In the heart of Washington, D.C., a quiet revolution is brewing, one that could reshape the energy sector and beyond. The American Society for Microbiology (ASM), led by Lorraine F. Clark, has spent the past year championing a cause that might seem unlikely at first glance: the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). But as it turns out, the tiny world of microbes could hold the key to some of our biggest environmental and economic challenges.
The UN SDGs are a set of 17 interconnected goals designed to address the most pressing issues facing our planet, from climate change to poverty and inequality. When ASM signed the UN SDG Publishers Compact in March 2024, it wasn’t just lending its voice to the initiative—it was also acknowledging the powerful role that microbes can play in achieving these goals. And in its first year as a signatory, ASM has been making waves.
“Microbes are often overlooked, but they are the unsung heroes of our planet,” says Clark. “They can help us produce clean energy, improve agricultural sustainability, and even enhance human health. By focusing on the SDGs, we’re not just advancing science—we’re driving real-world change.”
So, how does this translate to the energy sector? For starters, microbes can be used to produce biofuels, a renewable energy source that could help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. They can also play a role in carbon capture and storage, a process that involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions produced from the use of fossil fuels in electric power generation and industrial processes, transporting it to a storage site, and depositing it where it will not enter the atmosphere.
But the potential doesn’t stop at energy. In agriculture, microbes can improve soil health, increase crop yields, and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers. In healthcare, they can help develop new treatments and vaccines. And in waste management, they can turn organic waste into valuable resources.
ASM has been busy highlighting this work in its journals, raising awareness through internal and joint efforts with other scientific organizations, and prioritizing the SDGs in its conferences and programs. The society has also been collaborating with other publishers and organizations to amplify the impact of the SDGs.
The impact of ASM’s work is already being felt. In its first year, the society has published numerous sustainability-focused articles, hosted panel discussions, and launched initiatives to engage its members and the broader scientific community. And this is just the beginning.
Looking ahead, ASM plans to continue its work on the SDGs, with a focus on innovation and collaboration. The society is exploring new ways to leverage microbes for sustainability, from developing new technologies to forming partnerships with industry and government.
As we look to the future, it’s clear that the work of ASM and other organizations like it will be crucial in achieving the SDGs. And as Clark puts it, “The future is microbial. And it’s sustainable.”
The work of ASM and the UN SDG Publishers Compact was recently featured in mSphere, a journal published by the American Society for Microbiology. The journal’s name is a play on the word “microbe,” reflecting the society’s focus on the tiny organisms that could hold the key to a sustainable future.