Submission to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics Call for Evidence Considering Future Generations, the Environment, and the Interest of Non-human Species in the Analysis of Emerging Technologies
The submission highlights the critical but often overlooked role of microbes in ecosystem health, climate regulation, and biodiversity. It argues that excluding microbial systems from policy and ethical frameworks creates significant gaps in how emerging technologies—such as solar radiation modification—are assessed, potentially missing early warning signs of environmental disruption and limiting effective risk management.
The submission calls for integrating microbial data into environmental assessments, biodiversity frameworks, and technology governance, using existing tools such as biomonitoring and ecological risk assessment. It emphasises that protecting microbial diversity is essential for safeguarding ecosystem resilience and future generations, and advocates for policy approaches grounded in One Health principles, precaution, and long-term environmental stewardship.
Read the full submission below:
