Reducing the carbon footprint of research: experience from the NightLife study
Leila Rooshenas,
Niamh Quann,
Carla Richardson,
James O Burton,
Helen Eborall,
Carmel Conefrey,
Katherine L Hull,
Steph Burns,
Victoria Cluley,
Kateryna MacConaill
Affiliations
Leila Rooshenas
1National Institute for Health Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, Bristol Centre for Surgical Research, Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Niamh Quann
Leicester Clinical Trials Unit, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
Carla Richardson
Department of Critical Care and Anaesthesia, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
James O Burton
John Walls Renal Unit, Leicester General Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK
Helen Eborall
Usher Institute, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Carmel Conefrey
Bristol Population Health Science Institute, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
Katherine L Hull
Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
Steph Burns
John Walls Renal Unit, Leicester General Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK
Victoria Cluley
School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
Kateryna MacConaill
John Walls Renal Unit, Leicester General Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK
Background As set out in the Climate Change Act (2008), the UK National Health Service (NHS) has made a commitment to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and reach net zero by 2050. Research forms a core part of NHS activity and reducing the carbon footprint of clinical trials is a core element of the National Institute for Health and Care Research Carbon Reduction Strategy (2019).Key arguments However, support from funding organisations on how to achieve these targets is lacking. This brief communication article reports the reduction in the carbon footprint of the NightLife study, an ongoing multicentre randomised controlled trial assessing the impact of in-centre nocturnal haemodialysis on quality of life.Conclusion By using remote conferencing software and innovative data collection methods, we demonstrated a total saving of 136 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent over three workstreams during the first 18 months of the study, following grant activation on 1 January 2020. In addition to the environmental impact, there were additional benefits seen to cost as well as increased participant diversity and inclusion. This work highlights ways in which trials could be made less carbon intensive, more environmentally sustainable and better value for money.
