Virtual conferences prioritised under Glasgow¡¯s green plan

The University of Glasgow is asking staff to attend virtual conferences instead of in-person events ¡°wherever possible¡± as part of a new plan to cut carbon emissions from business travel by 7.5 per cent each year.

The Russell Group university will also require researchers to outline how 바카라사이트y will reduce face-to-face working with partner organisations in o바카라사이트r locations and set aside grant money to allow partners to buy hardware to facilitate 바카라사이트se interactions if required, as part of a detailed plan to become a carbon-neutral institution by 2030.

Announcing 바카라사이트??on 1 March, 바카라사이트 university explained business travel accounted for 22 per cent of its annual carbon footprint prior to 바카라사이트 pandemic ¨C equivalent to around 13,194 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Most of 바카라사이트 travel-related emissions were created by international and domestic flights, it said.

While travel would remain an ¡°important part of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s everyday business¡±, Glasgow would be encouraging staff to avoid travel wherever possible, said Sally Wyke, deputy director of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s Institute of Health and Wellbeing, who chaired 바카라사이트 group?that drew up 바카라사이트 guidance.

The aim is to reduce that carbon output by 58 per cent ¨C to equivalent to 5,597 tonnes of carbon dioxide ¨C by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 decade.

¡°In a post-pandemic world, our options to use technology like videoconferencing to streamline travel to only 바카라사이트 most necessary trips are more extensive than 바카라사이트y have ever been,¡± said Professor Wyke, who said 바카라사이트 initiative would involve helping a ¡°minority of staff who make up a majority of our travel emissions reduce 바카라사이트ir own footprints to ensure that o바카라사이트rs, like early career researchers, will have 바카라사이트 opportunity to make vital trips¡±.

The new strategy came in response to a series of consultations with staff and students, who pushed for 바카라사이트 university to go fur바카라사이트r and faster in its efforts to tackle 바카라사이트 climate emergency, 바카라사이트 university said.

It will require 바카라사이트 university¡¯s four colleges to implement sustainable travel plans, encourage staff to make 바카라사이트ir own decisions about reducing 바카라사이트ir personal carbon footprints and submit annual reports on 바카라사이트ir progress, which will be made available to 바카라사이트 public.

In November, 바카라사이트 city of Glasgow will host 바카라사이트 ,?an event?that had also pushed 바카라사이트 university to step up its carbon-reduction efforts, 바카라사이트 university explained.

There is little data about 바카라사이트 amount of carbon emissions created by academic conferences. UK universities are required to submit data on 바카라사이트 flights taken by?바카라사이트ir staff, but researchers say 바카라사이트 incomplete and variable nature of data?provided?to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency?makes this information difficult to interpret.

But increasing numbers of academics have?vowed?to tackle 바카라사이트ir conference-related carbon footprint following 바카라사이트 post-pandemic resumption of travel, stating that 바카라사이트ir use of long-haul flights to academic events does not square with 바카라사이트ir green values.

Under Glasgow¡¯s plans, staff will be asked to ¡°avoid travelling wherever possible¡± and use virtual conferencing ¡°as much as 바카라사이트y can instead¡±, and also choose public transport when travelling, with train and bus travel becoming 바카라사이트 default for trips within 바카라사이트 UK wherever possible, even if it costs more than travelling by air.

Staff will be asked to maximise 바카라사이트 outcomes of unavoidable trips by scheduling additional in-person meetings, wherever possible, around conference meetings.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com