For astronomers to make a significant contribution to the reduction of climate change-inducing greenhouse gas emissions, we first must quantify the sources of our emissions and review the most effective approaches for reducing them. Here we estimate that Australian astronomers’ total greenhouse gas emissions from their regular work activities are ≳25 ktCO₂e yr^–1 (equivalent kilotonnes of carbon dioxide per year). This can be broken into ~15 ktCO₂e yr^–1 from supercomputer usage, ~4.2 ktCO₂e yr^–1 from flights (where individuals’ flight emissions correlate with seniority), >3.3 ktCO₂e yr^–1 from the operation of observatories, and 2.6 ± 0.4 ktCO₂e yr^–1 from powering office buildings. Split across faculty scientists, postdoctoral researchers and PhD students, this averages to ≳37 tCO₂e yr^–1 per astronomer, more than 40% greater than the average Australian non-dependant’s emissions in total, and equivalent to around five times the global average. To combat these environmentally unsustainable practices, we suggest that astronomers should strongly preference the use of supercomputers, observatories and office spaces that are predominantly powered by renewable energy sources. Where current facilities do not meet this requirement, their funders should be lobbied to invest in renewables, such as solar or wind farms. Air travel should also be reduced wherever possible, replaced primarily by video conferencing, which should also promote inclusivity.

为了使天文学家对减少导致气候变化的温室气体排放做出重大贡献，我们首先必须量化排放源并审查减少排放源的最有效方法。在这里，我们估计，澳大利亚天文学家日常工作所产生的温室气体总排放量为25 ktCO ₂ e yr ^–1（相当于每年二氧化碳的千吨）。这可以分成〜15 ktCO ₂ ë年^-1从超级计算机的使用，〜4.2 ktCO ₂ ë年^-1从航班（其中，个人飞行排放与资历相关），> 3.3 ktCO ₂ ë年^-1来自天文台的运行，以及为办公楼供电的2.6±0.4 ktCO ₂ e yr ^–1。拆分到教师的科学家，博士后研究人员和博士研究生，这个平均值来≳ 37吨CO ₂ ë年^-1每个天文学家的排放量比澳大利亚非受抚养者的平均排放总量高出40％以上，相当于全球平均水平的五倍左右。为了与这些环境不可持续的作法作斗争，我们建议天文学家应优先使用以可再生能源为主要动力的超级计算机，天文台和办公空间。如果当前设施不满足此要求，则应游说其出资者投资可再生能源，例如太阳能或风电场。还应尽可能减少航空旅行，主要由视频会议代替，这也应促进包容性。