The role of environmental ethics and sustainability in research ethics for linguistics: what is currently available in terms of guidance and how might that be improved?

Abstract Ecological sustainability has become a central concern in academic and political discourse and should be considered in research ethics guidelines. However, despite growing environmental awareness, current research ethics guidelines overlook the environmental impacts of academic activities such as travel, lab-based research, and high-performance computing. We argue that it is now imperative to incorporate environmental ethics in these guidelines, aligning them with the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the UN. Drawing on empirical impact studies, we propose both general recommendations applicable across disciplines and specific guidance for linguistic research that involves high-performance computing, laboratory research, and fieldwork. We also discuss how environmental issues can be addressed in ecolinguistics, linguistics teaching, outreach, and knowledge transfer. In our recommendations, we focus on researchers’ responsible use of natural resources in academic practices, including travel, conferences, events, laboratory work, and institutional operations.