Climate academics rack up air miles

Climate researchers take more flights than other academics, according to a new international study.

Although the group is highly concerned about global warming, climate researchers aren’t walking the talk by reducing their travel, the British and Swedish study discovered.

Globally, plane trips are responsible for up to 3 per cent of the world’s greenhouse emissions. Flying is one of the most emissions-intensive activities.

A single return flight from Auckland to Los Angeles emits 4.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide – more than what the average person produces heating their home, driving their car and disposing of waste in a year, according to Toitu¯ Envirocare.

Because of that, research co-author Lorraine Whitmarsh was surprised to learn climate academics had the highest aviation footprints. The University of Bath psychologist expected the group would report taking fewer, or at least a similar number of, flights compared with colleagues from other departments.

However, the survey of international university academics, published in the journal Global Environmental Change, found that climate researchers flew up to three times a year, on average.

Their colleagues in other departments took two plane trips each year.

Climate change scientists are more concerned about the environmental impact of travel than other researchers, though this didn’t translate into a lower carbon footprint. This is a common human trait, Whitmarsh said.

‘‘We know there’s often a gap between what people know [and] feel and what they do.’’

Whitmarsh hopes to see a movement in climate science to minimise carbonintensive travel.

Aviation is one of the biggest sources of emissions for many universities and research centres.

University of Otago travel researcher James Higham and colleagues have identified that academics needed to cut their travel. He doesn’t want to see the status quo return once pandemic travel restrictions ease. But to lock in change, universities and research groups need to review their career progression policies, which require academics to show they’re internationally recognised.

‘‘The easiest way to do that is to fly around the world and attend conferences,’’ he said. ‘‘We need institutions to be shoulder to shoulder on this.’’

Higham envisions a future where overseas travel is less frequent and fulfils multiple purposes. Conferences would be held less frequently and most academics would attend virtually, perhaps from a local hotel or by gathering in hubs in multiple cities.