With the emerging climate crisis, all of us are facing a challenge at an unprecedented scale. As scientists our work involves frequent travel, often by air, and many of us do have a bad conscience about the consequences of our actions. Alarmingly, the CO2 levels and global temperatures are continuing to rise dramatically despite the severe Covid-19 disruption of all travel across the globe. This makes it even more important that all of us do our utmost to counteract climate change, now, there is no time to waste.
In connection with the ISMB symposium 2021 and together with the charity Trees for Life, we have created the ‘ISMB Grove’ where the carbon footprint of the ISMB can be off-set by native reforestation and restoration of natural forest habitats in the Scottish Highlands. Please consider the carbon footprint generated whenever you are organising events (meetings and conferences), travel abroad (research and teaching related trips), or even engage in energy-consuming online activities as all of us do on a massive scale due to the current Covid-19 restrictions. All of the above worsen our carbon emissions, keep this in mind and act upon it. You can contribute and grow the grove by planting additional trees here: https://treesforlife.org.uk/groves/274137/
I’d like to encourage all of you, ISMB staff, students and visitors, to make your contribution by following the link above. It’s simple and cost effective, you can plant a tree for only six pounds sterling. Every little helps – and together we can make a BIG difference!
Finn Werner, ISMB director (interim)
External Links:
- Trees for Life
- All Things Small and Green:
