Limiting Human Genomic Data Generation and Retention for Environmental Reasons

The exponential growth of human genomic data presents a largely unexamined environmental challenge. Generating, storing, processing, using and sharing genomic data each contribute to environmental harms through substantial energy demands, resource use, and waste generation. This paper examines how we ought to respond to these environmental harms. We first argue that the environmental harms from genomic data warrant serious ethical consideration, even though the magnitude of such harms is relatively small compared to some other industries (e.g., fossil fuel industries). We then explore potential strategies for mitigation. While it is important to improve how genomic data is handled and to optimise the infrastructure required for handling it, we contend that these measures are not sufficient. We should, at least in some cases, also limit the amount of genomic data we generate and (continue to) store for environmental reasons. Although we recognise the uncertainty around the value of genomic data-what seems irrelevant today could prove valuable tomorrow-we argue that such uncertain benefits cannot justify unlimited data generation and retention. Decisions about when and how to limit genomic data should consider a range of factors, including which social groups are most likely to benefit from genomic research and which are most likely to bear its environmental harms.