Abstract
For graphs of bounded maximum average degree, we consider the problem of 2-distance coloring. This is the problem of coloring the vertices while ensuring that two vertices that are adjacent or have a common neighbor receive different colors. It is already known that planar graphs of girth at least 6 and of maximum degree Δ are list 2-distance (Δ+2)-colorable when Δ≥24 (Borodin and Ivanova (2009)) and 2-distance (Δ+2)-colorable when Δ≥18 (Borodin and Ivanova (2009)). We prove here that Δ≥17 suffices in both cases. More generally, we show that graphs with maximum average degree less than 3 and Δ≥17 are list 2-distance (Δ+2)-colorable. The proof can be transposed to list injective (Δ+1)-coloring.