Decarbonization of academic laboratories: On the trade-offs between CO2 emissions, spending, and research output

Abstract

University laboratories and research institutes are progressively engaging in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their operations. It can be difficult to target all sources of GHG emissions at once, given the diversity of problems posed by each source individually. However, targeting only one or a subset of emissions sources can lead to reallocation of expenditures and thus transfers between emissions items when the financial budget is constant. A simple toy model with 2 or 3 expenditure items and 2 classes of laboratory personnel allows us to explore the communicating vessels effects associated with the partial decarbonization of research entities in different scenarios. More generally, the model highlights the trade-offs between CO2 emissions, expenditures, and output/research production. Decarbonization measures must be carefully planned based on thorough identification and quantification of direct emissions sources inside and outside the laboratory. Examples pertaining to air travel and use of labware are discussed in detail. Redefining expectations in terms of research production could allow for a greater emphasis on environmental constraints but this requires institutional as well as ethical transformations.