My Green Lab Partners With the United Nations High-Level Climate Champions to Accelerate Progress Towards a Net-Zero Carbon Future

Through the adoption of My Green Lab’s programs and their industry-leading expertise, the newly formed partnership helps advance the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry’s carbon commitments.
Apr 22, 2022 9:00 AM ET

April 22, 2022 /3BL Media/ - My Green Lab, the world’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the sustainability of scientific research, announces their partnership with the United Nations Climate Change High-Level Champions Team. The My Green Lab Certification program was recently selected as a Breakthrough Outcome for the UN-backed Race to Zero campaign. This new partnership will further accelerate progress towards achieving the campaign goal of halving emissions by 2030 and reaching a healthier, more resilient net-zero world by 2050.

As a Race to Zero Breakthrough Outcome, the My Green Lab Certification program has been established as a key player in helping pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies meet their carbon commitments. As of early 2022, the My Green Lab Certification program has supported over 950 labs and engaged over 5,000 scientists globally to take action by making sustainable changes to their laboratories. By partnering with the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, My Green Lab’s programs and expertise will aid in reaching Race to Zero’s bold zero carbon targets.

My Green Lab’s Business Development Manager, Stephanie Robinson, is appointed as the Biotech and Pharma Sector Lead on the Climate Champions team. “It’s exciting to see the widespread sector commitment to the Race to Zero, though we still need to go further, faster,” says Robinson. “Now is the time to accelerate action by achieving breakthrough outcomes on track to halving emissions by 2030.”

Along with the accelerated adoption of My Green Lab Certification in laboratories around the world, My Green Lab will work with the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions team to regularly produce applicable content on the carbon impact of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector, as well as track and report on the industry’s overall progress. This insight will provide a crucial understanding of the industry’s progress towards a net-zero future. Reports similar to My Green Lab’s recent study, which found that only 4% of biotech and pharma companies are on track to meet the Paris 2030 climate goals, will bring awareness and drive companies to take action to make sustainability a priority.

“The carbon impact of the biotech and pharma industry is massive and growing, but the potential for change is just as significant. That is why My Green Lab is so excited, on Earth Day, to announce this partnership with the UN Race to Zero to turn zero-carbon commitments into zero-carbon action through the adoption of our industry-leading programs,” says James Connelly, My Green Lab’s Chief Executive Officer. “In alignment with this year's Earth Day theme, we must 'invest in our planet' and act now to keep temperature rise below 1.5°C. Through this partnership, our vision is that science becomes the global leader on environmental sustainability and inspires other industries to follow their lead.”

“We are excited to access My Green Lab’s industry expertise and the knowledge they bring to deepening our engagement with the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector. This partnership will help us achieve our 2030 Breakthrough Outcome goal that 95% of labs across major pharma and med-tech companies are Green Lab Certified by 2030, an important step in achieving a net-zero future,” says Frances Way, Executive Director, UN Climate Change High-Level Champions.

For more information, contact stephanierobinson@climatechampions.team.

Learn more about My Green Lab Certification at www.mygreenlab.org/green-lab-certification. To start a Green Lab Certification project for your lab, contact us here.

About My Green Lab

My Green Lab’s mission is to create a global culture of sustainability in science. The organization is the world leader in developing internationally recognized standards for laboratories, bringing sustainability to the community responsible for the world's life-changing medical and technical innovations. Laboratories are one of the most resource-intensive spaces in any industry, but they don't have to be. By introducing a new perspective and proven best practices, My Green Lab has helped tens of thousands of people make a positive change to their work and create a culture of sustainability in science.