Virtual ECPR Conference Drastically Reduced Carbon Footprint: 200x Less Emissions

The shift to online academic conferences significantly lowers carbon emissions. This article analyzes the European Consortium for Political Research's (ECPR) 2020 virtual event compared to its physical counterpart.

Methodology & Findings

Using a comprehensive approach, we estimated greenhouse gas emissions from electricity usage, travel, heating, and catering.

The results reveal:

• Virtual ECPR conference had a footprint at least 97 times smaller than the in-person version
• Potential reduction of over 200x if no international flights occurred

Hybrid conferences—especially those promoting land-based travel for attendees—are shown to be nearly as effective, cutting emissions by almost 90%.