At Amsterdam UMC, we aim to achieve a healthy future for all. This means we also pay attention to our environmental impact, for example by doing sustainable research. We are now releasing a position paper that shows how our colleagues have already implemented sustainability in their research and provides practical tools for other researchers to follow their example.

The position paper ‘Sustainability in research’ was written in collaboration with the research institutes and Amsterdam Research Board, commissioned by the board of directors. Niek Sperna Weiland, one of the authors and scientific director of the Center for Sustainable Healthcare: “Implementing sustainability in (patient) care is already becoming commonplace in our organization. With this position paper we make a call to action to also implement sustainability in all scientific research.”

Research fit for a sustainable future

All researchers can contribute to the ambition of organizing research in a way that benefits people and planet. In the position paper, colleagues explain how they already took steps towards this goal. From responsibly reducing the energy use of ultra-low temperature freezers, to calculating the environmental impact of care pathways. The Sustainable Research Cycle in the paper provides practical tips for all phases of research. Three different ways of implementing sustainability in research are described:

  • Sustainable research conduct, e.g. by using less materials and energy
  • Sustainability as a co-benefit, by including environmental outcomes in research, e.g. next to outcomes for health and costs
  • Sustainability as the primary focus, by researching topics that relate to sustainable healthcare or planetary health

Next steps

In the paper, we have described some strong ambitions we aim to reach by the end of 2028. With training and support, also financially, researchers will be motivated to implement sustainability in their research. A knowledge agenda will map what knowledge gaps our researchers can fill to enable sustainable healthcare and research systems. Sustainability (impacts) will also be mentioned in 50% of all scientific publications, and the carbon footprint of research activities will be reduced by 30% compared to 2018.

Are you excited to get started? Be inspired by the position paper and figure out your own next steps. A summary can be read in the two-pager, and you can find more information on the research support webpage. Do you have ideas or do you want to take part in co-creating the knowledge agenda? Reach out to duurzaamheid@amsterdamumc.nl.