Integrating science into the European Green Deal
The European Green Deal is a roadmap for turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities to make the EU’s economy sustainable. The European Green Deal sets ambitious targets, including reaching climate neutrality in Europe by 2050; addressing the drivers of biodiversity loss in Europe; restoring degraded ecosystems; and adopting a zero-pollution action plan for air, water and soils. Achieving these bold targets is likely to require scientific expertise from many different geoscience areas, including atmospheric, hydrological, oceanic and soil system sciences.
To outline how science can be integrated into the European Green Deal, the EGU, in close collaboration with the Secretariat of the European Parliament (EP) Intergroup on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, hosted a virtual event called ‘Integrating science into the EU Green Deal’. This virtual gathering, hosted by Member of the European Parliament Norbert Lins, brought geoscientists, policymakers, and industry representatives together to discuss how the geosciences can most effectively support the European Green Deal and ensure that its ambitious biodiversity and zero-pollution targets are reached.
The mixed panel of policymakers and scientists representing the EGU discuss ed the role that scientists should play in the European Green Deal and where research is most needed to give Europe the best chance of reaching the Deal’s ambitious targets. The event specifically focused on biodiversity and zero pollution, two aspects of the European Green Deal that are closely linked with the geosciences.
Speakers
Panel 1 on Biodiversity, chaired by EGU President Alberto Montanari
- Norbert Lins: Member of the European Parliament
- Roby Biwer, European Committee of the Regions, Member of Bettembourg Municipal Council
- Luc Bas: Director, European Regional Office, International Union for Conservation of Nature
- Iris Moeller: Professor of Geography, Trinity College Dublin
Panel 2 on Pollution, chaired by EGU Vice-President Helen Glaves
- Mohammed Chahim: Member of the European Parliament
- Anna Papagrigoraki: Sustainability Director, Confederation of European paper industries
- Erik van Sebille: Associate Professor in oceanography and climate change at the Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, Department of Physics, Utrecht University
During the event, the EGU launched How geoscience can support the European Green Deal, an informative document for policymakers and Earth, planetary, and space scientists.You can watch, re-watch and share this event here.
More information
About the European Geosciences Union
The European Geosciences Union is the leading organisation for Earth, planetary and space science research in Europe. With our partner organisations worldwide, we foster fundamental geoscience research, alongside applied research that addresses key societal and environmental challenges. Our 20,000 members span many key scientific areas that can enhance the policy-making process including, but not limited to, natural hazards, biodiversity, pollution, climate change, soil science, and raw-material sourcing.
About the European Parliament Intergroup on ‘Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development’
Established in 1994, the European Parliament Intergroup on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development brings together Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from all political groups and Parliamentary Committees to find sustainable solutions to some of the greatest challenges of our time. This balanced forum of discussion allows MEPs to listen, debate and shape ideas and policies based on contributions from the different stakeholders (relevant experts, NGOs, private sector, researchers and academics) in the presence of the European Commission, EU Presidency, and EU Member States.
If you would like more information about this event, please contact the EGU Policy Manager Chloe Hill via policy@egu.eu.