Launched in 2024 under the ISBNPA Strategic Plan’s Inclusive Culture and Diversity Working Group, the effort was led in Africa by Professor Vincent Onywera, a long-standing advocate for sport and health development across the region. The project aims to strengthen scientific visibility, build networks among African researchers, and elevate the global impact of research emerging from Africa.

The newly launched database African Researchers in the Area of Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Health – AfrISpoTE represents the culmination of collaboration between ISBNPA and African academia. We are pleased to see the final outcome of this joint effort, which now stands as a vital tool to advance behavioral change science, foster international partnerships, and accelerate progress toward healthier, more active communities across the continent.

We have completed the preliminary calculations of ISBNPA’s greenhouse gas emissions, adhering to the procedures outlined in our Carbon Footprint Management Plan. As anticipated, our emissions have risen due to increased travel associated with our annual meeting. The table and graphs below illustrate the data from 2023 onwards.

To better understand the implications of these numbers, we have also calculated this year’s ISBNPA-related emissions per capita and compared them to the global per capita emissions.

To limit warming to 1.5°C, per-capita emissions must drop to 1.9 tons by 2050. 

The current ISBNPA members per-capita emissions associated with the conference and other ISBNPA activities (2.27) are already above that goal (we are not considering everything else members do, just ISBNPA-related activities). 

If we compare this number with the world population, we learn that ≈4 billion people emit less than 2.27 tons, while ≈3–3.5 billion emit more.

How we measured our GHG:

• Travel // 113 g per km, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, 2024) // large countries average distance from two major cities, smaller countries, main city
• Accommodation // 14Kg per night (Circular ecology, 2023) // average 4 nights
• Food and beverage // 6 meals, vegetarian, using 1.9tCO2e year per individual (Wilson, 2024) //
• AV and Venue // 100K AV// used carbonfootprint.com – Carbon Footprint Calculator
• IJBNPA // Calculated using the total number of published papers by Springer / Springer CO2e =0.10, multiplied by the 70 papers IJBNPA published so far

Calculation Tools and Guidance | GHG Protocol

In the past few months the Climate Action Committee explored the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) as a potential measure to tackle ISBNPA Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

We contacted a few airlines, had some meetings, researched the most up-to-date literature and recommendations to make a decision about the pursue, or not, of this potential solution.

Our conclusion was that while SAFs hold significant promise as a tool for mitigating carbon emissions from air travel, they are not a panacea and their current deployment faces substantial challenges. Whether their promotion constitutes greenwashing depends on the context and transparency of the claims made. If presented as a readily available, fully sustainable solution without acknowledging the limitations in scale, cost, and potential environmental trade-offs of certain pathways, it could be considered misleading.To be considered a genuinely acceptable mitigation strategy, SAF development and deployment must:

• Prioritize truly sustainable feedstocks that avoid competition with food production and minimize land-use change impacts
• Utilize low-carbon energy sources in their production, especially for e-fuels
• Achieve significant scale and cost reductions through technological advancements, policy support, and investment
• Be part of a broader strategy that includes measures to manage and potentially reduce the demand for air travel and address non-CO2 emissions from aviation
• Ensure transparency and avoid overstating the current impact and near-term potential while underemphasizing the challenges

In summary, SAFs have the potential to be a crucial part of aviation’s decarbonization, but their current state and the way they are sometimes promoted raise valid concerns about potential greenwashing. A realistic and comprehensive approach is needed to ensure that SAFs genuinely contribute to emissions reduction without creating new environmental or social problems.

The outcomes of this critical meeting will be unveiled at the ISBNPA2025 Annual Meeting in June, hosted in Auckland. Attendees can anticipate a comprehensive presentation detailing our strategic objectives designed to foster innovation, enhance member engagement, and expand global impact over the next five years. We look forward to engaging with our members in Auckland as we chart an inspiring path forward together, reinforcing our commitment to creating healthier communities in a healthier planet through transformative research and practice.

The International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) is excited to announce the commencement of our comprehensive evaluation process for the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan. This initiative is taking place over the months of September and October 2024, marking an important milestone in our ongoing commitment to advancing research and practice in the fields of behavioral nutrition and physical activity.

Utilizing focus group interviews as a key component of this evaluation, ISBNPA is applying Appreciative Inquiry methods to gain deep insights into the successes and areas for improvement within our strategic framework. We are privileged to have Dr.s Galia Barhava-Monteith and Baruch ter Wal from ORO Group Mentoring at the helm of this evaluative endeavor. Both played instrumental roles in supporting ISBNPA during the development of our current strategic plan, and we are delighted to have their expertise guiding us as we shape our future direction.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the over 25 members of the ISBNPA community who generously participated in these focus group interviews. Your time, wisdom, and invaluable contributions are instrumental in informing this process. Your insights not only reflect your dedication but also underscore the collective strength of our society.

As ISBNPA moves forward, we remain committed to fostering an environment where innovation thrives, collaboration flourishes, and impactful research continues to drive positive change in public health worldwide.

Stay tuned for more updates on our journey towards developing a new strategic plan that will guide ISBNPA into a promising future. Together, we can continue to make meaningful strides in improving global health through behavioral nutrition and physical activity.

During the meeting, António Palmeira represented ISBNPA to engage with project leaders to explore how their initiatives could effectively integrate ISBNPA’s core values and strategic plan initiatives. This collaboration aims to ensure that these projects not only advance scientific understanding but also promote equitable health outcomes across diverse communities.

The ten funded projects under the HealthEquity initiative are set to address critical issues such as diet-related diseases, physical inactivity, and social determinants of health. By aligning these projects with ISBNPA’s strategic goals, there is potential for transformative impacts on public health policies and practices.

The ERA4Health Kick-Off Meeting provided a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and strategic planning among stakeholders committed to improving health equity. ISBNPA’s involvement ensures that behavioral nutrition and physical activity remain central components of these efforts.

As these projects move forward, ISBNPA will continue to offer guidance and support to ensure that they reflect best practices in behavioral science and community engagement. This alignment is anticipated to drive meaningful progress towards reducing health disparities and promoting wellness across populations.

Stay tuned for further updates on how these collaborative efforts evolve and make tangible differences in global health equity.

We are pleased to share the ISBNPA 2023-2024 Strategic Plan report.

After conducting our analysis (June 5, 2024), we have determined that the total amount of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions was 370.63 tCO2e. This equates to an average of approximately 0.72 tCO2e per ISBNPA member (518). This is about 8.5% of the advanced economies’ yearly average CO2e per capita (8.40 tCO2e).

• Travel // 113 g per km, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, 2024) // large countries average distance from two major cities, smaller countries, main city
• Accommodation // 14Kg per night (Circular ecology, 2023) // average 4 nights
• Food and beverage // 6 meals, vegetarian, using 1.9tCO2e year per individual (Wilson, 2024) //
• AV and Venue // 86K AV// used carbonfootprint.com – Carbon Footprint Calculator
• IJBNPA // Calculated using the total number of published papers by Springer / Springer CO2e =0.10, multiplied by the 75 papers IJBNPA published so far

Calculation Tools and Guidance | GHG Protocol

The ISBNPA has achieved a significant milestone, with 20% of its membership now drawn from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This represents an increase from a historical figure of less than 5%, effectively quadrupling the representation from these regions.

This noteworthy achievement equates to around 100 members and comes as a result of several initiatives, most notably the ISBNPA Ambassadors program.

A critical component in achieving this success has been the concerted efforts of the members of the Inclusivity and Diversity Strategic Plan initiative. Their mission to foster an inclusive environment that respects diversity and promotes equality has been instrumental in reaching this milestone.

The Inclusivity and Diversity Strategic Plan initiative has been working tirelessly to ensure that all members, regardless of their geographical location or economic status, have equal access to resources, opportunities, and benefits. By doing so, ISBNPA aims to address health disparities globally through research, practice, policy development, and advocacy in behavioral nutrition and physical activity.

This achievement marks a significant step towards realizing our goal for inclusive representation within ISBNPA. We believe that it is only through such diversity that we can truly achieve our mission – to promote better human and planetary health globally through improved understanding of dietary and physical activity behaviors.

We extend our gratitude to all those who contributed towards reaching this milestone. The success of this initiative is testament to their dedication towards fostering inclusivity within our organization.

By achieving this milestone, ISBNPA is leading by example in demonstrating how scientific societies can make meaningful strides towards inclusivity. As we celebrate this achievement today, we are also reminded that there is more work ahead. We remain committed to furthering our efforts towards equitable representation in our society.

The ISBNPA family welcomes and encourages individuals from all backgrounds to join us as we continue our journey towards inclusivity, diversity, and global health promotion.

ISBNPA has launched its 2024 Carbon Footprint Management Plan. Completed on April 30, the plan builds on the 2023 ISBNPA Greenhouse Gas Emissions report to outline strategies for managing CO2e in upcoming years. The initiative underscores ISBNPA’s commitment to environmental responsibility, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change. The organization is set to implement innovative measures to reduce emissions, highlighting the importance of health institutes in leading sustainable practices.

You can access the full report below.