The Environmental Impact of a Hybrid Medical Conference: Reduced Carbon Emissions of ASTRO's Digital XP 2021 Conference Model

Abstract

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> The climate crisis poses an imminent and growing threat to human health. It is imperative the healthcare sector evaluates the environmental impact of current practices, including travel to conferences. Today, conference travel accounts for 35% of scientists' total carbon footprint. In response to the pandemic, the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) adopted a hybrid model for the annual meeting to allow for in-person and virtual attendance (ASTRO Digital XP). Our analysis highlights the reduced environmental impact of this hybrid model. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> The total number of attendees and the split of attendance types (i.e., total virtual attendees versus in-person) for ASTRO's Annual 2021 Meeting was collected. However, data on proximity and mode of transportation for in-person attendees was not available. Therefore, we made a set of general assumptions for in-person attendees. Distance traveled per in-person attendee was estimated using the location of the attendees' home institutions/headquarters and their mode of transportation was hypothesized based on distance traveled (i.e., automobile for distances < 300 miles; airline for distances ≥ 300 miles). No travel was assumed for Digital XP (virtual) attendees. It was hypothesized that in-person attendees would stay 3 nights in a 4-star hotel and that a 50,000 square feet conference space was utilized for 8 hours/day for 3 days. For in-person attendees, approximate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions were calculated for airline travel, accommodations, and conference space. For virtual attendees, CO2 emissions were estimated based on assumed internet usage (8 hours/day for the 3-day conference period). <h3>Results</h3> Data for 2,210 attendees was available for analysis – of which, 1,120 were Total Digital XP registrants (57% domestic, 43% international). Total miles traveled for in-person attendance was estimated to be 3,193.5 miles accounting for an average 1041.3 Ib/0.47 t (metric tons) of CO₂ per person (interquartile range, 1.15 t). In total, in-person attendance resulted in the consumption of 1,134,838.7 Ib/514.8 t of CO₂, the equivalent of 112 passenger vehicles driven for one year. Whereas, the virtual component resulted in the sparing of 1,244,619.7 Ib/564.55 t of CO₂, the equivalent of 123 passenger vehicles driven for one year. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Incorporating virtual and hybrid attendance at medical conferences has the potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of conferences. While many believe that virtual networking cannot replace in-person interactions, a hybrid model uniquely offers face-to-face networking, while simultaneously mitigating the environmental impact. Moving forward it will be imperative for professional societies, and healthcare professions alike, to investigate and promote greater sustainability of our medical conferences.