Over the decades, CERN has become a byword for excellence in research, establishing itself as a model for scientific collaboration across borders, technological innovation, training and education, and increasingly for its commitment to environmentally responsible and sustainable research.

Good environmental stewardship and sustainability in research stand prominently among the Management’s objectives and are embedded in every corner of the Organization, with a strategic, proactive approach across the Laboratory and among CERN’s worldwide scientific community. 

Contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a natural continuum in this context, whether through improving our environmental performance, forging partnerships, developing innovative solutions using CERN technologies, or advancing goals related to health and well-being, education, gender equality, clean energy, innovation, strong institutions and international cooperation.

CERN’s environmental strategy is founded on three primary principles: minimising the Laboratory’s impact on the environment, minimising energy consumption while enhancing energy efficiency and reuse, and fostering the development of technologies that may contribute to mitigating the impact of society on the environment. This commitment is underpinned by a culture of continuous improvement. 

In February 2023, CERN obtained ISO 50001 certification, the internationally recognised benchmark for energy management, acknowledging the Organization’s achievements in this domain and its commitment to further progress. The approval of CERN’s revised 2030 environmental objectives in January 2024 further strengthened this ambition, introducing more stringent targets in areas including electricity consumption, direct CO₂ emissions, water use and waste management.

Driven by this commitment to environmentally responsible research, CERN has implemented numerous initiatives over the years that have helped reduce the impact of its activities on the environment. Yet the Organization’s vision extends far beyond 2030. Building on the innovation and ingenuity that have enabled the successful construction and operation of some of the world’s most advanced scientific instruments, future flagship projects will be designed as models for environmentally aware and sustainable research. In doing so, CERN seeks to demonstrate that scientific excellence and environmental responsibility go hand in hand, and that we can continue to push back the frontiers of knowledge and technology while protecting the world we all share.

CERN is fully committed to environmental protection and transparent reporting. CERN’s public environment reports set out reporting frameworks, setting and monitoring concrete goals for constant improvement. 

As part of this broader ambition, CERN is progressively integrating the Social and Governance dimensions of the ESG framework into a comprehensive sustainability strategy. Future reporting will evolve accordingly, expanding from environmental reporting towards more holistic sustainability reporting that reflects the Organization’s economic, social and environmental contributions and impacts.

This page provides more information on CERN’s activities and achievements across the different thematic areas that support environmentally responsible and sustainable research.

Collaboration with the Host States

CERN works closely with its Host States in matters of environmental protection. As an organisation straddling two countries, CERN develops its own regulations, based on and in agreement with those of the Host States. Where no specific CERN regulation exists, the most relevant regulation of the two Host States is adopted.

Together with the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland, and the Prefecture of Ain, France, CERN established a tripartite committee for the environment under a memorandum of cooperation on non-radiological environmental aspects in 2007. It holds two plenary meetings per year as well as regular technical meetings.

The Laboratory signed a tripartite agreement on radiation protection and radiation safety in 2010 with the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (OFSP) and the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN). This replaced previously existing bilateral agreements and created a legal framework for discussing topics related to radiation protection. The agreement provides for regular technical meetings as well as high-level plenary meetings chaired by CERN’s Director of Accelerators and Technology. In addition, the Organization formally reports to the OFSP and ASN on matters of radiation protection and, in particular, the environmental aspects thereof.