In October 2024, the EGU Council approved Climate Hazard and Risk as the 2025-2028 Policy Priority Area due to its relevance to many EGU divisions, current and future policy relevance, and the need for information and continued scientific support in the creation of new European legislation and initiatives. The EGU is now seeking members to join a Task Force on Climate Hazard and Risk to support the transfer of climate hazard and risk-related knowledge to policymakers, and promote evidence-informed policy!

2023 was the warmest year on record, reaching 1.48°C above pre-industrial levels. Europe is the fastest-warming continent on the planet and is experiencing more extreme heat, severe droughts, and increasingly frequent and intense flooding and forest fires. Not only do these extreme events cause social, economic and environmental damages, but they also impact water and food security, energy security, and long-term human health. Despite these threats, Europe’s current policies and implemented adaptation actions will not be enough to mitigate the growing and interconnected impacts.

As Europe’s largest geoscience society, the EGU is uniquely positioned to facilitate the transfer of knowledge from research into practice and to connect policymakers to the most relevant geoscience experts. Establishing ‘Climate Hazard and Risk’ as the EGU’s 2025-2028 Policy Priority Area will allow the EGU and its members to contribute to specific policies relating to the EU climate hazard and risk legislation. Today, the EGU is launching a call for experts to join the EGU’s Climate Hazard and Risk Task Force that will support these activities and allow EGU to contribute to the EU’s upcoming biodiversity policies and activities!

Starting in April 2025, the EGU’s Climate Hazard and Risk Task Force will support the transfer of climate hazard and risk-related knowledge to policymakers and promote evidence-informed policymaking. The 8-10 selected experts will not only provide timely, relevant, and useful scientific advice to European policymakers but also gain experience working at the science-policy interface, expand their network, and develop deeper insights into the European policy landscape. While the activities undertaken by the EGU’s Climate Hazard and Risk Task Force will be driven by its members, examples may include:

• answering European Commission Consultations in collaboration with the EGU Executive Board;
• joining a relevant European Commission Expert Group;
• participating in and speaking at relevant policy events;
• answering questions from the policy community; and
• highlighting specific areas that require scientific input to the EGU’s scientific community through the publication of policy briefs.

In November 2024, the EGU hosted an event, Evidence-Informed Planning for a New Era of Climate Hazards that brought together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working on climate hazards to collectively discuss challenges that we are facing, upcoming information needs, and potential solutions. The outputs of the event will be used to help guide the initial steps of the EGU’s new Climate Hazard and Risk Task Force. However, ‘climate hazard and risk’ covers a broad range of themes and after it’s initial establishment, the actions and initiatives undertaken by the group will be driven by ongoing investigation into policy and legislative needs, as well as by the interests and expertise of Task Force members.

Once formed, the group will be required to submit a short outline of the Task Force’s key goals and activities to the EGU’s Science for Policy Working Group for comment. The EGU’s Policy Manager and Science for Policy Working Group will also provide the Task Force support, direction, and help to coordinate group’s initial meetings.

Application details

All members of the Task Force should be willing to commit at least 4 hours per month to meetings and other activities. Members of the Task Force will ideally have a diverse range of scientific backgrounds and career levels. While at least 60% of Task Force applicants should be EGU members, the EGU will also be accepting applications from external experts. Previous experience with policy and/or outreach is preferred but is not essential.

To apply, please submit your CV (max 2 pages) that outlines your relevant experience in the area of climate hazard and risk, and a cover letter by midnight on 31 March 2025. Your cover letter should outline your motivation for joining the Task Force and at least one example of a specific climate hazard or risk-related area or activity that you would like Task Force to focus on. Please note that only complete applications in English will be accepted.

If you have any further questions about the EGU’s Policy Priority Area or about joining the Climate Hazard and Risk Task Force, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

• EGU Science for Policy Working Group
• Apply to join the EGU Climate Hazard and Risk Task Force
• Evidence-Informed Planning for a New Era of Climate Hazards special event