Science for policy

GeoPolicy: What can we expect from COP26?

Chloe Hill October 22, 2021

COP25 Closing Plenary. Sunday 15th 2019. Credit: UNFCCC

The 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will take place from 31 October to 12 November 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland. With the exception of 2020, COPs are held annually and provide a space for world leaders to negotiate climate policies, targets, and the next steps that need to be take to reduce global emissions. ...[Read More]

GeoPolicy: Get involved in science-policy events this autumn!

Chloe Hill September 29, 2021

ESOF 2020 in Treiste. Credit: EuroScience

Now that summer is over, policy events are back in full swing! With most events still being online, they are easily accessible and generally free of charge. The EGU has an External Science for Policy Events Calendar that lists upcoming policy-related events that are likely to be of interest to geoscientists. This can be a useful resource if you’re trying to find events that will introduce you to t ...[Read More]

GeoPolicy: A Climate and Ecological Emergency: Can a pandemic help save us…?

Chloe Hill July 28, 2021

Giant Hands, called Support, in a rare snowy event in a floating city of Venice. Credit: Hung Vuong Pham, distributed via Imaggeo

The EGU’s #vEGU21 streamed a wide variety of virtual sessions from Short Courses to Union Symposia. While most #vEGU21 sessions had a specific scientific focus, a few highlighted topics that were of interest to geoscientists across multiple disciplines. The Union Symposia 3: “A Climate and Ecological Emergency: Can a pandemic help save us…?” was one of these sessions with a high level of participa ...[Read More]

GeoPolicy: When policymakers misuse science

Chloe Hill June 18, 2021

“Don’t be afraid, don’t be scared, it won’t hurt you. It’s coal.” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, while holding a piece of coal in the Australian Parliament. Photo Credit: Source: Australian Parliament House.

Most of the EGU’s GeoPolicy blog posts focus on overarching topics that I believe will be useful for the majority of scientists who read them. I see myself as a facilitator who connects scientists and policymakers, providing impartial information to promote more effective knowledge exchange and subsequently evidence-informed policies. This month’s GeoPolicy post however, takes a differ ...[Read More]