Estimating Meetings' Air Flight $CO_2$ Equivalent Emissions An Illustrative Example with IETF meetings

Abstract

These notes describe CO2eq a tool that estimates $CO_2$ equivalent emissions associated with air traffic and applies it to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), an international standard developing organization that meets 3 times a year. CO2eq estimates that the participation to IETF meetings (by a single participant) generates as much $CO_2$ equivalent as the $CO_2$ emissions per capita of European countries generating their energy using coal -- like Germany or Poland for example. This suggests some radical changes should be considered by the IETF. According to the conclusion of the $26^{th}$ Conference of the Parties (COP26) from the United Nations Secretary-General Ant\'onio Guterres; in 2021, the number of meetings should be limited to a maximum of one meeting per year. In addition, the incorporation of sustainability principles into the IETF's strategy, should include, for example, increasing the effort to enhance the experience of 'remote' participation as well as adhering to programs (such as for example the United Nations Global Compact and the caring for climate initiative) to align its strategy and report progress toward sustainability.