CERN is fully committed to environmental protection and transparent reporting. It is also committed to developing technologies that could help society to improve the health of the planet.
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.
Today, environmental responsibility joins this list. Good environmental stewardship stands prominently among the Management’s objectives and is 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 several of the environment-related UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a natural continuum in this context, for example by improving our performance, forging partnerships with others and developing innovative solutions using CERN technologies.
CERN's environmental and sustainability 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.
Driven by this commitment to environmentally responsible research, CERN has implemented many initiatives over the years that have helped to reduce the impact of its activities on the environment. This page provides more information on these activities across different thematic areas.
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.
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.
Discover CERN’s biodiversity by taking a virtual walk around the sites here.
The accelerator complex was in full operation throughout this period, following its restart in July 2022 with a view to reaching the new energy level of 13.6 TeV. Operating periods feature short shutdowns of several weeks at the end of each year for the purposes of essential maintenance. In 2024, a revised schedule for the operation and shutdown of the accelerator complex was approved, delaying the end of Run 3 and the start of the third long shutdown to mid-2026. Â
(2024 values shown for each domain)
CERN has committed to limiting rises in electricity consumption by the end of Run 3 to 5% compared to the baseline year 2018, while delivering significantly increased performance of its facilities. This corresponds to a maximum target consumption of 1 317 GWh. It has also committed to increasing energy reuse.
CERN consumed 1 096 GWh of electricity in 2023 and 1 290 GWh in 2024. It also consumed 43 GWh (154 TJ) of energy generated by fossil fuels in both reporting years.
CERN’s objective is to reduce its direct emissions by 28% by the end of Run 3 compared to the baseline year 2018 (maximum target 138 300 tCO2e).
In 2023 and 2024, respectively:
– Direct Scope 1 emissions amounted to 170 482 and 170 024 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e);
– Indirect Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions due to CERN’s electricity consumption were 63 572 and 66 965 tCO2e;
– Indirect Scope 3 emissions arising from business travel, personnel commuting, catering, waste treatment and water purification (excluding procurement) amounted to 10 091 and 11 553 tCO2e. Those arising from procurement amounted to 100 512 and 102 730 tCO2e.
The Laboratory has committed to keeping the increase in its water consumption up to the end of Run 3 below 5% compared to the baseline year 2018, which corresponds to a target ma
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.
Today, environmental responsibility joins this list. Good environmental stewardship stands prominently among the Management’s objectives and is 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 several of the environment-related UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a natural continuum in this context, for example by improving our performance, forging partnerships with others and developing innovative solutions using CERN technologies.
CERN's environmental and sustainability 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.
Driven by this commitment to environmentally responsible research, CERN has implemented many initiatives over the years that have helped to reduce the impact of its activities on the environment. This page provides more information on these activities across different thematic areas.
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.
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.
Discover CERN’s biodiversity by taking a virtual walk around the sites here.
The accelerator complex was in full operation throughout this period, following its restart in July 2022 with a view to reaching the new energy level of 13.6 TeV. Operating periods feature short shutdowns of several weeks at the end of each year for the purposes of essential maintenance. In 2024, a revised schedule for the operation and shutdown of the accelerator complex was approved, delaying the end of Run 3 and the start of the third long shutdown to mid-2026. Â
(2024 values shown for each domain)
CERN has committed to limiting rises in electricity consumption by the end of Run 3 to 5% compared to the baseline year 2018, while delivering significantly increased performance of its facilities. This corresponds to a maximum target consumption of 1 317 GWh. It has also committed to increasing energy reuse.
CERN consumed 1 096 GWh of electricity in 2023 and 1 290 GWh in 2024. It also consumed 43 GWh (154 TJ) of energy generated by fossil fuels in both reporting years.
CERN’s objective is to reduce its direct emissions by 28% by the end of Run 3 compared to the baseline year 2018 (maximum target 138 300 tCO2e).
In 2023 and 2024, respectively:
– Direct Scope 1 emissions amounted to 170 482 and 170 024 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e);
– Indirect Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions due to CERN’s electricity consumption were 63 572 and 66 965 tCO2e;
– Indirect Scope 3 emissions arising from business travel, personnel commuting, catering, waste treatment and water purification (excluding procurement) amounted to 10 091 and 11 553 tCO2e. Those arising from procurement amounted to 100 512 and 102 730 tCO2e.
The Laboratory has committed to keeping the increase in its water consumption up to the end of Run 3 below 5% compared to the baseline year 2018, which corresponds to a target ma