Abstract
Category:
Other; Basic Sciences/Biologics
Introduction/Purpose:
Greenhouse gas production is the major driver of anthropogenic climate change (ACC). To counteract the current trends in ACC, climate experts recommend no more than 2 tonnes of CO2 be generated/person/year. Currently, the global average is 4 tonnes/person/year. Current approximate per capita national average for CO2 production in the U.S. is 20 tonnes/person/year. Airline travel is a major contributor to greenhouse gas production. Although many factors contribute to CO2 production by academic conference attendees, air travel is by far the greatest contributor. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic the AOFAS annual meeting (AOFASAM) was held in-person without a virtual attendance option. We estimated and characterized the greenhouse gas production generated by attendance at the last all-in-person (2019) AOFASAM.
Methods:
We estimated departure airports for all registered participants attending the 2019 AOFASAM using a de-identified list of postal addresses. For each address, the nearest large airport (origin) was determined using a publicly available web-based locator. Using this origin, CO2 production for each round-trip flight to Chicago was determined using a publicly available web- based calculator. Total and average CO2 production for all registrants at the AOFASAM was calculated.
Results:
There were a total of 1271 registrants for the 2019 AOFASAM. Because of their proximity, 64 individuals were estimated to not have used air travel. A total of 1206.67 tonnes of CO2 was estimated to have been generated by round-trip flights for AOFASAM registrants. This averages to 0.95 tonnes CO2 generated per AOFASAM registrant (range 0.06 to 6.3 tonnes). No registrant with a U.S. address was estimated to have generated more than 1.04 tonnes of CO2. Individually, international registrants generated between 0.35 and 6.3 tonnes of CO2. A majority (58%) of registrants were estimated to have generated >1 tonne of CO2 (n=321 [25%], 1-2 tonnes; n=295 [23%], 2-3 tonnes and n=122 [10%], >3 tonnes).
Conclusion:
Travel to the AOFASAM results in substantial CO2 production. One-third of attendees exceeded the WHO recommended annual CO2 production/person/year by attending the meeting; another 25% generated 50-100% of this limit. To meet WHO guidelines for CO2/person/year production, and set a good example for the rest of society, we need to consider alternatives to in-person meetings or pay for offsets to do our part in curbing ACC. Reducing in-person conference attendance has potential negative social and networking consequences to be overcome. Interactions with industry partners will also need to adapt. Further development of virtual reality may help mitigate these consequences.