Astronomical telescopes: They emit 1.2 tons of “greenhouse gas” annually

The telescopy and the others astronomy facilities all over the Earth, including those that control observatories in spacehave a not at all negligible “carbon footprint”an indicator on the impact of anthropogenic activities on climate change, according to a new international scientific study. This is the most comprehensive attempt to make an overall assessment of the environmental impact of any kind of astronomical activity.

Astronomical installations are estimated to emit at least annually 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2)of the best known “Greenhouse gas”. Beyond the frequent air travel of astronomers for conferences or research in other parts of the world (telescopes are often far from scientists’ headquarters) or high power consumption by supercomputers for performing complex astronomical simulations, the telescopes themselves and other astronomical observatories are estimated to have the lion’s share in emission of carbon into the atmosphere.

Read the study here.

The researchers, led by him Jürgen Knedcenter of the Institute for Astrophysics and Planetology Research of the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) of France in Toulouse, who made the relevant post in Nature Astronomy magazineestimated greenhouse gas emissions from almost 50 space missions (having corresponding ground installations) and from 40 ground-based telescopes.

The estimate was based on a variety of factors, such as construction materials, operating costs, use of electricity etc. The study estimated that global astronomical research has an overall carbon footprint equivalent to about 20.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and that its annual emissions are at least 1.2 million tonnes of CO2. This annual amount of emissions is approx five times from the estimated emissions related to astronomers’ flights in the course of their work.

At least one third of astronomical infrastructure emissions are related to space missions. Indicatively, facilities such as new James Webb Space Telescope and the new SKA Telescope Ground Array (Suare Kilometer Array) are estimated to be responsible for at least 300,000 tons of carbon dioxide each yearwhich are the largest of all telescopes.

The researchers stressed the need for a slower and more sustainable “pace” in the construction of future astronomical infrastructure, in order for astronomy to help achieve the environmental goals of the Paris Agreement. They also pointed out that their estimates have a high degree of uncertainty and should be considered preliminary, as they are likely to be revised in the future.

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