[Osmf-talk] Sustainable Travel Expenses Resolution – Request for Support

[Mikel Maron]

Craig, thanks I agree that a more flexible framework will be more effective. There's too many factors to consider to set up specific rules like this. It's too much operational detail for an AGM vote. I'd like to see membership have OSMF make a commitment to reduce carbon, request a thorough audit be undertaken, and come up with a range of specific operational changes.

I do the carbon audit at Mapbox. Based on that I'd expect that our computing resources are several orders of magnitude more contribution to emissions. How much exactly would require some work. Options to reduce by selecting more sustainable power sources for hosting, or other efforts, might take some time. But worth looking at.

As is, the proposal is not likely to have a significant impact on OSMF's carbon emissions, and just add additional burden in a small number of situations. The numbers seem arbitrary based on a subjective assessment of convenience trade-off, not actual emission reductions. We already choose a F2F site to reduce overall travel, that has typically meant in Europe (the only place where realistically the choice between fight and train or bus would be realistic). In the vast majority of cases, Board members have preferred non air travel. Intercontinental flights dwarf the potential emissions savings. Who knows if we'll resume F2F after COVID-19, or if Screen 2 Screen will become the norm; it's been nearly as effective in my opinion -- depending on the amount of focus brought to the event.

-Mikel