As researchers, we set out to improve human health. However, laboratory research in the US emits over 21 million metric tons of carbon dioxide every year.(1,2) The relationship between carbon emissions and harm to humanity is difficult to quantify, however, researchers at Columbia University reported in Nature Communications that every million metric tons of CO2 emissions causes ~226 climate change-related deaths.(3) This leaves laboratory research responsible for ~5,000 deaths annually. So, what can we do to avoid devastating the future of life on Earth while trying to improve overall human health and lifespan?
Thank you everyone who joined us for the very first My Green Lab Europe 2022 Summit, on ‘Zero Carbon Leadership in Life Science’ which occurred on February 10th.
2021 was a breakthrough year for My Green Lab. In partnership with our growing network of partners and supporters around the world, we have made some incredible progress on our mission to build a global culture of sustainability in science. As we quickly turn our attention to the challenges ahead in 2022, I think it also important we take a moment to reflect just how far we have come as a community in one short year.
