Research funders can support the transition to a more sustainable research system by implementing sustainability in their funding schemes. To explore how to do this, EMBO organized a workshop in May 2024 – titled Funders’ Role in Promoting Environmentally Sustainable Lab Research – to discuss the role of funders in fostering environmentally sustainable research practices. The event, which was held in Heidelberg, Germany, involved funders, research institute representatives, tool developers, and grassroots initiatives from across Europe.

The aim of the workshop was to assess the progress made by funders in developing environmental strategies, discuss gaps and challenges, share knowledge and experiences, and explore opportunities for collaboration.

A main outcome from the workshop has now been the publication of the ‘Heidelberg Agreement on Environmental Sustainability in Research Funding’. A key focus of the Heidelberg Agreement is to ensure that research funders take a proactive approach to promoting sustainability in scientific research. It calls for funders to set ambitious sustainability goals; share principles for approaching sustainability in research funding based on innovation, experimentation, partnership, diversity and co-creation; highlight the importance of sustainability in their schemes; and support the development and adoption of tools that help researchers to integrate sustainability.

Points of agreement

The following points were agreed on, and are expanded on the main document, alongside specific recommendations for the implementation of sustainability in funding schemes:

1. Funders cannot risk doing nothing.

2. Funders should set ambitious goals.

3. Funding agencies should share a set of principles towards sustainability.

4. Funders should highlight the importance of sustainability in their funding schemes.

5. Funders should support the coordinated development and adoption of education, quantification and accreditation tools.

6. Funders should involve researchers and research organizations.

Next steps

The agreement marks the beginning of a wider European effort towards environmental sustainability in research funding. It serves as an invitation to the international research community to work together on this critical issue.

Endorsement

The agreement has been endorsed by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), Dutch Research Council (NWO), EMBO, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Foundation for Polish Science (FNP), French National Research Agency (ANR), German Research Foundation (DFG), Green Algorithms Initiative, Green Labs Netherlands (GLN), Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Medical Research Council (MRC), National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Wellcome.

The Heidelberg Agreement on Environmental Sustainability in Research Funding is available online (DOI: doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13938809) and you can also read the press release.

Image by Benjamin Balazs from Pixabay.