In the context of the climate and environmental crises, various measures were implemented to reduce the impacts of the conference.
Mobility
As transport can generate large quantities of greenhouse gases (GHGs), we recommend estimating the GHGs of the different means of transportation to get to Toulon using the Labos 1point5 travels simulator.
For example, this simulator estimates the carbon footprint of a Paris-Toulon round trip:
- By plane, 224 ± 22 kg eCO2 without contrails, and 408 ± 286 kg eCO2 with contrails;
- By train (TGV), 5 ± 1 kg eCO2.
The Paris-Toulon journey by TGV takes around 4 hours, so this mean of transport is recommended here because of its low GHG emissions compared with plane.
The emissions related to the Toulon-Giens round trip by shuttle (50 km) are estimated at around 1.5 kg eCO2 per passenger (emission factor used: "Autocar/Gazole, France continentale, 2021" 0.0295 kg eCO2/passenger/km, ADEME).
The emissions related to the boat trip to Porquerolles are estimated at 3.3 kg eCO2 per passenger (data provided by TVM).
Goodies
Local eco-responsible products.
Paper
No printed program.
Less plastic
Seed paper badges.
Waste
No disposable dishes. Participants were invited to bring their own ecocup or bottle.
No plastic bottles. Water fountains were available.
Catering
Vegetarian banquet.
GHG assessment
The number of participants at CSMA 2024 was 360.
The GHG emissions associated with the 230 responses to the questionnaire on travel to the conference (and not with the 360 participants) are estimated at 19.77 ± 5.92 t eCO2 (including aviation contrails). They were evaluated using the "anonymous user" version the GES 1point5 tool from Labos 1point5.
The GHG emissions associated with the boat trip to Porquerolles (260 participants, 3.3 kg eCO2 per passenger) are estimated at 858 kg eCO2.
The GHG emissions avoided by switching to a vegetarian banquet (instead of a meat banquet) are estimated at between -500 and -700 kg eC02. This is an order of magnitude, considering that between -1.5 and -2.0 kg eCO2 were avoided by each of the 340 banquet participants.
The GHG emissions linked to accommodation, venues, catering, purchases (goodies...), waste, etc. have not been evaluated. A "conference" version of GES 1point5 planned for 2025 could enable these emissions sources to be taken into account for CSMA 2026.
References
Here are some references that conference organizers may find useful in reducing the impact of their conferences:
- TCS4F Manifesto (Theoretical Computer Scientists for Future)
- Decoding #4 "Conférences : présentiel, distanciel, hybride ?" by Labos 1point5.
The measures taken at the ICALP 2022 conference provided elements for reflection for the organizers.
