[EGU SCIENCE FOR POLICY] NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 2025 =================================================== Dear EGU Expert, As the holiday season is approaching, we hope you have time to rest. This month’s Newsletter includes a reminder for the approaching deadline for policymaker registration waiver request (https://www.egu.eu/forms/EGU26PolicyWaiverRequest/). It features outputs about Think2030 in Denmark: reflections by EGU colleagues Zsanett Gréta Papp (https://www.egu.eu/people/zsanett-greta-papp/) and Simon Clark (https://www.egu.eu/people/simon-clark/) in a GeoPolicy blog post (https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/12/10/rethinking-europes-historical-climate-leadership/), and policy briefs by the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) (https://ieep.eu/), including one that is co-authored by Alice Albertini (https://ieep.eu/who-we-are/our-people/alice-albertini/), the first mentee of the EGU–IEEP Policy Mentoring Scheme that started in 2025. The newsletter also contains the opportunity to register as an expert to review the First-Order Draft (FOD) of the 2027 Methodology Report on Inventories for Short-lived Climate Forcers (https://www.ipcc.ch/report/methodology-report-on-short-lived-climate-forcers/). Finally, it shares two recent EU-level climate and environment related assessments: “Climate Action Progress Report 2025 (https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/climate-strategies-targets/progress-climate-action/eu-climate-action-progress-report-2025_en)" by the Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) (https://commission.europa.eu/about/departments-and-executive-agencies/climate-action_en), and Monitoring Report on Progress Towards the 8th EAP Objectives (https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/monitoring-report-on-progress-towards-the-8th-eap-objectives-2025) by the European Environment Agency (https://www.eea.europa.eu/en). If you have any further questions or comments about the policy resources and opportunities that exist for scientists in Europe, don't hesitate to get in touch (https://www.egu.eu/structure/union-office/)! Wishing you happy holidays, Science for Policy Team DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR POLICYMAKER REGISTRATION WAIVERS --------------------------------------------------------- As we featured in our November newsletter, EGU26 is offering free registration (https://www.egu.eu/forms/EGU26PolicyWaiverRequest/) (on-site or virtual) and abstract submission procedure to European policymakers to enable them to attend scientific sessions that are relevant to their legislative work, and to connect with the research community. Time is running out for abstract submissions and waiver requests for policymakers! If you are interested in inviting a policymaker to your policy-related session, you can send them this form (https://www.egu.eu/forms/EGU26PolicyWaiverRequest/) to indicate their interest until 15 January 2026, 13:00 CET. Please note that this registration waiver is only available for those who do not conduct geoscience-related research and whose primary function is to establish, implement, or improve European legislation. It does not cover travel expenses. If you need further assistance, please contact zsanett.papp@egu.eu (mailto:zsanett.papp@egu.eu) REFLECTIONS ON THINK2030 DIALOGUE DENMARK ----------------------------------------- ### GeoPolicy blog post: Rethinking Europe’s historical climate leadership In a new GeoPolicy blog post "Rethinking Europe’s historical climate leadership in a ‘Time of Transition’", our Science for Policy Officer, Zsanett Gréta Papp (https://www.egu.eu/people/zsanett-greta-papp/) and our Project Manager, Simon Clark (https://www.egu.eu/people/simon-clark/) wrote about their impressions on Think2030 Dialogue Denmark (https://think2030.eu/think2030-dialogues-denmark/) organised by CONCITO (https://concito.dk/en), IEEP (https://ieep.eu/), and Think Tank EUROPA (https://thinkeuropa.dk/en) and in association with the Danish Presidency of the EU Council (https://danish-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/). The event brought together European decision-makers, businesses, policy experts and civil society leaders to discuss some of the most pressing sustainability challenges facing Europe. The event featured the relevance of EU as a global climate leader amidst geopolitical tensions, as well as the synergies between climate ambition, economic competitiveness and energy security. A key topic of the Think2030 was the essential role of scientific institutions in bridging the gap between data and decision-making, providing the clarity and trust needed to shape future policy and business decisions, and mitigating unintended consequences of green transition. In this picture, the need for a more coherent science-policy-industry interface across different governance levels remains evident. If you are curious about the blog post by Zsanett and Simon, you can read it here (https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/12/10/rethinking-europes-historical-climate-leadership/)! ### IEEP policy briefs regarding Science for Policy sessions The science and policy sessions in Think2030 focused on the role of agriculture in the post-2030 climate architecture, the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal (https://commission.europa.eu/topics/competitiveness/clean-industrial-deal_en), the challenge of financing the green transition, and the role of energy reform in improving EU competitiveness. Building on the insights from these sessions, IEEP drafted four policy briefs (https://ieep.eu/publications/reinforcing-eu-climate-leadership-for-improved-security-competitiveness-and-prosperity/) aiming to provide practical guidance for decision-makers. In this scope, Alice Albertini (https://ieep.eu/who-we-are/our-people/alice-albertini/), who joined IEEP in April 2025 as the mentee of the first EGU–IEEP Policy Mentoring Scheme, co-authored the policy brief “Accelerating Climate Action in EU Agriculture and Food (https://ieep.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/T2030-DK-session-3-brief.pdf)”. The policy brief outlines actionable recommendations. This is a great achievement that proves how Alice increased the policy impact of her work. You can read the policy brief here (https://ieep.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/T2030-DK-session-3-brief.pdf). Stay tuned for more EGU–IEEP Policy Mentoring Scheme updates! REVIEW THE IPCC METHODOLOGY REPORT ON INVENTORIES FOR SHORT-LIVED CLIMATE FORCERS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As a part of its seventh assessment cycle, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (https://www.ipcc.ch/) recently opened registration for experts to serve as Expert Reviewers on the First-Order Draft (FOD) of the 2027 Methodology Report on Inventories for Short-lived Climate Forcers (https://www.ipcc.ch/report/methodology-report-on-short-lived-climate-forcers/). This draft, prepared by the Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (TFI) (https://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/), will provide guidance on measuring anthropogenic emissions from key short-lived climate-forcing substances, including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, which significantly contribute to global and regional air quality and climate change. Scheduled for release in 2027, the final version of this report will be the first methodology report published by the IPCC in the seventh assessment cycle. Expert Review is the first opportunity for experts to engage with the draft report. The Draft will be available for Expert Review from 5 January to 27 February 2026. If you are willing to contribute, you can find more information here (https://www.ipcc.ch/2025/12/05/prslcffod/) and register here (https://apps.ipcc.ch/comments/slcf/) until 13 February 2026! READ ABOUT THE EU'S PROGRESS FOR CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT ACTION --------------------------------------------------------------- As the year closes, EU institutions have released evidence-based assessments on the EU’s progress toward climate neutrality and broader environmental objectives. Below are two recent assessments for those who would like to read the findings related to their fields of work: ### Climate Action Progress Report 2025 Last month, the Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) (https://commission.europa.eu/about/departments-and-executive-agencies/climate-action_en) published the “Climate Action Progress Report 2025 (https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/climate-strategies-targets/progress-climate-action/eu-climate-action-progress-report-2025_en)”, as required by EU legislation. The report assesses progress across key climate policy areas, including emissions reduction, energy, and climate finance. The report shows that the EU is moving toward climate neutrality and resilience, with a 2.5% reduction in emissions in 2024 compared to 2023. However, transport-related emissions are still rising, and the land carbon sink remains fragile. The report calls for decisive implementation, stronger investment, and strong cooperation between the EU, national and local authorities, businesses and citizens. ### Monitoring Report on Progress Towards the 8th EAP Objectives 2025 This month, the European Environment Agency (EEA) (https://www.eea.europa.eu/en) published its assessment of progress toward the objectives set out under the 8th Environment Action Programme (EAP) (https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/monitoring-report-on-progress-towards-the-8th-eap-objectives-2025). The EAP (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32022D0591) is the EU’s legally agreed, overarching framework for action on EU environmental policy until 2030. Progress is assessed in areas such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, circular economy, biodiversity and ecosystems, and environmental and climate pressures related to production and consumption. While the EU continues to improve air quality and increase the share of green employment and green economy alongside reducing greenhouse gas emissions, most 2030 environmental targets remain likely off track. Progress towards a circular economy is slow, with material use and waste still increasing. All biodiversity targets are likely off track. Taken together, the two reports show that progress is underway but insufficient, and that current policy efforts do not yet match the scale or urgency of the EU’s climate and environmental commitments. --------- ©2025 European Geosciences Union. All rights reserved. EGU - European Geosciences Union e.V. Kastenbauerstr. 2 81677 Munich, Germany * Privacy notice (https://www.egu.eu/privacy-notice/) * Subscribe (policy-join@lists.egu.eu?subject=subscribe) * Unsubscribe (policy-leave@lists.egu.eu?subject=unsubscribe)