Sustainable biobanks: a case study for a green global bioethics

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Environmental Science
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Global health systems rely heavily on data and digital infrastructures.
• The environmental sustainability of these infrastructures is often overlooked in health discussions.
• Biobanks exemplify the intersection of digital infrastructure and environmental impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the ethical implications of environmental sustainability in global health data infrastructures.
• To integrate environmental considerations into the redefinition of global bioethics.
• To examine the environmental impact of biobanking's digital infrastructure.

Main Methods:

• Case study approach focusing on biobanking.
• Ethical analysis of environmental sustainability concepts.
• Review of current discussions on digital infrastructure in global health.

Main Results:

• Digital infrastructures in global health, including biobanks, have significant environmental impacts.
• Environmental sustainability is currently underrepresented in bioethics discussions concerning health data.
• Key ethical questions arise regarding the prioritization and responsibility for addressing these impacts.

Conclusions:

• Global bioethics needs to actively incorporate environmental sustainability into its framework.
• Bioethics must address the environmental footprint of digital health technologies.
• Further dialogue and action are required to ensure ethical and sustainable global health infrastructures.