Innovations and progress in
flying less
Kimberly Nicholas, PhD
Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies
kimnicholas.com, Twitter: @KA_Nicholas
@KA_Nicholas
It all started with a beer in Vienna…
@KA_Nicholas
https://academicflyingblog.wordpress.com/
Petition text:
@KA_Nicholas
Peter Kalmus, climate scientist:
initial carbon footprint dominated by flying
Kalmus, 2016, “How far can we get without flying?” YES Magazine
@KA_Nicholas
Peter Kalmus: 10x lower emissions
Kalmus, 2016, “How far can we get without flying?” YES Magazine
2.1
tons/person/yea
r by 2050: target
for staying below
2° (Girod et al.,
2014)
@KA_Nicholas
A few academic fliers
contribute most emissions
Wynes & Donner, 2018, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions report
Survey of 1509 individuals across
8 departments at UBC:
• Almost 1/3 did not fly
• 8% produced half of all flight
emissions
• 25% produced 80% of
emissions
@KA_Nicholas
High-impact personal climate actions:
meat, car, & flight-free; choose smaller families
Wynes & Nicholas, 2017, Environmental Research Letters
Graphic by Catrin Jakobsson
@KA_Nicholas
Daily choices on mobility, food &
energy save emissions NOW
Wynes & Nicholas, 2017, Environmental Research Letters
Graphic by Catrin Jakobsson
@KA_Nicholas
LUCSUS Timeline to Flying Less
@KA_Nicholas
LUCSUS: New flying less policy
@KA_Nicholas
https://www.lucsus.lu.se/article/lucsus-presents-new-travel-policy-to-reduce-work-related-emissions
LUCSUS Travel Pledge
@KA_Nicholas
”Climate pledge document,” http://www.kimnicholas.com/academics-flying-less.html
Academics flying less
@KA_Nicholas
Strategies to reduce conference
carbon footprints
Desiere, 2016, EuroChoices
• Reduce participants traveling long distances
• Ensure key role in conference for those who do travel long distances
• Consider desired attendees and select central conference location for them
• Select location with good train/transit connectivity
• Do not reward selecting exotic/remote conference locales
• Facilitate booking train tickets, offer discount vouchers from train companies, inform
participants about their carbon footprint@KA_Nicholas
Wynes & Donner, 2018, Action Plan, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions report
@KA_Nicholas
Some resources:
@KA_Nicholas
http://www.kimnicholas.com/academics-flying-less.html
New research project:
”The takeoff of staying on
the ground”
Co-PI Johannes Stripple
@KA_Nicholas
http://www.kimnicholas.com/the-takeoff-of-staying-on-the-ground.html
Swedish Instagram account
”clueless influencers”
@KA_Nicholas
https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17992077013103497/
”What happens if we stop flying?”
@KA_Nicholas
ICON magazine, Winter 2018/2019
Local newspaper 100% about climate
”1 in 5 try to choose not to fly”
@KA_Nicholas
”Climate Perks” from 10:10-
extra time off for slower travel
@KA_Nicholas
Contact: Max Wakefield, 10:10

Innovations and progress in flying less

  • 1.
    Innovations and progressin flying less Kimberly Nicholas, PhD Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies kimnicholas.com, Twitter: @KA_Nicholas @KA_Nicholas
  • 2.
    It all startedwith a beer in Vienna… @KA_Nicholas
  • 3.
  • 4.
    Peter Kalmus, climatescientist: initial carbon footprint dominated by flying Kalmus, 2016, “How far can we get without flying?” YES Magazine @KA_Nicholas
  • 5.
    Peter Kalmus: 10xlower emissions Kalmus, 2016, “How far can we get without flying?” YES Magazine 2.1 tons/person/yea r by 2050: target for staying below 2° (Girod et al., 2014) @KA_Nicholas
  • 6.
    A few academicfliers contribute most emissions Wynes & Donner, 2018, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions report Survey of 1509 individuals across 8 departments at UBC: • Almost 1/3 did not fly • 8% produced half of all flight emissions • 25% produced 80% of emissions @KA_Nicholas
  • 7.
    High-impact personal climateactions: meat, car, & flight-free; choose smaller families Wynes & Nicholas, 2017, Environmental Research Letters Graphic by Catrin Jakobsson @KA_Nicholas
  • 8.
    Daily choices onmobility, food & energy save emissions NOW Wynes & Nicholas, 2017, Environmental Research Letters Graphic by Catrin Jakobsson @KA_Nicholas
  • 9.
    LUCSUS Timeline toFlying Less @KA_Nicholas
  • 10.
    LUCSUS: New flyingless policy @KA_Nicholas https://www.lucsus.lu.se/article/lucsus-presents-new-travel-policy-to-reduce-work-related-emissions
  • 11.
    LUCSUS Travel Pledge @KA_Nicholas ”Climatepledge document,” http://www.kimnicholas.com/academics-flying-less.html
  • 12.
  • 13.
    Strategies to reduceconference carbon footprints Desiere, 2016, EuroChoices • Reduce participants traveling long distances • Ensure key role in conference for those who do travel long distances • Consider desired attendees and select central conference location for them • Select location with good train/transit connectivity • Do not reward selecting exotic/remote conference locales • Facilitate booking train tickets, offer discount vouchers from train companies, inform participants about their carbon footprint@KA_Nicholas
  • 14.
    Wynes & Donner,2018, Action Plan, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions report @KA_Nicholas
  • 15.
  • 16.
    New research project: ”Thetakeoff of staying on the ground” Co-PI Johannes Stripple @KA_Nicholas http://www.kimnicholas.com/the-takeoff-of-staying-on-the-ground.html
  • 17.
    Swedish Instagram account ”cluelessinfluencers” @KA_Nicholas https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17992077013103497/
  • 18.
    ”What happens ifwe stop flying?” @KA_Nicholas ICON magazine, Winter 2018/2019
  • 19.
    Local newspaper 100%about climate ”1 in 5 try to choose not to fly” @KA_Nicholas
  • 20.
    ”Climate Perks” from10:10- extra time off for slower travel @KA_Nicholas Contact: Max Wakefield, 10:10

Editor's Notes

  • #5 https://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/life-after-oil/how-far-can-we-get-without-flying-20160211
  • #6 https://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/life-after-oil/how-far-can-we-get-without-flying-20160211
  • #7 https://pics.uvic.ca/addressing-greenhouse-gas-emissions-business-related-air-travel-public-institutions-case-study
  • #8 Study: http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aa7541 Magazine articles, films, infographics, supporting materials: http://www.kimnicholas.com/responding-to-climate-change.html
  • #14 DOI: 10.1111/1746-692X.12106
  • #15 https://pics.uvic.ca/addressing-greenhouse-gas-emissions-business-related-air-travel-public-institutions-case-study