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.

This online science for policy event was jointly organised by the EGU and the Secretariat of the European Parliament (EP) Intergroup on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development to outline how science can be integrated into the European Green Deal. The two panels on biodiversity and pollution include geoscientists, policymakers, and industry representatives.

The mixed panel of policymakers and scientists representing the EGU will discuss 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 will specifically focus on biodiversity and zero pollution, two aspects of the European Green Deal that are closely linked with the geosciences.

Contents
0:00 Welcome from Ilias Grampas, EU Affairs Manager, Secretariat of the European Parliament Intergroup on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development
00:55 Introduction from hosting Member of the European Parliament, Norbert Lins
03:25 Introduction from Alberto Montanari, EGU President
16:30 Panel 1 on Biodiversity: Norbert Lins, Member of the European Parliament
20:02 Panel 1 on Biodiversity: Roby Biwer, European Committee of the Regions, Member of Bettembourg Municipal Council
25:35 Panel 1 on Biodiversity: Luc Bas, Director, European Regional Office, International Union for Conservation of Nature
33:45 Panel 1 on Biodiversity: Iris Moeller: Professor of Geography, Trinity College Dublin
44:40 Panel 1 on Biodiversity: Q&A and panel discussion
1:07:13 Panel 2 on Pollution: Helen Glaves, EGU Vice-President Helen Glaves
1:10:41 Panel 2 on Pollution: Mohammed Chahim, Member of the European Parliament
01:15:55 Panel 2 on Pollution: Anna Papagrigoraki, Sustainability Director, Confederation of European paper industries
01:23:03 Panel 2 on Pollution: Erik van Sebille, Associate Professor in oceanography and climate change at the Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, Department of Physics, Utrecht University
01:30:39 Panel 2 on Pollution: Q&A and panel discussion
01:42:01 Final words from Stelios Kympouropoulos, Member of the European Parliament
01:48:12 Conclusion