RESILIENCE: Ten Principles for Building Resilient Chemistry for a Volatile World

13 May 2025, Version 1
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

The unexpected large-scale electrical blackout across the Iberian Peninsula in April 2025 served as a stark reminder of our growing dependency on a stable electricity supply and the inherent vulnerability of electrified systems — including chemical manufacturing, scientific research, and education. As sustainable chemists, we are increasingly committed to electrification and net-zero industrial practices. However, we must also ensure that these processes are resilient to disruption. In this article, we propose Ten Principles for Resilient Chemistry, designed to initiate discussion and stimulate further research into how chemistry can remain both sustainable and robust in the face of volatility in energy supply, resource constraints, and geopolitical instability. We call on the global chemical community to reflect on the implications of such disruptions—not only for industrial production, but also for scientific gatherings, laboratory research, and the future of chemistry education.

Keywords

Resilient chemistry
electrification
net-zero industry
sustainable chemical manufacturing
scientific disruption
green chemistry principles

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