Sustainable Travels

The CERN Theory (TH) Department is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its activities while maintaining excellence in research, international collaboration, and scientific exchange. In line with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and CERN’s environmental commitments, we seek to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with professional travel and event organisation.

Scientific interaction remains essential to our mission, particularly for early-career researchers. These guidelines aim to balance scientific benefit and environmental impact when organising events and planning travel.

Hybrid and online participation

Hybrid and online participation are considered best practice for seminars, workshops, and conferences organised by CERN TH. We will continue to provide high-quality remote participation options and improve the technical support available for online interaction and collaboration. At the same time, we recognise that in-person meetings often play an important role in scientific exchange. The most appropriate format should therefore be assessed according to the objectives of each event.

Professional travel

Before travelling, we encourage careful consideration of whether the scientific objectives can be achieved remotely. When travel is necessary, its scientific value should be maximised, for example by combining multiple activities into a single trip or extending a stay to support additional collaborations.

Choosing lower-emission travel

For travel within Europe, rail should be preferred whenever practical, as its greenhouse gas emissions are substantially lower than those of air travel. Where air travel is necessary, travellers are encouraged to consider the environmental impact of different travel options using a recognised GHG emissions calculator.

Monitoring and review

The TH Department will monitor and review travel-related greenhouse gas emissions and continue to assess measures that support meaningful reductions while preserving the quality and openness of scientific collaboration.

Further information

Please consult the CERN Administrative e-guide sections on duty travel and event organisation.