This report is based on the deliberations of experts who participated in a colloquium on Nov. 5, 2021 organized by the American Academy of °®¶¹´«Ã½, the honorific leadership group and think tank within the American Society for °®¶¹´«Ã½. These experts came from diverse disciplines and sectors and provided multifaceted perspectives and insights. Over the course of the discussion, the group made several major recommendations for academic, policy and market partners to drive innovation for microbe-driven climate change solutions that support human well-being.
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Emphasize interdisciplinary research focused on understanding how microbial activities and metabolic flux alter as climate, precipitation, and temperatures change globally. This will be important for terrestrial, urban, and aquatic microbes that impact global elemental cycles as well as for pathogens that impact human and animal health.
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Provide guidance for experimental design and data collection for studying microbial communities that allows for data comparison across diverse and global ecosystems.
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Incorporate existing data about microbial diversity and activity on consuming and producing greenhouse gases into Earth-climate models to improve the current and predictive performance of models.
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Outline specific scientific criteria to evaluate new innovations that allow the scientific community to assess the scientific and societal impacts of these innovations.
- Increase research investments to generate knowledge and awareness of the contribution of microbes to the generation and consumption of greenhouse gases; incorporate these findings into evidence-based policy and regulatory strategies to address climate change.
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Deploy increased surveillance and detection of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases in animals and humans, including through next generation sequencing technologies, and incorporate a One Health approach to addressing climate changes’ effects on humans, animals, and our environment.
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Enact policies that facilitate public private partnerships between diverse scientists, entrepreneurs and commercial entities, regulatory and policy makers and other stakeholders to translate research discoveries into scalable microbial innovations.
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Develop policies that incentivize innovation of microbe-facilitated processes to support renewable energy generation and a robust bioeconomy.
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Engage and clearly communicate with the general public in jargon-free and relatable ways to improve comprehension of how microbes participate in the causes and effects of climate change. -
Highlight and prioritize addressing inequitable microbial risk of vulnerable communities at greater risk of infectious disease exposure, altered microbiota and food insecurity caused by climate change.
Citation
Microbes and Climate Change – Science, People & Impacts: Report on an American Academy of °®¶¹´«Ã½ Virtual Colloquium held on Nov. 5, 2021. Washington (DC): American Society for °®¶¹´«Ã½; 2022.
Contact Information
Academy Staff, academy@asmusa.org