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Sustainability Assessment of Future Accelerators

C. Bloise, E. Cennini, J. Gutleber, W. Kaabi, A. Klumpp, P. Koppenburg, Y. Li, B. List, R. Losito, B. Mandelli, E. A. Nanni, N. Neufeld, T. Schoerner-Sadenius, B. Shepherd, V. Shiltsev, S. Stapnes, M. Titov, L. Ulrici, H. Wakeling

Abstract

The Large Particle Physics Laboratory Directors Group (LDG) established the Working Group (WG) on the Sustainability Assessment of Future Accelerators in 2024 with the mandate to develop guidelines and a list of key parameters for the assessment of the sustainability of future accelerators in particle physics. While focused on accelerator projects, much of the work will also be relevant to other present and upcoming research infrastructures. The development and continuous update of such a framework aim to enable a coherent communication amongst scientists and adequately convey the information to a broader set of stakeholders. This document outlines the key findings and recommendations of the LDG Sustainability WG and provides a summary of current best practices aimed at enabling sustainable accelerator-based research infrastructures. Not all sustainability topics are addressed at the same level. The assessment process is complex, largely under development and a homogeneous evaluation of all the aspects requires a strategy to be developed and implemented over time.

Sustainability Assessment of Future Accelerators

Abstract

The Large Particle Physics Laboratory Directors Group (LDG) established the Working Group (WG) on the Sustainability Assessment of Future Accelerators in 2024 with the mandate to develop guidelines and a list of key parameters for the assessment of the sustainability of future accelerators in particle physics. While focused on accelerator projects, much of the work will also be relevant to other present and upcoming research infrastructures. The development and continuous update of such a framework aim to enable a coherent communication amongst scientists and adequately convey the information to a broader set of stakeholders. This document outlines the key findings and recommendations of the LDG Sustainability WG and provides a summary of current best practices aimed at enabling sustainable accelerator-based research infrastructures. Not all sustainability topics are addressed at the same level. The assessment process is complex, largely under development and a homogeneous evaluation of all the aspects requires a strategy to be developed and implemented over time.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 95 sections, 1 equation, 29 figures, 18 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Executive Summary
  2. Introduction
  3. Building Strategic Accountability
  4. Setting the basis for sustainability
  5. Environment and sustainability performance reporting
  6. Comprehensive sustainability assessment
  7. Greenhouse gas emissions
  8. Carbon Footprint Accounting and Reporting
  9. Socio-economic sustainability enablers
  10. Fundamental Physics Knowledge
  11. Sustainability through education and training
  12. Sustainability through engagement of international science communities
  13. Sustainability through industrial spillovers
  14. Sustainability through open information and computing technologies
  15. Sustainability through cultural goods
  16. ...and 80 more sections

Figures (29)

  • Figure 1: Sustainability dimensions.
  • Figure 2: Guidance for the sustainability of public investment projects. From Ref. SGPI2018.
  • Figure 3: The Rumsfeld matrix Krogerus_2012 applied to the identification of costs and benefits of research infrastructures.
  • Figure 4: Examples for the accounting of full costs and benefits for an integrated sustainability analysis. Only the identified cost and benefit items that can be converted in monetary terms are considered in the assessment. The question concerning complete coverage of all negative and positive externalities is challenging and incomplete assessment needs to be accepted.
  • Figure 5: The UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) UNSDG.
  • ...and 24 more figures