Polar and high-altitude regions are extremely fascinating environments, yet the research that is conducted there can have both environmental and societal impacts. It is associated, in particular, with a large carbon footprint, i.e., travel, heavy logistics, and utilised materials all generate greenhouse gas emissions, whose harmful effects on these natural environments are ironically the subject of the scientific investigations.
 
In order to maximise the sustainability of its activities and take steps towards reducing the carbon footprint of polar and high-altitude science, the Swiss Polar Institute ("SPI") would like to gather the views of the Swiss polar and high-altitude research community.
 
Answers will be collected anonymously. The answers will feed discussions within the SPI Science and Technology Advisory Board and contribute to the shaping of forthcoming SPI activities. Answers will be aggregated and a summary will be published in early 2024.

The completion of the survey should not take you more than 10-15 minutes. Many thanks for your time and contributions!

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* Question 1: In which geographical areas do you conduct fieldwork?

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* Question 2: Tackling carbon footprint of field work

Below are a set of categories by which polar and high-altitude operations have a certain carbon footprint. In your view, which of these categories should be tackled with priority and why?

Please answer to the best of your current knowledge and chose from the options proposed or expand in the free text box at the bottom of question 2.

  Amount of greenhouse gas emissions Potential for improvement Type of improvement
Scientific equipment: production, usage, and maintenance/ spare parts
Power supply for and during scientific operations (excluding travel/transport)
Food produced and consumed during field trips
Personnel transport to access the field sites and while being in the field
Logistic and scientific equipment transport to and while being in the field
Heating of living spaces during the field operations
Heating or cooling of equipment and samples during field operations
Power supply for post-fieldwork activities (e.g. data analysis)
Other * (please specify below)

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* Further comments on Question 2. Please provide herein descriptions of "other" types of improvement you may have indicated above.

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* Question 3: Suggestions on tackling carbon footprint of field work

List the categories in Question 2 that you consider to have the highest reduction potential and impact. For each category, please offer a few thoughts on how their footprint could be reduced (keywords are sufficient).

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* Further comments on Question 3

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* Question 4: Other environmental impacts of fieldwork

In addition to the carbon footprint, science in polar and high-altitude regions also causes other environmental impacts, which may require action[1]. Please rank the categories from highest to lowest priority for action and consider the carbon footprint as one of these categories.

[1] See here for a review : https://www.europeanpolarboard.org/fileadmin/user_upload/EPB_Synthesis_Report_2023_A4_V0.15.pdf

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* Please specify the "other" type of environmental footprint you may have indicated above in Question 4.

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* Further comments on Question 4

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* Question 5: Potential Swiss contributions

Think of Switzerland as a platform for scientific innovation. For which of the categories would you see Switzerland taking a leading role in international efforts and/or contribute to the development of technological solutions? Please use the text box for each category to indicate how and why you see Switzerland taking such a role in the given domain.

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* Question 6: Your contribution

Have you already taken measures within your own practice to reduce the environmental impact of your scientific work and in particular your fieldwork in polar or remote high-altitude regions?

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* If you took such actions, which ones where they?

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* Comments on the effectiveness of your measures and barriers faced when implementing them

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* Question 7: Any further thoughts?

If you have further thoughts on the subject of this questionnaire, please feel free to voice them here.

If you want to be contacted in relation to this survey, please contact SPI Secretariat at secretariat@swisspolar.ch or sign up for our newsletter.



Thank you for your precious time and for sharing your expertise!

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