Research plays a crucial role in addressing the societal challenges related to climate change and digitalisation. Science Europe aims to bring together researchers and policy makers to promote dialogue on science-informed decisions to support the so-called 'twin transition'.
Science has played a crucial role in identifying and explaining climate change, the most pressing societal challenge of our time. Research has contributed to tackling the climate crisis by explaining the causes of climate change and proposing new, alternative solutions to – among others – reduce carbon emissions, preserve natural ecosystems, and cope with natural disasters. The objective to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 is of paramount importance for Europe, and beyond.
The digitalisation of research activities is an ongoing process that aims to support the scientific competitiveness of Europe. The digital transition supports the green transition with developments and technologies that contribute to achieving the target of climate neutrality.
Science Europe supports science-led responses to the green and digital transition by acting as a platform to foster co-ordination of actions at European level. It does this based on its role as representative of national research performing and funding organisations. It shares best practices on relevant research and innovation policies within its membership, with partner organisations, and with society. The European Green Deal, Horizon Europe’s Missions, the EU biodiversity strategy, and the European Digital Agenda are among the main interests for this priority, together with broader international climate and digital policies.
The Working Group on the Green and Digital Transition focuses on contributing to international climate policy fora and the European Green Deal by identifying the success factors for science–policy interfaces and determining the characteristics of interdisciplinary programmes that address the green and digital transition. A cross-cutting theme is to foster public trust in science, engaging societal stakeholders, and engage in ‘citizen science’.
Science Europe aims to identify the characteristics of research programmes and activities that contribute to the green and digital transition. The goal is to investigate aspects of inter- and/or transdisciplinary research activities, such as stakeholders’ engagement, co-creation, or citizen science, and how to engage different disciplines in tackling complex challenges, such as those related to the climate crisis and digitalisation.
Science Europe is committed to contributing to international climate policy. During COP26 (in November 2021), Science Europe launched a Call to Action for research organisations to achieve the Net-Zero Transition, together with international partners. This engagement will continue through COP27 (in November 2022) to mobilise Science Europe members and partners to reduce their emissions and achieve climate neutrality. In addition, Science Europe is examining ways to contribute to the European Green Deal and establishing collaborations with other international organisations regarding international climate policy.
Science Europe’s objective is to collect examples of and make recommendations for institutional settings and necessary training to promote science-informed policy making. A better understanding of the different roles, responsibilities, and types of organisations between research funders, research performers, individual researchers, and governments at various levels is needed. The goal is to identify new emerging practices, professional opportunities, and needs for Science Europe members.
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Science Europe participated in a High-level Summit and International Scientific Symposium organised by the Human Frontier Science Programme Organisation (HFSPO) on 27–29 June 2023, in partnership with UNESCO and other research institutions including ANR, CNRS, EMBL, ERC and the International Science Council (ISC).
In 2022, Science Europe made significant contributions in various areas, including research culture, research assessment, open science, EU framework programmes, the green and digital transition, and science communication.
Science Europe's 2022 Annual Report highlights the most important achievements of 2022 on Science Europe’s priority topics, including research culture, research assessment, open science, EU framework programmes, the green and digital transition, and science communication.
This report presents the actions that universities and research organisations are taking to address the climate crisis and the challenges they face. These were presented at the symposium 'Interdisciplinarity for the Net-Zero Transition' of 3 November 2022, in the lead-up to COP27.
“Science can and shall contribute to improving our societies”. With these words, the new Science Europe study “Science–Policy in Action. Insights for the Green and Digital Transition” starts with the analysis and mapping of Science Europe member organisations’ science–policy interfaces.
Science Europe presented its new report 'Science Policy in Action: Insights for the Green and Digital Transition'. It was discussed with a high-level panel of research policy stakeholders engaged with science–policy interactions.
This report aims to identify activities for science-informed policy making, to map those funded and performed by Science Europe Member Organisations, and suggests some recommendations. It is based on a survey held among Science Europe Member Organisations and a subsequent focus group.
How to become an effective science-policy advisor? The science-policy interactions have a longstanding relationship with complex dynamics. The COVID pandemic was only one of the ‘wicked problem’, where decision-makers called for science-informed advice. This report showcases 16 lessons learnt from the event Good Advice for (Young) Science-Policy Advisors, organised by Science Europe, FORMAS and Marie Curie Alumni Association on 29 April 2022.
The climate crisis calls all of us to act urgently. Reducing carbon emissions is a top priority to respect the Paris Agreement and keep the global temperature increase below +1.5˚. Everybody should play their role: Science Europe, in its Strategy Plan for 2021–2026, set the goal to “strengthen the role and contribution of science to tackle societal challenges”.