Reducing the carbon footprint of the astronomical community.

Dear IAU President,

dear Ewine,

The climate and environmental crises are now well-established facts and their effects are more and more visible and severe as years pass. According to IPCC recent reports, we can hope to limit the trend by strongly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: by about half over the next decade, and by about 80% by 2050. This is a major challenge that will require all communities to adapt their behavior, including astronomers.

Several laboratories and institutions estimated their environmental impact and came to the conclusion that international conferences make a significant contribution to our community's GHG emissions. Examples at national levels can be found at the links below.

Large facilities (e.g. observational, computational…) also have important carbon footprint. However, they provide science data or results inaccessible otherwise. Lowering their contribution is mandatory, but this may take time. On the other hand, a rapid result could be obtained by a reduction and optimized organization of international meetings. This appears as the necessary first step to rapidly reduce the footprint of the astronomical community without affecting scientific progress.

The multiplication of international meetings, at a pace that is not always justified by scientific progress and at locations spread around the world, has an obvious detrimental effect on the carbon impact of our community. Reducing the number of conferences and organizing them at optimized locations would straightforwardly save money and GHG emissions. The participation of scientists who live far from such optimized conference places could be secured by funding support at a larger scale than presently done. The cost could be shared by the countries located close to the optimized conference locations and benefitting from lower travel costs and emissions.

Face-to-face international conferences remain a necessity, especially to foster international collaborations, but could become much less numerous without damage, and be replaced as much as possible by web-based “virtual” conferences. Efforts in this direction are currently underway in other disciplines, e.g. in biology https://cutt.ly/briwI5c .

Such evolutions need to be organized at worldwide level. The IAU is in the best position to make things move forward fast. As the IAU president, we urge you to launch a global assessment of the CO₂ impact of astronomical activities, implement immediate recommendations and actions and encourage national societies to join these efforts. It would be to your credit that the IAU demonstrates strong leadership on this urgent issue, and works quickly to make our professional practices coherent with current scientific knowledge about global warming.

Further discussion more specific to astronomy can be found here :

Astronomy in a Low-Carbon Future : https://arxiv.org/abs/1910.01272

The imperative to reduce carbon emissions in astronomy : https://arxiv.org/abs/1912.05834

Travel to academic conferences : https://www.nature.com/news/polopoly_fs/1.17125!/menu/main/topColumns/topLeftColumn/pdf/519261a.pdf

With our warmest regards,

The French Astronomical Society, SF2A

The French Astronomical Community

Signatures :

Laurent Pagani	Senior Researcher	Observatoire de Paris
Françoise Roques	Senior Astronomer	Observatoire de Paris
Laurent Lamy	Staff Astronomer	Observatoire de Paris
Emmanuel Lellouch	Senior Astronomer	Observatoire de Paris
Pacôme Delva	Lecturer	Sorbonne Université, Observatoire de Paris
Pascal Bonnefond	Senior Astronomer	Observatoire de Paris
Fabrice Herpin	Senior Astronomer	Université de Bordeaux, SF2A President
Patrick de Laverny	Senior Astronomer	Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur
Pierrick Martin	Staff Researcher	IRAP, Toulouse
Carine Briand	Senior Astronomer	Observatoire de Paris
Vincent Coudé du Foresto	Senior Astronomer	Observatoire de Paris
Thierry Dudok de Wit	Professor	Université d'Orléans
Sylvie Cabrit	Senior Astronomer	Observatoire de Paris
Philippe Garnier	Lecturer	IRAP, Toulouse
Olivia Venot	Staff Researcher	Université de Créteil
Luigi Tibaldo	Staff Astronomer	IRAP, Toulouse
Frédéric Boone	Staff Astronomer	IRAP, Toulouse
Pierre Kervella	Senior Astronomer	Observatoire de Paris
Nicole Meyer-Vernet	Senior Researcher Emeritus	Observatoire de Paris
Xavier Bonnin	Research Engineer	Observatoire de Paris
Jean-François Lestrade	Senior Researcher	Observatoire de Paris
Philippe Zarka	Senior Researcher	Observatoire de Paris
Annie Hughes	Staff Astronomer	IRAP, Toulouse
Christiane Vilain	Senior Researcher Honorary	Observatoire de Paris
Olivier Ilbert	Staff Astronomer	Université Aix-Marseille
Martin Giard	Senior Researcher	IRAP, Toulouse
Jürgen Knödlseder	Senior Researcher	IRAP, Toulouse
Benoît Sémelin	Professor	Sorbonne Université, Observatoire de Paris
Sylvie Brau-Nogué	Research Engineer	IRAP, Toulouse
Katia Ferrière	Senior Researcher	IRAP, Toulouse
Mathieu Servillat	Research Engineer	Observatoire de Paris
Antoine Gusdorf	Staff Researcher	ENS, Paris
François Levrier	Lecturer	ENS, Paris
Alexandre Marcowith	Staff Researcher	Université de Montpellier
Deirdre HORAN	Staff Researcher	Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau
Jean-Philippe LENAIN	Staff Researcher	LPNHE, Paris
Julie PRAST	Research Engineer	Université de Savoie-Mont-Blanc
Fabienne Casoli	Senior Astronomer	Observatoire de Paris
David Valls-Gabaud	Senior Researcher	Observatoire de Paris
Thomas Armstrong	Staff Researcher	Université Aix-Marseille
Pierre Jean	Professor	Université de Toulouse
Erwan Allys	Lecturer	ENS, Paris
Sylvain Chaty	Professor	Université de Paris
Norma G. Sanchez	Senior Researcher Emeritus	Observatoire de Paris
Jacques Le Bourlot	Professor	Université Paris-Diderot, Observatoire de Paris
Philippe Bruel	Staff Researcher	Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau
Mohammad Heydari-Malayeri	Senior Astronomer Emeritus	Observatoire de Paris
Jérôme Rodriguez	Staff Researcher	CEA, Saclay
Marina Ricci	Associate Researcher	Université de Savoie-Mont-Blanc
Jean-Michel LAMARRE	Senior Researcher Honorary	Observatoire de Paris
Andrea Chiavassa	Staff Researcher	Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur
Astrid Lamberts	Staff Researcher	Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur
Jean-Philippe Bernard	Senior Researcher	IRAP, Toulouse
Etienne Pointecouteau	Senior Researcher	IRAP, Toulouse
Benoît Mosser	Professor	Observatoire de Paris
Aurélie Guilbert-Lepoutre	Staff Researcher	Université de Lyon-1
Michel Rieutord	Professor	Université de Toulouse – Paul Sabatier
Rémi ADAM	Staff Researcher	Ecole Polytechnique, Saclay
Pierre Encrenaz	Senior Astronomer Emeritus	Observatoire de Paris
Vanessa Hill	Senior Researcher	Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur
Michel Lintz	Staff Researcher	Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur
Naïs Fargette	PhD student	IRAP, Toulouse
Vincent Génot	Senior Astronomer	IRAP, Toulouse
Jean-Luc Atteia	Senior Astronomer	Université de Toulouse
Thierry Contini	Senior Researcher	IRAP, Toulouse
Jeremie Lasue	Staff Astronomer	IRAP, Toulouse
Frédéric PIRON	Senior Researcher	Université de Montpellier
Victor Hui	PhD Student	Université de Savoie-Mont-Blanc
Tania Regimbau	Senior Researcher	Université de Savoie-Mont-Blanc
Nardetto Nicolas	Staff Researcher	Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur
Jean Ballet	Senior Researcher	CEA, Saclay
Héloïse Méheut	Staff Researcher	Université de la Côte d’Azur
Jean-François Glicenstein	Senior Researcher	CEA, Saclay
Matthieu Renaud	Staff Researcher	Université de Montpellier
Laurent Koechlin	Senior Astronomer Emeritus	IRAP, Toulouse
Philippe Galdemard	Research Engineer	CEA, Saclay
Johan Bregeon	Staff Researcher	LPSC, Grenoble
Maryvonne Gerin	Senior Researcher	Observatoire de Paris
Didier Barret	Senior Researcher	IRAP, Toulouse
Georges Kordopatis	Staff Astronomer	Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur
James Lequeux	Senior Astronomer Honorary	Observatoire de Paris
Isabelle Ristorcelli	Senior Researcher	IRAP, Toulouse
Frédéric Paletou	Senior Astronomer	Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, IRAP, Toulouse
Nadège Lemarchand	PhD Student	IAS, Université de Paris-Saclay
Jean-Baptiste Durrive	PostDoc Researcher	IRAP, Toulouse
Nathalie Carrasco	Professor	Université de Versailles Saint Quentin
Claire Moutou	Senior Researcher	IRAP, Toulouse
Nicolas André	Staff Researcher	IRAP, Toulouse
Aurore Bacmann	Senior Astronomer	Observatoire de Grenoble
Thomas Vuillaume	PostDoc Researcher	Université de Savoie-Mont-Blanc
Loïc Rolland	Senior Researcher	Université de Savoie-Mont-Blanc
Corinne Charbonnel	Senior Researcher	Observatoire de Grenoble et Université de Genève
Pierre Lesaffre	Staff Researcher	ENS, Paris
Karine Demyk	Senior Researcher	IRAP, Toulouse
Sylvain Bontemps	Senior Researcher	Université de Bordeaux
Philippe Salomé	Staff Astronomer	Observatoire de Paris
Nathalie Ysard	Staff Researcher	IAS, Université de Paris-Saclay
Déborah Paradis	Staff Astronomer	IRAP, Toulouse
Anthony Banday	Senior Researcher	IRAP, Toulouse
Jean-Marc Petit	Senior Researcher	OSU Theta Beasnçon
Jean-François Gonzalez	Lecturer	Observatoire de Lyon
Laurent Cambrésy	Senior Astronomer	Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg
Monique Arnaud	Senior Researcher	CEA, Saclay
Nicole Nesvadba	Staff Astronomer	Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur
Pierre Hily-Blant	Lecturer	Université Grenoble Alpes
Grazyna Stasinska	Senior Researcher Emeritus	Observatoire de Paris
Gwenaël Boué	Lecturer	Sorbonne Université, Observatoire de Paris
Fabrice Martins	Staff Researcher	Université de Montpellier
Dimitri Chuard	PostDoc Researcher	Université de Paris-Diderot
Isabelle Boisse	Staff Astronomer	Université d’Aix-Marseille
Richard Dallier	Lecturer	SUBATECH, Nantes
Lars Bonne	PhD Student	Université de Bordeaux
Sophie Maurogordato	Senior Researcher	Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur
Michel Tallon	Staff Researcher	Observatoire de Lyon
Sandrine Pires	Staff Researcher	CEA, Saclay
Annie Robin	Staff Researcher	OSU Theta Beasnçon
Philip Tuckey	Senior Astronomer	Observatoire de Paris
Marc Sauvage	Senior Researcher	CEA, Saclay
Jérémy Leconte	Staff Researcher	Université de Bordeaux
Laurence Rezeau	Professor	Sorbonne Université
Lisa Bugnet	PhD Student	CEA, Saclay
Pierre-Alain Duc	Senior Researcher	Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg
Jonathan Braine	Senior Astronomer	Université de Bordeaux
Melaine Saillenfest	Staff Researcher	Observatoire de Paris
Gilles Duvert	Senior Astronomer	Université Grenoble Alpes
Alain Hui-Bon-Hoa	Lecturer	IRAP, Toulouse
Philippe Rousselot	Professor	OSU Theta Besançon
Benjamin Charnay	Staff Researcher	Observatoire de Paris
Douglas Marshall	Lecturer	Université de Toulouse Paul Sabatier
Hervé Cottin	Professor	Université Paris Est Créteil
Alain Doressoundiram	Senior Astronomer	Observatoire de Paris
Coralie Neiner	Senior Researcher	Observatoire de Paris
Gérard Jasniewicz	Senior Astronomer	Université de Montpellier
Valentine Wakelam	Senior Researcher	Université de Bordeaux
Miho Janvier	Staff Astronomer	IAS, Université de Paris-Saclay
Caroline Soubiran	Senior Astronomer	Université de Bordeaux
Jean-Marie Hameury	Senior Researcher	Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg
Jérôme Guilet	Staff Researcher	CEA, Saclay
Batiste Rousseau	PostDoc Researcher	INAF-IAPS
Jean-Marie Malherbe	Senior Astronomer	Observatoire de Paris
Martin Turbet	PostDoc Researcher	Observatoire Astronomique de Genève
Arnaud Cassan	Lecturer	Sorbonne Université
Estelle Moraux	Lecturer	Université Grenoble-Alpes
Hélène Sol	Senior Researcher	Observatoire de Paris
Karrine Perraut	Senior Astronomer	Université Grenoble Alpes, Observatoire de Grenoble
Fabio Acero	Staff Researcher	CEA, Saclay
Jihane Moultaka	Staff Astronomer	IRAP, Toulouse
Pierre Gratier	Staff Astronomer	Université de Bordeaux
Emmanuel di Folco	Staff Astronomer	Université de Bordeaux
Jean-Claude Bourret	Senior Researcher	Université Aix-Marseille
Jürgen Kiener	Senior Researcher	Université de Paris-Saclay
François Spite	Senior Astronomer Honorary	Observatoire de Paris
Samuel Boissier	Senior Researcher	Université Aix-Marseille
Mathilde Gaudel	PostDoc Researcher	Observatoire de Paris
Olivier Groussin	Staff Astronomer	Université Aix-Marseille
Audrey Coutens	PostDoc Researcher	Université de Bordeaux
Yann Le Coq	Senior Researcher	Observatoire de Paris
Christian Bizouard	Senior Astronomer	Observatoire de Paris
Muriel Gargaud	Senior Researcher	Université de Bordeaux
Alexandre Le Tiec	Staff Researcher	Observatoire de Paris
Franck Selsis	Senior Researcher	Université de Bordeaux
Ismaël Cognard	Senior Researcher	OSUC, Université d’Orléans
Lucas Guillemot	Staff Astronomer	OSUC, Université d’Orléans
Alain Léger	Senior Astronomer Emeritus	IAS, Université de Paris-Saclay
Marianne Lemoine-Goumard	Staff Researcher	Université de Bordeaux
Charlène Lefèvre	PostDoc Researcher	IRAM, Grenoble
Peter Wolf	Senior Researcher	Observatoire de Paris
Raphaël Mignon-Risse	PhD Student	CEA, Saclay
Emmanuel Bertin	Senior Astronomer	Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris
Hélène Roussel	Staff Astronomer	Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris
Véronique Buat	Professor	Université Aix-Marseille
Benoît Epinat	Staff Astronomer	Université Aix-Marseille
Corentin Louis	PostDoc Researcher	IRAP, Toulouse
Stéphane Arnouts	Staff Researcher	Université Aix-Marseille
Pierre Barge	Senior Astronomer	Université Aix-Marseille
Miguel Montargès	PostDoc Researcher	KU Leuven, Belgique
Vincent Le Brun	Lecturer	Université Aix-Marseille
Philippe Amram	Professor	Université Aix-Marseille
Marc Ferrari	Senior Astronomer	Université Aix-Marseille
Denis Burgarella	Senior Researcher	Université Aix-Marseille
Yves-Paul Viala	Senior Astronomer Honorary	Observatoire de Paris
Patrick Petitjean	Senior Astronomer	Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris
Stéphane Blondin	Staff Researcher	Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Frédéric Arenou	Senior Research Engineer	Observatoire de Paris
Sébastien Derrière	Staff Astronomer	Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg
Aymeric Spiga	Lecturer	Sorbonne Université
Caroline Bot	Staff Astronomer	Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg
Franck Pereira dos Santos	Senior Researcher	Observatoire de Paris
Bertrand Goldman	Lecturer	International Space University (near Strasbourg)
Pierre Guillard	Lecturer	Sorbonne Université
Olivier Poch	PostDoc Researcher	Université Grenoble Alpes
Roger Ferlet	Senior Researcher Emeritus	Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris
Catherine Boisson	Senior Astronomer	Observatoire de Paris
Catherine Brunet	Documentation Engineer	Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg
Pierre Auclair-Desrotour	PostDoc Researcher	University of Bern, Switzerland
Patrick Boissé	Professor Emeritus	Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris
Robert Mochkovitch	Senior Researcher	Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris
Nicole Feautrier	Senior Astronomer Honorary	Observatoire de Paris
Pierre Léna	Professor Emeritus	Observatoire de Paris
Bertrand Plez	Professor	Université de Montpellier
David Maurin	Staff Researcher	LPSC, Grenoble
Éric Josselin	Lecturer	Université de Montpellier
Quentin Salomé	PostDoc Researcher	INAOE, Puebla, Mexico
Cinthya Herrera	PostDoc Researcher	IRAM, Grenoble
Ana Lopez	Staff Astronomer	IRAM, Grenoble
Roberto Neri	Senior Researcher	IRAM, Grenoble
Carsten Kramer	Senior Researcher	IRAM, Grenoble
Arancha Castro-Carrizo	Staff Astronomer	IRAM, Grenoble
Orsolya Feher	PostDoc Researcher	IRAM, Grenoble
Jan-Martin Winters	Senior Researcher	IRAM, Grenoble
Quentin Kral	Staff Astronomer	Observatoire de Paris
Ka Tat Wong	PostDoc Researcher	IRAM, Grenoble
Nicole Capitaine	Senior Astronomer Emeritus	Observatoire de Paris
Geneviève Soucail	Senior Astronomer	IRAP, Toulouse
Pascal Bordé	Professor	Université de Bordeaux
Yohan Dubois	Staff Researcher	Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris
César Gattano	PostDoc Researcher	University of Bern, Switzerland
Alba Vidal García	PostDoc Researcher	ENS, Paris
Marie-Hélène Grondin	Lecturer	Université de Bordeaux
Jesse Palmerio	PostDoc Researcher	Observatoire de Paris
Felicitas Arias	Long term visitor	Observatoire de Paris
Cécile Loup	Staff Researcher	Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg
Isabelle Vauglin	Staff Astronomer	Observatoire de Lyon
Anne Dutrey	Senior Researcher	Université de Bordeaux
Faustine Cantalloube	Staff Researcher	Université Aix-Marseille
Julien Milli	Staff Astronomer	Université Grenoble Alpes
Aurélien Crida	Lecturer	Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur