Decarb science! But how?
Time
Venue
Zeughausgasse 17, Bern
Boston, Copenhagen, Kyoto: science is global and scientists are jetting around the world. Like the rest of society, science should lower its carbon emissions to net zero emissions in the next 30-50 years, in order to halt global warming below +2 degrees Celsius. Scientists and scientific institutions need to act now. Yet, how is it best to achieve decarbonisation? Is global science with only very few flights possible? Are there any tradeoffs for the scientific competitiveness? Join us to explore this issue.
Programme
9:30 Welcome, Marcel Tanner
9:35 FOCUS FLIGHTS: How the ETH is tackling its GHG flight emissions
Ulrich Weidmann, Vice President for Human Resources and Infrastructure ETH Zurich
9:55 FOCUS CAMPUS: EPFL toward carboneutrality
Philippe Vollichard, Sustainability officer EPFL
10:15 FOCUS ENERGY: CERN makes its accelerators more climate-friendly
Serge Claudet, CERN energy coordinator for the Technology sector and member of the CERN Energy Management Panel
10:40 Panel discussion with the climate scientist Martine Rebetez (ProClim, WSL, University of Neuchatel) and the youth advocates for sustainable development and climate action Marie-Claire Graf, studying political, environmental and computer sciences at the University of Zurich, and Jan Zumoberhaus, studying human geography at the University of Freiburg
Moderator: Nicola Forster, President of the think tank foraus (Forum for Foreign Policy) and of the Foundation Science et Cité
Downloads/links
- «FOCUS FLIGHTS: How the ETH is tackling its GHG flight emissions» Ulrich Weidmann, Vice President for Human Resources and Infrastructure ETH Zurich
- «FOCUS CAMPUS: EPFL toward carboneutrality» Philippe Vollichard, Sustainability officer EPFL
- «FOCUS ENERGY: CERN makes its accelerators more climate-friendly» Serge Claudet, CERN energy coordinator for the Technology sector and member of the CERN Energy Management Panel
Related topics
What is the best way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by scientists travelling for business, particularly by plane? This was the issue to be discussed at the morning conference «Decarb science! But how?» ahead of the SCNAT Delegate Assembly on 24 May. The colossal scale of the problem lies in the fact that it requires a change in scientific culture. Ultimately, there are no straightforward answers: a creative, nuanced approach is what is needed.
Image: Hansjakob Fehr, 1kilo / Horizonte SNFResearchers fly all over the world to take part in conferences and exchange ideas face-to-face. And they often do so without thinking about the impact on our climate. But if the oncologist Daniel Helbling has his way, that will soon change. We look at three initiatives from scientists who are keen to improve the sustainability of their own disciplines.
