[OSGeo-Conf] Application of FOSs4G Bucharest for TGP

Sat Apr 6 23:25:57 PDT 2019

Hi Cameron,
Thanks for the thoughts and suggestions.

It seems that from a sustainability perspective, travel is the single 
biggest potential contributor of CO2 emissions, especially for 
international conferences like FOSS4G: 
https://www.terrapass.com/reducing-carbon-footprint-conference

The pertinent line: "As efficiencies go, conference coordinators address 
venue, food, local transportation, and water regularly but around 90% of 
emissions from conferences and events are created by attendee travel."

 > * What are the travel implications (such as time taken and cost) for 
different travel options from different catchment areas for the conference?
A good idea, but thinking about it, this is usually best researched by 
someone local to the area. They'll know what the intra-country travel is 
like (rather than live half a continent away and don't speak the 
language), and hopefully have some idea as to what the connections to 
the surrounding countries are like too.

That said, I did happen to go to Romania last year so have some idea as 
to the answers specific to Bucharest 2019:
- Internationally there's a direct sleeper-train from Vienna (Austria) 
via Hungary. It's cheap and takes about half a day (crossing Romania 
(slowly!)) as well as the night (saves on a hotel!). There are also 
direct (sleepers and day trains) to Hungary (same train as Vienna), 
Moldova, Bulgaria, and Turkey - I suspect they're even cheaper.
- Buses - There seem to be lots - 
http://romaniatourism.com/transportation.html
- Within the country there are a fair number of trains; they can be 
absurdly cheap, but they are very slow (the fastest I came across was 
about 100km/h on average!). There are also a lot of buses but I'm not 
familiar with them beyond their existence.

Calgary 2020 - I know nothing about Canada so this is just from a quick 
search.
At selection time just looking at a map told me this was a write-off 
from a travel sustainability perspective. It turns out it's even worse 
than that! The closest place with any significant population is ~650km 
away (Vancouver) - 
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/74/d2/94/74d2943b0262440666a763f81b686a54.jpg 
. Worst of all though, it turns out Calgary doesn't even have passenger 
trains!!! - 
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/canada/calgary/practical-information/transport/flights-and-getting-there/a/nar/7c25380a-0270-46e0-842c-917a0d9f0d9f/361219
(Halifax wasn't much better but appears to at least have trains 
including a direct sleeper to Montreal; Niagara Falls was easily the 
best of the three submissions in that regard, at least based on just 
looking at OSM).

Personally I think this indicates the current selection process is 
significantly flawed - there aren't many places that could have hosted a 
FOSS4G and been less sustainably located. While Calgary has some great 
sustainability stuff planned, the fact that >90-95% of everyone who 
doesn't live in Calgary is going to be flying in is a huge fail and will 
do far more harm than can possibly be offset by all the good stuff they do.
For future bids, I'd suggest at the very least, __requiring__ access to 
the national train network. Yes this means FOSS4G won't ever go to 
Hawaii but that's a small sacrifice to make. When not even the regional 
"locals" can get there by sustainable travel, you know you have a problem.

==============

Offsetting
Reduction is definitely better than offsetting, but using the two in 
combination is best of all.
The above-linked terrapass article has some thoughts on CO2 offsetting 
in the conference price.

It's too late for these two conferences to include it fully (something 
to consider for 2021 bids), but there are two other options, especially 
still time for Calgary.
"Opt-Out" - include a offsetting price as a default add-on and let folks 
unselect it. Apparently this leads to about 15-20% of folks offsetting, 
which is a start.
"Opt-in" add-on (off by default), but only gets 1-2% uptake.

Quite a few conferences seem to have carbon-offsetting as part of their 
plan:
- 
https://sites.google.com/site/birdscaribbeanconference2019/carbon-offset-program
- http://www.wcmb2018.org/carbon-offset.html

These folks have clearly thought the entire selection process out in 
regards to sustainability - there may be notions there for FOSS4G:
http://environmental-studies.org/?p=85

As to where to go to offset the carbon - there are lots of organisations 
that do this; it depends what the conference LOC wants to support.

Cheers,
Jonathan

On 06/04/2019 20:02, Cameron Shorter wrote:
> Jonathan, I think that a goal of reducing CO2 from travel is 
> admirable, and something that we should consider incorporating into 
> our FOSS4G Cookbook. It conveniently aligns with promoting regional 
> events and reducing travel costs for people by promoting regional 
> events. It also aligns with Vasile's focus on promoting local attendance.
>
> I'd be wary of retrospectively imposing extra rules on FOSS4G 2019, 
> and should not delay making a +1, -1 decision on this vote, but could 
> be provided as a suggestion which might or might not be adopted.
>
> If we feel strongly about encouraging this topic, we should do the 
> research in advance.
>
> * What are the travel implications (such as time taken and cost) for 
> different travel options from different catchment areas for the 
> conference?
>
> * Can people purchase CO2 offset for travel tickets? How much would 
> that add?
>
> Johathan, would you be interested in providing such research? (It 
> would make your suggestion easier to be considered effectively, as 
> FOSS4G organising committee are likely too overworked to take on extra 
> tasks.)
>
> On 6/4/19 8:40 pm, Jonathan Moules wrote:
>> Hi List,
>>
>> Vasile's selection criteria are a good starting point, but I'd again 
>> like to suggestion that consideration and prioritisation be given for 
>> sustainable means of travel for the TGP. Otherwise it's simply 
>> compounding the CO2 problem which I don't think any of us want.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Jonathan
>>
>>
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