At this time of history, the only possibility for a climate scientist to keep credibility is to become part of the solution, by reducing the personal carbon footprint and inspiring more people to do the same.

I’m convinced that only a bottom up approach can let us overcome our technological infancy and its fossil fuel addiction.

Flying represents the largest portion of my carbon fingerprint. Unfortunately, there is no way I can completely stop flying as my field work activities require traveling to remote areas around the world.

In addition, while I now reside in the US, my parents still live in Europe and, as they get older, I need to be ready to fly back at any time.

However, I can reduce my flights to travel to climate conferences and my vacations. I feel this is an ethical imperative for a climate scientist: today we must have skin in the game. No excuse.