Astronomy's Carbon Footprint , Rivals That of Some Countries.
Astronomy's Carbon Footprint , Rivals That of Some Countries.
According to new data published in the journal 'Nature Astronomy,'.
Greenhouse gas emissions that result from global astronomy research annually is equal to close to 20 million metric tons.
This includes all the telescopes that are based here on Earth, as well as space telescopes.
Astronomers at the astrophysics lab IRAP, who co-authored the study, say that this amount is equal to the emissions of some European countries.
Just to give you some perspective — 20 million tons of CO2 — this is the annual carbon footprint of countries like Estonia, Croatia, or Bulgaria, Jürgen Knödlseder, Astronomer At IRAP, via NPR News.
Astronomers say that the study is the first of its kind.
No study had ever tried to calculate the carbon emissions due to the construction and operation of all the telescopes and space missions that astronomers use to make observations, Annie Hughes, Astronomer At IRAP, via NPR News.
According to the data, the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases are also the most expensive observatories.
These include the James Webb Space Telescope and the Square Kilometer Array.
I think the overall picture is clear that we do have substantial emissions associated not only with the operations of our facilities, but also the construction, Travis Rector, Astrophysicist, via NPR News.
The authors of the study say that the data represents a reckoning for the scientific community.
This has been an opportunity for us as a profession to think critically about how is it that we do our business, Travis Rector, Astrophysicist, via NPR News.
Are there ways that we can do it that reduce our carbon emissions and actually make this more scientifically productive?, Travis Rector, Astrophysicist, via NPR News.
We recognize that we are — that we need to be part of the solution as well, Travis Rector, Astrophysicist, via NPR News
