Post-Lockdown Patterns

2021 represented a transition year – restrictions easing, some travel resuming, but with fundamentally changed attitudes towards what’s necessary.

Total 2021 Carbon Footprint: 5.2 tonnes CO2e

Increase from 2020 (+37%), but 58% below 2019 baseline.

Breakdown

What Resumed

Selective Flying

Three flights this year:

• One European conference (autumn, when safer)
• Two domestic UK trips
• Declined: Four international invitations

Key shift: treating flying as exceptional, not routine.

Hybrid Commuting

• Office 2 days/week (down from 5 pre-pandemic)
• Maintained cycling for office days
• Saved 60% of historical commute emissions

Normal Consumption

Purchases returned to pre-pandemic patterns, though still below 2019.

Lessons Learned

Virtual Works For Most Things

85% of 2019 meetings happened virtually in 2021 with minimal impact on outcomes. The 15% that needed presence were genuinely important.

But Not Everything

In-person matters for:

• PhD vivas and major milestones
• Building new collaborations
• Complex negotiations
• Student wellbeing checks

The Hybrid Sweet Spot

2-3 days office, rest remote seems optimal for:

• Collaboration when needed
• Reduced carbon footprint
• Maintained productivity
• Better work-life balance

Comparison to Goals

2021 Target: 5-6 tonnes
Actual: 5.2 tonnes ✓

Met target, though would prefer to stabilise here rather than creep upward.

The Mental Shift

Biggest change isn’t the numbers – it’s the mindset:

Before: Default to flying, justify why not
Now: Default to virtual, justify why fly

This psychological reversal is the real achievement.

Systemic Progress

University-level changes noticed:

• Virtual conferences now accepted
• Hybrid meetings normalised
• Remote PhD supervision legitimised
• Carbon budgets discussed

Culture shift happening.

2022 Preview

Expecting slight increase as:

• Conferences returning in-person
• International collaboration resuming
• But maintaining new defaults

Target: < 6 tonnes (holding below half of 2019)