GeoLog | EU Policy Archives

GeoPolicy: What inspires you to be a scientist?

Noel Baker: Project Manager, Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy May 2, 2019

Horizon Geoscience Dinner Debate, Brussels 2018. Credit: Anita Stein, EFG

What inspires you to be a scientist? For me, the motivation comes from a strong desire to make the world a better place, to use our skills and knowledge as scientists to help society and shape the future. Increasing our collaboration and involvement is an excellent way to expand our influence, but for early career scientists (ECS) like me, it can be a challenging task.

EGU has an incredible opportunity for ECS to overcome this challenge: the 2019 ECS Policy Competition. As the very fortunate winner of 2018, I received an invitation to an exclusive event in Brussels: a dinner debate, attended by an impressive guest list of EU Commission and Parliament members as well as influential scientists and industry leaders. This fantastic experience gave me a platform to voice my opinion, learn how to get more involved in policy, and directly network with policymakers and important stakeholders.

The format of the dinner debate was simple and effective. First, a high-level panel of speakers discussed the evening’s theme: how geoscientists can play a bigger role in tackling societal challenges. Afterwards, the discussions continued over dinner in a round-table activity, allowing each of us to give our thoughts and perspectives – these discussions were recorded and the summarised version can be seen here. I was able to have informal conversations with influential politicians: definitely a rare opportunity! The overwhelming consensus of the evening was that there is a strong need for researchers in geoscience fields to get more active and involved in interdisciplinary efforts in order to address societal issues. It was pointed out that we, as scientists, are uniquely qualified to provide highly informed advice in our fields of expertise. We are strongly encouraged to initiate a dialogue with scientists in multiple disciplines as well as policymakers and other stakeholders, and our input is extremely valuable. Activities like this dinner debate provide an excellent means for that communication to happen.

I consider the dinner debate to have been a very worthwhile experience for me. The opportunities didn’t end that evening, though; as a direct result of this event, my network of contacts has grown, and to my delight, I have since received job offers as well as invitations to other events and activities. Taking part in EGU’s policy competition has had a positive impact on my career, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to any ECS with an interest in expanding their network outside of science and getting more involved in policy.

The EGU’s 2019 Policy event will take place on October 17 in Brussels. It will focus on the five upcoming Horizon Europe Missions (adapting to climate change, cancer, healthy oceans & inland waters, climate-neutral & smart cities, and soil health & food) and how the geosciences can help contribute to these. the ECS Policy Competition winner will receive an invitation to the event, support for travel expenses within Europe and one night accommodation. You can find more information about the competition and how to apply here.

EGU’s response to potential changes to the European Research Council

Chloe Hill February 11, 2019

EGU’s response to potential changes to the European Research Council. (Credit: EGU/Foto Pfluegl)

A major re-organisation of the European Commission’s Research and Innovation Directorate General is scheduled to take place this year with a goal to revise staff reporting procedures and increased coordination between the agencies. While improved coordination may be of benefit in some areas, concerns have been raised about the potential impact these changes may have on the European Research Council (ERC), the European funding agency for excellence in research that sits within the Directorate but has the distinguishing feature of being independently managed by scientists. We believe this autonomy is a key and critical element of the undisputed success of the ERC, since its creation just over a decade ago. This success has been, in large part, due to the capacity of the agency to listen, act upon, and adjust to the needs of the scientific community. Without this close relationship with the research community, the ERC’s ability to support the very best frontier science will be compromised. Of particular concern, are potential changes in the remit of ERC’s Scientific Council as governing body, which is undoubtedly a cornerstone of the ERC’s credibility, success and international recognition.

The EGU strongly supports the unique ability that the ERC currently has to respond directly and independently to the needs of the scientific community. Being the sole European funding agency for scientists, designed and governed by scientists, has enabled it to become one of the world’s leading and most respected funders of frontier research, with over 70% of completed projects leading to discoveries or major advances. The EGU unequivocally supports the Scientific Council’s ambitions for Horizon Europe to “consolidate the ERC’s success by ensuring its continuity, agility and scale-up in the next framework programme”.

We encourage EGU members to react to this EGU response. If you have comments that you would like to see added to this piece, please email policy@egu.eu or add your comment on this blog post.

GeoPolicy: the EU’s Bioeconomy Strategy – what is it and how is it linked with geoscience?

Chloe Hill October 26, 2018

Europe's bioeconomy. Source: europa.eu/!HR84cV

What is the bioeconomy?

Global threats such as climate change, ocean acidification, land degradation and an ever-expanding population means that it’s essential for us to reduce our environmental impact while still meetings our demand for food, resources and energy.

The bioeconomy covers all sectors and systems that rely on biological resources and their functions including renewable biological resources. It spans the resources that land and marine ecosystems provide, all primary production sectors and biological resources such as agriculture, crops, forestry, animals and micro-organisms. The bioeconomy has therefore existed since the beginning of human history but more recently, it has been used in reference to its ability to create more sustainable methods of production and consumption. It has also been identified as a key driver of the economy, creating job and business opportunities, increasing competitiveness and enhancing Europe’s self-reliance.

Figure 1 below outlines some of the main sectors that involve the bioeconomy, along with the number of people employed and value added as a result of the bioeconomy.

Figure 1: The sectors impacted, employees and value added as a result of the bioeconomy. source: EU Commission

The bioeconomy is connected with the environment and natural resources and is therefore also very strongly linked with many of the scientific disciplines that fall within the geosciences, such as biogeosciences, climate science, ocean science and soil science, just to name a few.

Europe’s Bioeconomy Stategy

The EU’s Bioeconomy Strategy was initially launched on 13 February 2012 by the EU Commission’s DG for Research and Innovation addressed the production of renewable biological resources and their conversion into products and bio-energy. Since the release of this report, The EU has invested €3.85 billion under Horizon 2020 Programme and has proposed €10 billion for food and natural resources, including the bioeconomy, for the upcoming Horizon Europe funding programme which will run from 2021-2027. Figure 2 below outlines some of the areas that need to be improved within the European Union for us to achieve a stronger bioeconomy and long term sustainable development.

Figure 2: The steps that need to be taken to achieve a strong bio economy and long term sustainable development. Source: EU Commission, Bioeconomy

The Review of The 2012 European Bioeconomy Strategy showed that while the objectives of this initial report were valid, the actions required to meet them need to be refocused. The most recent EU bioeconomy strategy, A sustainable bioeconomy for Europe: strengthening the connection between economy, society and the environment, was released on 22 October 2018 by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). The JRC is the research and knowledge centre of the EU Commission and employs scientists to carry out research to provide independent scientific advice and support to EU policy.

This strategy aims to accelerate the deployment of a sustainable European bioeconomy by taking a specific three-tiered approach:

Strengthen and scale-up the bio-based sector through the planned €100 million Circular Bioeconomy Thematic Investment Platform, mobilising investors, analysing enablers and bottlenecks, and developing standards and labels
Deploy local bioeconomies across Europe by launching a strategic deployment agenda, supporting regions and member states and promoting education, training and skills
Understand the ecological boundaries of the bioeconomy through enhancing knowledge, monitoring progress and promoting good practices

The strategy will also tie-in with the EU’s other priorities such as climate mitigation, economic development, food security, energy and ecological conservation. Furthermore, it will help the EU meet its targets and commitments to global goals such as the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The future of the bioeconomy in Europe

Based on the 2018 strategy, the European Commission will launch concrete measures and outline specific legislation to scale up bio-based sectors and meet both the strategy’s suggested targets and global targets. There may be opportunities for external researchers to contribute to these processes through institutionalised platforms such as EU Consultations. Research on the bioeconomy will continue to be undertaken by scientists working at the JRC. Specific issues that will be researched in the coming months and years include the demand for bioeconomy products, the environmental impact of biomass, the condition of EU ecosystems and their services, and how the bioeconomy can contribute to reaching the SDGs.

References and additional reading

GeoPolicy: How science supported the EU’s new land use and forestry regulation

Chloe Hill July 3, 2018

Beech forest on slope subject to rock fall. Credit: Ettore Bianchi (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

What is the land use and forestry regulation?

In October 2014, the EU agreed that all sectors, including land and forestry, should contribute to the EU’s 2030 climate & energy framework target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Almost 4 years later, in May 2018, the EU Commission’s proposal for the 2021-2030 land use and forestry regulation was adopted after being agreed upon by both the EU Parliament and the Council.

EU forests currently absorb the equivalent of almost 10% of the EU’s total annual greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the current rate of global land clearance amounts to approximately 24% of the world’s total emissions, more than the emissions from all forms of transport (including ships, planes and cars) in the world combined.

The land use and forestry regulation for 2021-2030 sets a binding commitment for each EU member state to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions from land use or land use change are offset by at least an equivalent removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere between 2021 and 31 December 2030. The “no debit rule” outlined in the 2021-2030 regulations requires EU countries to balance their deforestation with afforestation and / or boost CO₂absorption by forests, croplands and grasslands where possible.

Although these binding commitments sound strict, EU member states could qualify for exemption in certain circumstances, such as large-scale wild fires. The EU has, however, stated that there will be clear rules and limits to these exceptions to ensure a loop-hole is not created. Member States will also be able to buy and sell net removals between each other which could potentially encourage some countries to reduce their CO₂ removals beyond their own commitment.

The 10-year regulation period will also be divided into five-year periods to increase member state flexibility. For example, if the average the net removals of CO₂ are higher than the net emissions from land use in the first five-year period (2021-2025), the emissions can be banked and used in the next period (2026-2030).

Apart from increasing afforestation rates and supporting land management that will help to reduce overall emissions, the regulation is expected to promote climate-smart agriculture practices, improve food production, protect biodiversity and encourage the development of a bio-based economy. Furthermore, biomass emissions used in energy generation (which until now were unaccounted for under EU law) will now be recorded and counted towards each member state’s 2030 climate commitments.

What role does science play in these regulations?

Scientific studies and research were used as the foundation for the land use and forestry regulation for 2021-2030 and will continue to be used to monitor the regulations success. The majority of the studies used to guide the regulation were conducted by EU agencies, such as the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the European Environmental Agency (EEA). However, a vast quantity of external research was used to guide these studies as well as external experts and databases.

One of the primary studies used to guide the regulation presents statistical data on land cover and land use within the European Union (EU). The data were gathered as part of the land use/cover area frame survey (LUCAS) between March and October 2015. Having an understanding about how land is used within Europe allows a baseline for the 2021-2030 regulation to be set, the current rate of land use change to be estimated and the amount of emissions in a business as usual scenario to be predicted.

Figure 1: Main land cover by land cover type, EU-28, 2015. Source: Eurostat

Figure 1 shows the land cover type with forests and other wooded areas occupying more than one third of the EU. Cropland was the second most prevalent land type, covering 22% of the EU and artificial land (including all built-up areas, roads and railways) only amounts to 4.2% of all EU land. More information about the types of land cover in each EU country can be found here.

Another key study undertaken by the EEA outlined the drivers of land degradation, the influence of EU policies on land use and EU policy objectives. More indirectly, reports generated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), such as the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report of Working Group I, Summary for Policymakers, helped to steer the Paris Agreement and subsequent EU Climate policies.

Research will continue to play a large role in determining how member states adopt the regulations and how they are adapted over time. Formal evaluations allow for greater transparency and accountability in the public sector. They also ensure that the desired outcomes of the policy are being achieved and that any negative impacts of the policy are being minimised as much as possible. Evaluations may be conducted either prior to the adoption of policy, during their implementation and / or after the policy has come into effect. You can read more about the EU’s policy evaluation process here.

Further reading