[Paper] ICSE 2022 Sustainability Report

Source: arXiv - 2603.01541v1

Overview

The ICSE 2022 Sustainability Report investigates whether the environmental cost of flying to and hosting a large software‑engineering conference is justified by the benefits participants perceive from attending in person. By surveying attendees right after the event, the authors provide early empirical evidence that can help conference organizers, research labs, and tech companies balance networking value against carbon impact.

Key Contributions

• Empirical survey of conference sustainability perceptions: First systematic post‑event questionnaire targeting ICSE 2022 participants.
• Quantitative snapshot of carbon‑benefit trade‑offs: 8 out of 42 respondents (≈19 %) felt the carbon footprint outweighed the advantages of face‑to‑face attendance.
• Baseline data for future longitudinal studies: The dataset (53 responses) can serve as a reference point for comparing other conferences or hybrid formats.
• Practical recommendations for organizers: Preliminary suggestions on how to offset emissions and improve the sustainability narrative of academic events.

Methodology

1. Survey Design: The authors crafted a short questionnaire (≈10 items) covering travel mode, perceived conference value (networking, knowledge gain, career impact), and sustainability attitudes.
2. Participant Recruitment: After the 44th International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE 2022) in Pittsburgh, the survey link was emailed to all registered attendees.
3. Response Collection: 53 participants completed the survey; 42 provided complete answers relevant to the carbon‑benefit question.
4. Analysis: Descriptive statistics (percentages, mean ratings) were used to summarize attitudes; open‑ended comments were coded qualitatively to surface recurring themes.

Results & Findings

• Perceived Benefit vs. Carbon Cost: 19 % of respondents explicitly stated that the community’s carbon footprint was not justified by the benefits of in‑person attendance.
• Travel Patterns: The majority flew to Pittsburgh, with a smaller subset using trains or driving, highlighting air travel as the dominant emission source.
• Value Drivers: Networking opportunities and spontaneous discussions were cited as the strongest benefits, while virtual presentations were seen as less engaging.
• Sustainability Awareness: Over half of the respondents expressed interest in carbon‑offset programs or greener conference formats, indicating a latent demand for sustainability initiatives.

Practical Implications

• Hybrid Conference Design: Organizers can allocate resources to robust virtual tracks, reducing travel‑related emissions while preserving knowledge dissemination.
• Carbon‑Offset Integration: Offering optional or bundled carbon‑offset purchases during registration can address the concerns of the ~20 % of attendees who view the footprint as unjustified.
• Travel Incentives: Providing discounts for train travel or partnering with low‑emission transportation providers can shift attendee behavior toward greener options.
• Metrics for Decision‑Making: Companies sponsoring staff travel can use these findings to weigh the ROI of conference attendance against ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) goals.
• Community Communication: Transparent reporting of a conference’s carbon footprint (e.g., “X kg CO₂ per attendee”) can foster a culture of accountability and encourage greener choices.

Limitations & Future Work

• Small, self‑selected sample: Only 53 responses (≈5 % of total attendees) limit the generalizability of the findings.
• Single‑event focus: Results pertain only to ICSE 2022; different domains or locations may yield different trade‑offs.
• Lack of longitudinal data: The study captures a snapshot; future work should track attitudes over multiple years and across hybrid vs. fully virtual formats.
• Quantitative carbon accounting: The paper does not provide precise emission calculations per attendee, an area ripe for deeper analysis in follow‑up studies.

Bottom line: The ICSE 2022 Sustainability Report opens the conversation about the true cost‑benefit balance of in‑person academic gatherings. For developers, tech leads, and conference planners, its insights suggest concrete steps—hybrid models, carbon offsets, greener travel incentives—to make future events both intellectually rewarding and environmentally responsible.

Authors

• Patricia Lago
• Marcel Boehme
• Markus Funke

Paper Information

• arXiv ID: 2603.01541v1
• Categories: cs.SE, cs.CY
• Published: March 2, 2026
• PDF: Download PDF