Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Academic Conferences: The Example of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Abstract

We calculated carbon emissions associated with air travel of 4,834 participants at the 2019 annual conference of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH). Together, participants traveled a total of 27.7 million miles or 44.6 million kilometers. This equates to 58 return trips to the moon. Estimated carbon dioxide equivalent (CO 2 e) emissions were 8,646 metric tons or the total weekly carbon footprint of approximately 9,366 average American households. These emissions contribute to climate change and thus may exacerbate many of the global diseases that conference attendees seek to combat. Options to reduce conference travel-associated emissions include 1) alternating in-person and online conferences, 2) offering a hybrid in-person/online conference, and 3) decentralizing the conference with multiple conference venues. Decentralized ASTMH conferences may allow for up to 64% reduction in travel distance and 58% reduction in CO 2 e emissions. Given the urgency of the climate crisis and the clear association between global warming and global health, ways to reduce carbon emissions should be considered.

Physical or virtual? Or is there a middle path? - Reimagining medical conferences in the COVID-19 era

“…Virtual events eliminate travel, are faster to organize, provide more value at a fraction of cost, chat rooms and virtual common interest rooms enable networking, create a level playing field and thus democratize education, help foster social and gender equity in participation, provide uninterrupted access across timezones, and are environment friendly. [ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ] Virtual meetings, however, are criticized for being impersonal, faceless, listener attention being diluted by parallel distractions, and prone to technical glitches. Aspects of a physical meeting that cannot be replicated in a virtual setting include the time and intensity to explore complex scientific issues, the ability to interact spontaneously, and the opportunity to strengthen relationships.…”

“…Aspects of a physical meeting that cannot be replicated in a virtual setting include the time and intensity to explore complex scientific issues, the ability to interact spontaneously, and the opportunity to strengthen relationships. [ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ]…”

“…[ 4 ] Travel to attend the 2019 meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene involving 4834 participants and 44.6 million kilometers, equated to 58 return trips to the moon and an estimated 8,646 tons CO 2 emission. [ 5 ] The average 4-day, 1000-attendee national conference generates about 3000 tons of CO 2 emissions. At this rate, an AIOS annual conference would generate about 30,000 tons of CO 2 emissions!…”

The Online Alternative

“…For in-person conferences, professional organizations could build upon and further develop the suggestions proposed by Philosophers for Sustainability and contained in the Good Practices Guide of the American Philosophical Association, as well as those made by scientists to decrease the carbon footprint and increase the accessibility of conferences and of research (Bousema et al 2020;Burtscher et al 2020;Klöwer et al 2020;Stevens et al 2020). Several common proposals emerge from those suggestions: (1) replace in-person conferences with the online format; (2) alternate in-person with online conferences; (3) incorporate online talks in in-person conferences; (4) choose conference venues that are accessible and that would result in the lowest amount of carbon emissions, especially due to transportation; (5) mandatorily offset carbon emissions that cannot be avoided, including for online conferences.…”

Something Big that Matters: The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene’s Commitment to Combat Climate Change

“…How can we meet that goal while decreasing the huge carbon cost of the meeting? Bousema et al 1 propose a number of potential steps in the right direction, including alternating between a physical and virtual meeting, offering a hybrid in-person/online conference, or decentralizing the meeting, with multiple simultaneous conference venues. Each of these options would result in substantial carbon emission savings and is worth taking seriously.…”