Live streaming at international academic conferences: Ethical considerations

Anthropogenic global warming (AGW) and the long tradition of political failures to address it have created an unprecedented global crisis. Individual carbon footprints are higher in industrialized countries; in that context, academics contribute substantially by flying to conferences. How and why should the global academic community respond to this situation? We evaluate the seriousness and urgency of AGW, consider relevant ethical theory, and compare possible academic strategies, focusing on communication technologies in conference culture. We argue that academic privilege facilitates climate action. Academics are well placed to understand and explain complex material including relevant ethical theory. Academics are extensively networked with local, regional, and international students and colleagues. Academics can significantly reduce their greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions by avoiding flying to conferences and developing low-GHG conference formats. Academic leadership is needed to courageously address the moral issues and take advantage of modern internet-based communication technologies. Social equity issues are also relevant. International conferences that include live streams are more global and accessible (independent of each participant’s finances), and hence more culturally diverse. Video recordings complement existing academic documentation, communication, and dissemination. Individuals can reduce their carbon footprint by focusing on regional conferences, contributing remote presentations to distant events, and by contributing to political discussions—putting pressure on governments, institutions, and corporations to change. By combining individual action with social leadership, academic climate action may significantly reduce future the environmental damage and human impact of AGW.