Sustainable Science Project

The Climate Crisis

Due to the impacts of climate change and global warming, each year takes the top spot as the hottest year in Earth’s history. Atmospheric CO₂ levels have increased by over 40% since the pre-industrial era.

The Earth’s oceans have absorbed between 20 to 30% of total anthropogenic CO₂ emissions in recent decades, leading to a 30% increase in global ocean acidity. More than 90% of the excess heat from global warming is absorbed by our oceans.

Additionally, through climate change, about 1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction.

Did you know?

Life science research labs alone are estimated to produce approximately 12 billion pounds of the world’s total plastic waste.

Clinical laboratories can use up to 10 times more energy than equivalent sized offices, and high-energy consuming equipment such as ultralow temperature freezers use as much energy per year as an entire household. Laboratories use as much as four to five times more water than an equivalent sized office.

Biomedical and healthcare research, although essential for mankind, paradoxically heavily relies on practices that contribute towards the climate and environmental crisis.

The Sustainable Science Initiative

The Institute has therefore partnered with My Green Lab with the aim to become successfully Green Lab Certified. This involves reducing the Institute's carbon footprint and promoting environmentally sustainable research practices within our laboratories. In the future, we will also be bringing solar power to the IDM and carbon footprint tracking our research activities.

This project underscores the IDMs dedication to reducing our environmental impact, promoting sustainability, and setting a standard for responsible research practices. 

The health of our planet is inextricably linked to human health, therefore as researchers dedicated to improving lives, we must commit to protecting the environment that sustains life.