South Korea wants to stop academics from participating in weak conferences

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03372-z

South Korea's education ministry aims to discourage academics from participating in conferences deemed "weak" and lacking academic value.  However, the ministry overlooks a critical aspect: the significant environmental impact of air travel associated with such conferences, as highlighted in the blog post https://pacheco-torgal.blogspot.com/2019/10/flying-is-luxury-and-privilege.html

When it comes to air travel, scientists must either lead by example or, at the very least, refrain from making hypocritical statements. Scientists who repeatedly issue alarming warnings about climate change sources while maintaining a lifestyle marked by frequent air travel resemble lung surgeons unable to quit smoking—undermining the credibility of their message.

It is imperative for scientists to make a choice: be taken seriously by aligning their actions with their environmental concerns or risk eroding their credibility. Certainly, I'm not suggesting that adherence to a stringent set of guidelines must align with the radical proposal put forth by the former Rector of Maastricht University, as outlined below::

“Let me therefore make a concrete proposal, in line with the need to reduce consumption and directly resulting from our activities as global researchers. I will propose to the European Commission that in the coming Horizon Europe programme, researchers one would no longer get the travel costs covered.” https://www.merit.unu.edu/publications/working-papers/abstract/?id=8048