Dear EGU Expert,

This month’s EGU Science for Policy Newsletter looks at the science for policy initiatives and opportunities that you can dive into in 2025!

We highlight a guide to EGU’s 2025 Science for Policy Activities, upcoming EU Consultations and requests for evidence, key science for policy events that you can attend, and information on the EU’s Revised Ambient Air Quality Directive!

If you have any further questions or comments about the policy opportunities that exist for scientists in Europe, don’t hesitate to get in touch via policy@egu.eu.

Best wishes,

Chloe Hill and Damla Posta

EGU's Science for Policy Team

The EGU’s Science for Policy Programme is continually developing and expanding to help provide EGU members with opportunities to engage with policymaking processes and to support European policymakers in making evidence-informed decisions. This GeoPolicy blog post kicks off the New Year by outlining some key science for policy activities that you can look forward to and engage with in the next 12 months!

Read the full blog post and list of activities that you can engage with here.

European Commission Consultations and Calls for Evidence provide individuals and organisations with an opportunity to contribute to the EU policymaking process by providing feedback on Commission initiatives as they take shape or are being evaluated. If it’s your first time submitting feedback to a European Consultation or Call for Evidence, there are some useful online resources to support you. The Good Lobby’s Consultation Toolkit is one example that gives a detailed explanation about how you can effectively engage with the different types of Consultations and calls. Below are some open initiatives that may be of interest!

Consultation: National restoration plans

The adoption of the Nature Restoration Law in August 2024 set legally binding restoration targets for a wide range of ecosystems, with the aim to restore 20% of the EU's degraded ecosystems by 2030. The Regulation requires each Member State to submit a national restoration plan by 1 September 2026 and to identify the restoration measures necessary to reach the targets and fulfil the obligations.

With the support of the European Environment Agency, the Commission aims to establish a uniform format for those national restoration plans to ensure coherence, complementarity, and comparability. The Consultation has been launched to gather feedback on this format.

You can provide feedback and help shape the format of the national restoration plans here by midnight CET on 7 February 2025.

Call for Evidence: The European Oceans Pact

The European Oceans Pact aims to foster an integrated and holistic approach to ocean governance across all sectors to support coastal communities and rural communities that depend on the ocean. It aims to address urgent issues such as the triple planetary crisis and competition for marine space while encouraging economic competitiveness, and resilient and healthy oceans and coastal areas.

The objective of the Call for Evidence is to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to help design the European Oceans Pact in a collaborative and inclusive way.

You can get more information and provide feedback here until midnight CET on 17 February 2025.

Consultation: Hazardous substances

The Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive limits the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment in the EU. However, subject to necessary criteria, specific, time-limited exemptions can be requested by businesses or organisations.

Through this consultation, the European Commission is seeking feedback on the usage of lead in electrical and electronic equipment to update the Directive which aims to contribute to the protection human health and the environment.

The consultation consists of three distinct uses of lead in electrical and electronic equipment. You can provide feedback on these consultations by midnight CET on 10 February 2025.

Science for Policy events can introduce you to key science for policy concepts, enable you to gain a better understanding of the needs of policymakers, help you to connect your work to specific policy areas, and provide inspiration for future research or potential collaboration partners outside of academia!

Below are a number of upcoming science for policy events that might be of interest! If you’d like to see a more extensive list of science for policy events or share an event that you’re hosting, you can visit the EGU’s External Science for Policy Events Calendar.

Building bridges: Shaping Europe's science-for-policy landscape

From 26 - 27 May 2025, The Science Advice Mechanism to the European Commission will be holding the next instalment of Europe’s foremost science advice conference series. This year, the event will be hosted by the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna.

This conference will focus on three themes: Science advice in politics and society, Designing better institutions, and Building skills and practices. It will be of interest to science-for-policy practitioners and researchers, policymakers at all levels! Not only can participants propose a parallel session until 14 February, but they can also organise an in-person or online side event before or after the conference and feature in the conference’s ideas market.

Read more and register for the conference here.

Science for policy in a changing world

The Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA) provides independent expert assessment of scientific and technological developments and related policy options for the European Parliament.

On 19 February 2025, STOA will organise a workshop at the European Parliament Library in Brussels in collaboration with Leiden University's Europe Hub. The event aims to bring together academics, policymakers, and the public to bridge the gap between research and policy, facilitating reflection on the EU's common challenges. It will present the latest research by Leiden scholars on key topics that align with the European Union's policy agenda including migration policy, the legitimacy of rule of law sanctions, and the contestation of EU foreign and security policy.

You can register for this event here until 10 February 2025 or spots are filled.

ECCA2025: Call for session proposals

The call for session proposals for ECCA2025, the European Climate Change Adaptation Conference, is now open! Taking place in Rimini, Italy from 16-18 June, this conference will serve as a vibrant platform for showcasing cutting-edge research, and innovative solutions that foster collaboration toward a climate-resilient society. The conference particularly welcomes proposals for policy/solutions sessions.

You can read more about the event, submit your proposals, and register here.

The revised Ambient Air Quality Directive entered into force in the EU on 10 December 2024, following its adoption by the Commission on 23 October 2024. The revision aims to align 2030 EU air quality standards more closely with the levels recommended by the World Health Organisation. The revised Directive considers the best available scientific evidence, updating the air quality standards, lowering the allowable levels for twelve air pollutants, and cutting the allowed annual limit value for the main air pollutant – fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) - by more than half.

The revised Directive foresees regular review of the air quality standards, in line with the latest scientific evidence and societal and technological developments to assist the EU with achieving the zero pollution objective for air by 2050. It will also ensure early action to achieve cleaner air. If air pollution levels are higher than the new 2030 standards, Member States will have to take measures to ensure compliance by 2030. This Directive will also support local authorities by strengthening the provisions on air quality monitoring and modeling and help improve air quality plans.