Continuation of business as usual trends for aviation are incompatible with meeting national and international commitments to avoid dangerous climate change. Academics are increasingly leading by example in finding ways to pursue our research, collaborations, and teaching while reducing our flying and associated greenhouse gas emissions. Here I share some updates from around the world, but focused on Sweden and my department, LUCSUS for policies and strategies to reduce flying.

1. Innovations and progress in
flying less
Kimberly Nicholas, PhD
Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies
kimnicholas.com, Twitter: @KA_Nicholas
@KA_Nicholas

2. It all started with a beer in Vienna…
@KA_Nicholas

3. https://academicflyingblog.wordpress.com/
Petition text:
@KA_Nicholas

4. Peter Kalmus, climate scientist:
initial carbon footprint dominated by flying
Kalmus, 2016, “How far can we get without flying?” YES Magazine
@KA_Nicholas

5. 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

6. 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

7. High-impact personal climate actions:
meat, car, & flight-free; choose smaller families
Wynes & Nicholas, 2017, Environmental Research Letters
Graphic by Catrin Jakobsson
@KA_Nicholas

8. Daily choices on mobility, food &
energy save emissions NOW
Wynes & Nicholas, 2017, Environmental Research Letters
Graphic by Catrin Jakobsson
@KA_Nicholas

9. LUCSUS Timeline to Flying Less
@KA_Nicholas

10. LUCSUS: New flying less 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
”Climate pledge document,” http://www.kimnicholas.com/academics-flying-less.html

12. Academics flying less
@KA_Nicholas

13. 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

14. Wynes & Donner, 2018, Action Plan, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions report
@KA_Nicholas

15. Some resources:
@KA_Nicholas
http://www.kimnicholas.com/academics-flying-less.html

16. 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

17. Swedish Instagram account
”clueless influencers”
@KA_Nicholas
https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17992077013103497/

18. ”What happens if we 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” from 10:10-
extra time off for slower travel
@KA_Nicholas
Contact: Max Wakefield, 10:10