Scientists issue call to action underlining importance of microbial solutions to tackle climate crisis

In a pivotal move ahead of COP29, Applied Microbiology International (AMI) has partnered with leading global scientific organisations to issue a unified call to action, spotlighting microbial solutions as pivotal in combating climate change.

In a strategic publication, released in multiple high-impact scientific journals at once, the joint paper advocates for the establishment of a global science-driven climate task force.  This initiative aims to expedite the deployment of microbiome technologies, providing stakeholders worldwide with access to effective and immediate solutions.

Signatories of the paper, ‘Microbial solutions must be deployed against the climate catastrophe’ are led by AMI president Professor Jack Gilbert and ISME president Dr Raquel Peixoto who won AMI’s inaugural Rachel Carson Prize in 2023.

The paper is published in AMI journal Sustainable Microbiology alongside journals published by Federation of European Microbiology Societies (FEMS), International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME), American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and Springer-Nature.

“By publishing simultaneously across journals like an emergency bulletin, we are not merely making a plea for awareness about climate change. Instead, we are demanding immediate, tangible steps that harness the power of microbiology and the expertise of researchers and policymakers to safeguard the planet for future generations,” the authors stated.

Gilbert said: "Our planet’s climate crisis demands bold, immediate action. Microbial solutions offer us a transformative approach—harnessing nature's own processes to capture carbon, reduce greenhouse gases, and restore ecosystems. We have the tools, we just need the will and the funding to start deploying these microbial technologies at scale that can safeguard our future. We are calling on global leaders, industries, and policymakers to join us in mobilizing these scientific solutions, moving swiftly from promise to practice.”

The authors warned that while a multitude of promising microbe-based solutions to the climate crisis have been proposed, these solutions have not been deployed effectively at scale.

To counteract this inaction, the authors emphasize the necessity for a collaborative effort involving industry, funders and policymakers.  They advocate for coordinated action to ensure the widespread implementation of these microbial solutions, aiming to avert a climate catastrophe. This collective plea from academics, scientific societies, institutions, editors and publishers urges the global community and governments to take immediate and decisive emergency action. Additionally, they propose a clear and effective framework for deploying these solutions at scale, highlighting the urgent need for a united response to the climate crisis.

“The multifaceted impacts of climate change on the environment, health and global economy demand a similar, if not more urgent and broader, mobilisation of technologies as observed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“To facilitate the use of microbiome-based approaches and drawing from lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, we advocate for a decentralised yet globally coordinated strategy that cuts through bureaucratic red tape and considers local cultural and societal regulations, culture, expertise and needs. We are ready to work across sectors to deploy microbiome technologies at scale in the field.”

About Applied Microbiology International

1. Applied Microbiology International (AMI) is the oldest microbiology society in the UK and with more than half of its membership outside the UK, is truly global, serving microbiologists based in universities, private industry and research institutes around the world. 
2. AMI provides funding to encourage research and broad participation at its events and to ensure diverse voices are around the table working together to solve the sustainability development goals it has chosen to support. 

AMI publishes leading industry magazine, The Microbiologist, and in partnership with Oxford University Press, publishes three internationally acclaimed journals: Sustainable Microbiology, Journal of Applied Microbiology and Letters in Applied Microbiology. It gives a voice to applied microbiologists around the world, amplifying their collective influence and informing international, evidence-based, decision making.

To request a copy of the study, please contact:
Daniel Luzer 
daniel.luzer@oup.com