Many of us are aware of the fact that flying is one of the main contributors to the global climate breakdown. Still, many of us fly. Especially we as scientists have – ostensibly – various reasons to fly: We fly to conferences to present talks or posters, we are invited to present our work as keynote speakers, or we simply meet with fellow scientists to discuss future grant proposals. All in the knowing that this behaviour is highly problematic, resulting in a climate footprint that is beyond any scale of sustainability. |
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The idea of this climate CV originated from discussions in the research group “Environmental Psychology” located at the University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany. We invite scientists of all disciplines to think about their behaviour, and to create, provide, and discuss their own climate CV. | |
With being transparent in our own ranks, we hope to contribute to a society that questions the necessity of flying. We also hope to contribute to a shift in mental as well as material infrastructures that make scientific meetings more compatible with strong sustainability concerns and our meta-goal of decreasing emissions. |
My journey to flying less and this climate CV
This story is a very personal one. If you are interested you can download and read through my thoughts about this journey (German only).
Emissions from conferences, workshops, research stays
Update November 2020:
Corona has upset all our lives. The virus has a good side: I hardly commute at all anymore and actually (almost) only ride my bike. My favourite means of transport and one of the best inventions there is, in my opinion. A more detailed and number-based update will follow soon.
(updated: May 2019)
Within The table below you can find conferences, meetings, talks and scientific stays I did since I started to work as research associate in the working group on environmental psychology at the University of Koblenz-Landau..
Overall I travelled about 7360 km for scientific reasons since November 2017 and until May 2019 resulting in greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 280 kg CO2 equivalents. This compares to emissions from flying by airplane for approximately 1600 kg.
Year|Month | Destination | Reason | Distance (round trip) and | Greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 equivalents)
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2018|4 | Karlsruhe, Germany | KIT Workshop Qualitative Data Research | 456 kmby train | 17,3 kg |
2018|5 | Landau, Germany | Workshop for PhD Students (DoTa) | 530 km by train | 20,1 kg |
2018|5 | Elmstein, Germany | IPU Workshop (Future Lab) | 592 km by train | 22,5 kg |
2018|6 | Isle of Vilm, Germany | Vilm Summerschool on Environmental Psychology | 2220 km by train and by ferry | 83,6 kg |
2018|9 | Freiburg, Germany | Meta-Analysis Method Workshop | 250 km by train | 9,5 kg |
2018|11 | Jena, Germany | Postwachstumskolleg, Basic Income Workshop | 1100 km by car | 41,8 kg |
2019|02 | Lüneburg, Germany | Leverage Points Conference | 1610 km by train | 20 kg |
2019|02 | Zurich, Switzerland | IPU Congress | 150 km by train | 5,7 kg |
2019|04 | Karlsruhe, Germany | NaWik Symposium | 469 km | 17,8 kg |
| Total | 7357 km | 279,7 kg |
Note. Distance and CO2 calculations are based on google maps and average emission calculations per kilometer and transport mode provided by the German Environmental Agency (https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/376/publikationen/180607_uba_hg_fernbus_bf.pdf).
Commuting
As I live in Konstanz I have to regularly commute to Landau. I do this by train and I always carry my folding-bike with my in order to have a maximum of mobility on-site.
For these distances I also calculated my mobility-related footprint (see table below).
Year | Route | Distance (round trip) and mode of transportation | Quantity | Total amount | Greenhouse gas emissions |
2017 | Konstanz - Landau | 528 km by train | 3 | 1584 km | 60,2 kg |
2018 | Konstanz - Landau | 528 km by train | 24 | 12672 km | 481,5 kg |
| 2018 | Karlsruhe - Landau | 74 km by train | 18 | 1328 km | 50,6 kg |
| 2019 | Konstanz - Landau | 528 km by train | 8 | 4224 km | 160,5 kg |
| Total | 19 812 km | 752,9 kg |
In total, including commuting, conference meetings and work-related stays, I travelled about 27 169 km resulting in greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 1032,4 kg CO2 equivalents.
The sustainable yearly climate budget for a human being is estimated to be 2.300kg.
Further contributions to the socio-ecological transformation
- I never owned a car.
- My last flight was in spring 2013.
- I use my bike(s) every day - to go to work, to bring my daughter to school, to go for shopping. I must confess: My folding bike is the most practical thing I ever owned.
- I am a vegetarian. I try to eat vegan at least two days a week.
- I try to avoid plastic whenever possible. This year I started a personal challenge to only produce one "yellow-bag". Sadly, the bag is almost half full.
- Political engagement and activism is part of the story. Among others I am an active member of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Baden-Württemberg. In this context I organize various events that try to empower people and discuss current political issues in the context of sustainability and socio-ecological transformation. Also in Landau and Konstanz I am engaged for climate protection through being part of several networks and groups (e.g. Fridays For Future movement)
- I vote for climate protection.