https://doi.org/10.1007/s41781-026-00163-w
Research
High-Level Environmental Sustainability Guidelines for Large Accelerator Facilities
1
John Adams Institute, University of Oxford, Keble Road, OX1 3RH, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
2
ASTeC, UKRI, STFC Daresbury Laboratory, WA4 4AD, Daresbury, Warrington, UK
3
The Cockcroft Institute, Sci-Tech Daresbury, Keckwick Lane, WA4 4AD, Daresbury, Warrington, UK
4
STFC, UKRI, OX11 0QX, Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK
5
EP Department, CERN, Esplanade des Particules 1, Meyrin, 1217, Geneva, Switzerland
6
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
7
STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, OX11 0QX, Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK
a
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Received:
11
February
2026
Accepted:
3
April
2026
Published online:
1
June
2026
Abstract
The proposed construction of new particle accelerator-based facilities in the coming decades—and upgrades to existing facilities—provides the unique opportunity to embed innovative environmental impact reduction techniques into their design. This living document provides high-level guidelines to improve environmental sustainability in the planning, construction, operational and decommissioning stages of large accelerator facilities. A collection of various resources is provided, with examples of some existing and suggested practices.
Key words: Sustainability / Physics / Recommendations / Environment
© The Author(s) 2026
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