexus paper here]
