Sustainable global collaborations

Research collaborations are more international than ever and for good reasons. International collaborations allow us to combine different points of view, combine different research methodologies and lab equipment, and allow us to research topics more broadly.

However, our international collaborations can be at odds with our sustainability goals. Flying has a large carbon footprint, and international collaborations often require researchers to travel.

With these two opposing goals, how can we collaborate internationally without violating our sustainability targets? In today’s post, I explore what we can do to promote sustainable global collaborations.

Rethinking collaboration

When it comes to our collaborations, we need to think very well about when it is really necessary to travel, and when we can move our collaboration forward in different ways. Not every collaboration requires constant travelling back and forth, and not every event needs our assistance. We can learn from those scientists who have pledged not to fly anymore, or drastically reduce their flights.

Here are a few ideas on how you can rethink global collaborations in light of our sustainability targets.

• Bring up the discussion with colleagues and collaborators: First of all, we need to raise awareness around sustainable global collaborations. Do you know how many tons CO₂eq your travel costs every year? Which percentage of your household carbon footprint comes from international travel? Do your collaborators have these numbers clearly in their mind? As with many other things in life, awareness is often an important first step.
• Balance virtual and in-person meetings: Yes, there is such a thing as Zoom fatigue, but now that most of us are back to working from campus and teaching in-person, we are spending less time in Zoom than during the pandemic. And now that the post-pandemic honeymoon phase is over, and we have been able to “travel again”, it is a good moment to take an honest look at our travelling habits and their associated carbon footprint and to evaluate when a trip is really necessary and when we can replace the trip by virtual assistance. I’m also looking forward to seeing what will be possible with holograms in the years to come.
• Combine local satellite events with a major international event: When is it necessary for all members of a large international association to get together and produce a major carbon impact? When can we instead meet in smaller groups to have a focused discussion and then report back to the international association?
• Combine trips to avoid long flights: If you need to travel, I invite you to think about combining events and visits, so that you are using your flights wisely. For example, if you need to travel internationally for an event, can you combine it with visiting one of your international collaborators who is located near the event? I advocate for thinking ahead of time by planning your trips for the coming year, and seeing what can be skipped, combined, or reduced in any other way.
• Set limits: It can be hard to say “no” to invitations, or to be OK with the “fear of missing out” when you decide not to go to a certain event. However, setting clear limits for yourself can free up mental space. I limit myself to a maximum of two trips per semester, and that requires me to make hard choices and decline very kind invitations.

Mindful in-person events

For international events, we need to think about how to align these with our sustainability targets. Here are some ideas on how to reevaluate our in-person events for sustainable global collaborations:

• Look for alternative travel: If travel is necessary, alternatives using rail or long-distance bus can be options that have a lower carbon footprint.
• Sustainable practices for conferences: Conferences can shift their practices and focus on carbon-reducing initiatives, such as working with hotels that have more sustainable practices reducing towel and linen changes and serving plant-based meals. Similarly, conferences can reduce the use of resources, such as printed conference proceedings, programs, and conference bags full of plastic swag.
• Use a carbon tracker on events: Raising awareness is and remains important, so bringing the data to light on our in-person meetings and events is necessary. I advocate for the use of carbon or climate trackers on events, that give us an insight into the carbon expense of the event, the breakdown of the expense into various categories (such as hotel stays, travel, and the event itself), and what the organization is doing to offset this expense.

Contribute positively

Research can be the driver for a positive change in the world, and our collaborations can make a net positive impact if we address research problems related to sustainable development goals. Here are various ways in which we as researchers can contribute positively:

• Address global sustainability challenges with your research: To make a net positive impact, you can think deeply about how your research skills can align better with the sustainable development goals, and how you can make shifts in your research to contribute directly to a better tomorrow.
• Offset CO₂ from travel: While offsets are a transition measure at its best (and mere greenwashing at its worst), you can calculate the carbon footprint that your collaborations generate, and invest in an offset. I recommend using the United Nations Carbon Offset platform.
• Use positive sustainable practices in the lab to reduce your footprint locally: Balance the impact from your international collaborations with better and more sustainable practices in your lab. You can check out this post with ideas on how you can improve the practices in your research group and lab.
• Spread the word regarding sustainability in your local community: For every researcher and every other person in your community that you can inspire to reduce their carbon footprint, your impact spreads as a ripple through a pond. Raising awareness, and inspiring others around you to reduce the carbon cost of travel and international collaborations can result in a more sustainable academic community.

Conclusion

In this post, we looked at how we can collaborate for research internationally while keeping our sustainability targets in mind. I recommend we focus on rethinking our collaborations and all our travelling, that we are very mindful of our travel and its impact, and that we use our research to make a positive impact on the transition to a more sustainable world.

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