[Coral-List] ICRS 2020 Regional Meetings

[MariaJung89 at t-online.de]

Dear all,

As already said, I don´t think it leads anywhere to come up with percentages (to justify that reducing something else other than flying may have a bigger impact) and to point fingers at those who decide to not travel to the ICRS in Bremen next year. 

If we keep doing that we just keep running in circles. If your conclusion is that we should all still fly in a business-as-usual manner just because flying causes "only" 2% of the global CO2 emissions would you then also say that, for example, Germany, Canada, Saudi-Arabia and other countries should not take any action in climate protection? Their individual annual CO2 emissions also "only" contribute about 2% (or less) to the global CO2 emissions. Further, how would you then define the "minimum threshold" of CO2 emissions that something can cause to justify taking action? 51%? That way of thinking would even let China off the hook. What I´m trying to say is: If you decide to fly less, that´s great! If you decide to eat less meat: awesome! If you decide to do both (or more): even better! 

We should not underestimate the power and influence of the individual. Of course it won´t change anything if I, myself, fly less but it will send a message and thus, have an effect on the people surrounding me. It will raise awareness and make people think. And most importantly: It will show that the climate crisis is real and that it´s right here. It will no longer be this distant thing that´s happening somewhere in the Arctic or elsewhere, so far far away from me that I don´t need to take action. However, I think we should especially not underestimate the influence (and maybe also the responsibility?) we have as scientists and the messages we can send. If we, who tell the world how serious it is, don´t take action - who else can we expect to do so? 

Unfortunately, taking action to protect the climate will hurt because we have let it come this far. Just like Chelsie, I am also at the beginning of my career and could certainly benefit from networking at the ICRS. However, I have very sadly also decided not to attend this conference since I could not justify the flight while telling the audience at the same time that we need to reduce our carbon footprint. I am convinced that I can also network by meeting inspiring people at a local scale. 

I have therefore decided to help organizing a regional meeting in Western Australia. So if anyone from there wants to join me, I´m happy to network. :) 

Also, I found this very interesting Ted Talk which explains why it is so hard for us to take action.  I think it´s very worth watching and spreading.

https://www.ted.com/talks/per_espen_stoknes_how_to_transform_apocalypse_fatigue_into_action_on_global_warming#t-176124

Cheers,
Maria Jung




-----Original-Nachricht-----
Betreff: Re: [Coral-List] ICRS 2020 Regional Meetings
Datum: 2019-09-20T18:29:13+0200
Von: "Chelsie Counsell via Coral-List" <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
An: "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov" <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>

As coral reef scientists, we know enough about how CO2 emissions are
impacting coral reefs to take action, and one part of taking action is
shifting our lifestyles. Traveling less is part of that. To be
exceptionally clear, in proposing regional meetings, I am in no way
suggesting that anyone should consider driving from Hawaii to Germany.
Instead, I am advocating for a re-evaluation of our goals of research
symposiums, and encouraging creativity for new ways to operate as coral
reef scientists that have minimal contributions to global CO2 emissions. As
part of this, I am suggesting that we should be mindful of how often and
how far we travel.

The climate crisis demands that we design innovative approaches and
consider solutions with open minds. We all need to contribute, to do what
we can, and as Doug pointed out, to then look for ways to do even more.
Yes, some of the various needed lifestyle changes may be uncomfortable.
Regardless, given the chance that by doing everything we can, we just might
keep the climate crisis from completely destroying coral reefs, doing
everything we can seems worth it.

-- 
Chelsie Counsell, Ph.D.
Quantitative Community Ecologist
Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology
chelsiew12 at gmail.com
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