The critical role of funders in shrinking the carbon footprint of research

Teun Bousema,Leonard Burtscher,Ronald P Van Rij,Didier Barret,Kate Whitfield

doi:10.1016/s2542-5196(21)00276-x

Abstract

The critical role of funders in shrinking the carbon footprint of research

Highlights

Climate change is here and we are feeling its consequences for water, food security, ecosystems, and human health.[1]
We examined the research budgets for 43 research projects, funded through the EU Horizon 2020 programme, the European Research Council (ERC), European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as an indication of current practices
We examined travel-associated CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions of the EDCTP and ERC-Starting Grant (StG) panel meetings

Summary

Introduction

Climate change is here and we are feeling its consequences for water, food security, ecosystems, and human health.[1]. In terms of the overall carbon footprint of research, international flights are often the greatest single source of carbon emissions of research activities.[5] We examined the research budgets for 43 research projects, funded through the EU Horizon 2020 programme, the European Research Council (ERC), European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as an indication of current practices. We examined travel-associated CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions of the EDCTP and ERC-Starting Grant (StG) panel meetings.

Results

Conclusion