The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. As future leaders of synthetic biology research and innovation, it's our responsibility to participate in global conversations to help develop solutions towards meeting the SDGs. In Chlipid, we emphasize the importance of sustainable development impact. We design Chlipid aiming for 8 SDGs, and by close cooperating with other iGEM teams, we contribute to 11 SDGs in total, namely Zero Hunger (SDG2), Good Health and Well-being (SDG3), Quality Education (SDG4), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG6), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG7), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG8), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG9), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG11), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG12), Climate Action (SDG13), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG17).

Traditionally, biofuels are made from oil extracted from plants represented by beans, corn and oilseed rapes, which would take up farmland to grow, therefore, conflicting with human's basic needs for food. Using microalgae to produce biofuels can be done in fermentation tanks just like we use microbes to produce antibiotics, which prevents arable land occupation that give humans more farmland to grow crops.

Microalgae are unicellular photosynthetic micro-organisms, living in saline or freshwater environments, that convert sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to algal biomass. Microalgae are just like plants that are a viable food resource. A rich source of food is good for reaching zero hunger. One of our partner teams Sorbonne_U_Paris explores microalgae's potential as a food resource that may lower the proportion of anemia (more information on https://2022.igem.wiki/sorbonne-u-paris/).

Synthetic biology is a powerful tool that allows human beings to create or reform life to serve our needs. Microalgae as well-researched microbes are precious material for synthetic biology research. Microalgae can be made into complementary medicines, for example, tablets that are rich in iron. One of our partner teams Sorbonne_U_Paris explores microalgae's potential to lower the proportion of anemia (more information on https://2022.igem.wiki/sorbonne-u-paris/) which contributes to SDG3.

Nowadays, with the spread of the internet and information devices, online education has become an important tool to achieve quality and equal education.

We especially designed an algal class to cover microalgae-related scientific knowledge, during which process we unveil how synthetic biology adds power to microalgae. Additionally, we created a song for this algal class and a set of card games to imitate the algae cultivation lab work and integrate synthetic biology knowledge. During the pandemic, all of our education events have to be done online which means we have to convert the algal class into forms that are suitable for online teaching. We added interactive scientific experiments demonstrations into algal classes to lead online attendees through the scientific research process of formulating conjectures, proving them experimentally and drawing conclusions. The card game Algal lab can also be made into software to free education from physical constraints.

Our online education forum with Sichuan Science and Technology Museum is an ideal proof of the feasibility of our online teaching mode. We delivered the algal class and led the audience into our lab online to see the algae growth and experiment apparatus, which attracted 90,100 audiences in total to attend our course. Positive feedbacks were given about our course.

We had especially recomposed a song called those algae, which based on a very prestigious song called those flowers in China. The whole song compresses the essence of our class, acting as an interim during the algal class to refresh our listeners. More surprisingly, as synthetic biology-related knowledge seems unfamiliar and inaccessible to the public, we created an educational game called the algal lab, which intimates the whole process of utilizing algae to produce bio-fuels in the lab. Also, we write a brochure for the game in great detail, including related synthetic biology knowledge and play regulations (more information on https://2022.igem.wiki/uestc-biotech/education).

Research on wastewater treatment by means of microalgal-bacterial processes has become a hot topic worldwide during the last two decades. Owing to the lower energy demand for oxygenation, the enhanced nutrient removal and the potential for resource recovery, microalgal-based technologies are nowadays considered a good alternative to conventional activated sludge treatments in many instances. Such technology inspired us to use sewage as an alternative culture media for algae. All we need to do is to perform sewage component analysis and sterilization, then sewage can be tested and used as a cultivation approach. With the method, Chlipid has another function of treating sewage.

Biomass is one type of renewable resource that can be converted into liquid fuels—known as biofuels—for transportation. Biofuels include cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, and renewable hydrocarbon "drop-in" fuels. Renewable transportation fuels that are functionally equivalent to petroleum fuels lower the carbon intensity of our vehicles and airplanes. Biofuels can be made from algal lipids, which are considered viable, sustainable source of biofuels and other hydrocarbons with commercial applications.

Currently, more than 80% of the world's total primary energy consumption is taken up by coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear, the other 20% or less is renewable energy. Mining and burning down fossil fuels emit greenhouse gases and pollutants. Renewable energy is energy produced from sources like the sun and wind that are naturally replenished and do not run out. Not to mention, the process of obtaining and using renewable energy cause much less or nearly zero pollution. Most algae are photosynthetic organisms and can fix CO2 into sugars that enter central metabolism, therefore, using microalgae to produce biofuel theoretically can reach nearly no carbon emissions. In Chlipid, we use transcriptome analysis and CRISPR/Cas9 system to discover and manipulate lipid metabolism-related genes in our chassis, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to enrich lipid productivity and maintain culture efficiency to discover a new approach to producing biofuels that can absorb greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.

Using microalgae to produce biofuel is still a developing yet immature industry. Its outstanding advantage of biofuel production and greenhouse gas absorption catches the attention of investors. However, current relative mature technologies in the field still need excessive costs which prevent large-scale industrialization (more information on communication). Chlipid can serve as a rising star that solves the problem. Biofuel companies can inspire by the research thoughts of Chlipid, engineer their own super algae, or use the mutants we create to produce biofuel raw materials.

On 10 May 2022, the National Development and Reform Commission issued a weightier 14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Bioeconomy, which clearly points out that the bio-economy, including synthetic biology, is a new driving force for China's economic transformation in the future. The European Union has proposed in its Roadmap for the European Chemical Industry towards the Bioeconom the development target of increasing the share of bio-based products or renewable raw materials substitution to 25% by 2030. The bioenergy industry is a developing and promising industry that will bring more jobs opportunity for people in different fields such as biotechnology, chemistry, energy, etc.

One of the SDG7 targets is to increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. This target is closely related to the global energy industry structure. The continuous emergence of the renewable energy industry provides more opportunities for small- to medium companies to be stakeholders in the energy industry. Chlipid is boosting the development of renewable energy industry.

In Chlipid, we primarily focus on developing an innovative genetic editing system based on CRISPR/Cas9 technology for detailed research on algae lipid metabolism, which is extremely complex. We also provide the idea of performing transcriptome analysis linked to stress cultivation as a powerful approach to discovering, selecting and determining target genes. Through the system, researchers can obtain a huge number of mutants all with the potential to accumulate more TAGs than wild-type algae and grow normally. These mutants are not only precious experimental materials but also possible commercialized products. Mutants carrying differently edited genes may also produce TAGs with diverse fatty acids composition and content, for example, TAGs that are rich in palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids guarantee biofuels with better quality, which it's another key point while conducting biofuel research.

Chlipid reduces the excessive costs which prevent large-scale industrialization of using microalgae to produce biofuels. With the biological system we built, we can drive the development of the renewable energy industry (more information on https://2022.igem.wiki/uestc-biotech/implementation).

One of the SDG9 targets is by 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities. The development of renewable energy is essential while reaching the target.

99% of the world's urban population breathes polluted air emitted from various sources where transportation takes a large share. Biofuel is a renewable transportation fuel that is functionally equivalent to petroleum fuels and can lower the carbon intensity of our vehicles and airplanes. In Chlipid, we aspired to increase algal TAGs accumulation by using genetic editing to produce more biofuel.

Urban sewage affects the cityscape and the standard of living of citizens. Research on wastewater treatment by means of microalgal-bacterial processes has become a hot topic worldwide during the last two decades. We are inspired to use sewage as an alternative culture media for algae, therefore, we can contribute to urban sewage treatment starting from research on samples taken on our campus located in central Chengdu.

Inefficient fossil-fuel use is the main aspect of unresponsible production. In Chlipid, we tackle the issues by addressing the development of renewable energy and carbon neutrality. With the biological system we developed based on transcriptome analysis and CRISPR/SpCas9 system, we form a sustainable biofuel production mode so that its end products (engineered algae and algal lipids) can be applied in the construction of other sustainable production modes.

Unsustainable patterns of consumption and production are root cause of triple planetary crises namely climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Here in Chlipid, we form an effective biofuel production strategy that can absorb greenhouse gases, a cause of climate change. Also, we develop a genome editing tool for algae that promotes the research of algal metabolic pathways which contributes to studies on biodiversity.

Mining and burning down fossil fuels emit greenhouse gases and pollutants that cause the climate crisis and fossil fuels take up more than 80% of the global energy mix. By developing and enriching renewable energy, we can reduce carbon emissions from energy uses.

According to Thomas R. Knutson of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the record high temperatures on a global scale "have come about because of massive warming caused by human activity." Emissions of greenhouse gases such as atmospheric carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide have been rising since pre-industrial times. To reach carbon neutral is the ultimate approach to solve the root courses of the climate crisis.

Chlipid uses microalgae which can fix carbon dioxide into energy sources like starch and TAGs to increase the production of biofuels. The whole process emits nearly zero carbon and even can absorb existing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. All carbon is transformed into useful materials that can be used to produce biofuel, a form of renewable energy.

We believe that the joint effort of youngsters with the same pursuits is crucial for achieving the SDGs. This year, we closely collaborated with Sorbonne_U_Paris, HainanU_China, and DUT_China who also have their own focus on the SDGs. Together, we can provide a huge impact on sustainable development (more information on https://2022.igem.wiki/uestc-biotech/partnership and https://2022.igem.wiki/uestc-biotech/collaborations).

To figure out our project's stance in the bio-fuel industry and the realistic problems confronted by our project, we did a wide range of surveys covering a professor, an enterprise, and a practitioner (more information on https://2022.igem.wiki/uestc-biotech/communication).

Achieving the SDGs can never be done without valuing, contributing and collaborating of humanity. In Chilipid, we focus on inclusivity by emphasizing education and communication (more information on https://2022.igem.wiki/uestc-biotech/inclusivity).