Dear EGU Expert,

Happy New Year to everyone!

The first EGU Science for Policy Newsletter of the year includes an announcement of our second Policy Mentoring Scheme in collaboration with the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), and a reminder for the splinter meeting submission dates for EGU26.

It also shares three ongoing European Commission Consultations and calls for evidence, a Science Officer position at the International Science Council (ISC), and a recent report by OECD and Joint Research Centre of the European Commission named "Strengthening National Evidence-Informed Policymaking Ecosystems".

If you have any further questions or comments about the policy opportunities that exist for scientists in Europe, don’t hesitate to get in touch via policy@egu.eu.

Best wishes,

Science for Policy Team

The EGU is happy to announce the second mentorship scheme in collaboration with the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), This 12-month hybrid mentoring scheme will provide early and mid-career scientists with the opportunity to work alongside IEEP members, gaining valuable hands-on experience and insights into how they interact and share information with Europe’s policy community.

This scheme will include up to two days per month of virtual teamwork, offering flexibility and consistent guidance. In addition to this, the selected candidate will spend three weeks in 2026 in Brussels with all travel expenses covered, allowing them to effectively engage in the IEEP’s policy projects, network with experts, and play a key role in shaping meaningful initiatives!

If you are interested, don't miss out, the deadline is midnight CET on 13 February 2026. Apply now, and read more about the scheme here.

During EGU26, side meetings (splinter meetings) organised by on-site participants can be reserved for up to two successive time blocks in specific rooms. While the abstract submissions are closed as of 15 January 2026, splinter meeting submissions are still open. 

EGU provides access to splinter meetings for both non-commercial and commercial participants, though non-commercial meetings always have priority. Non-commercial splinter meetings are those not primarily directed towards commercial advantage or monetary compensation. For example, if you or your organisation would like to hold a meeting on a research and innovation project, non-commercial splinter meetings can be reserved free of charge. However, commercial splinter meetings can only be requested from 21 January 2026 onwards based on room availability.

For more details, please read here.

European Commission Consultations and Calls for Evidence provide individuals and organisations with an opportunity to contribute to the EU policymaking process by providing feedback on Commission initiatives as they take shape or are being evaluated. If it’s your first time submitting feedback to a European Consultation or Call for Evidence, there are some useful online resources to support you. The Good Lobby’s Consultation Toolkit is one example that gives a detailed explanation about how you can effectively engage with the different types of Consultations and calls. Below are some current initiatives that may be of interest!

European climate resilience and risk management – integrated framework

The European Commission is developing a new integrated framework to strengthen climate resilience and risk management across the EU, aiming for a more ambitious, coherent approach to preventing and preparing for climate change impacts at both Member State and Union levels. Our Climate Hazard and Risk Task Force also provided evidence for this initiative in September 2025. Now, in the next stage, the public consultation invites stakeholders to provide feedback on issues such as harmonised risk assessments, governance, financing, and nature-based solutions that shape how Europe will respond to climate change.

You can learn more and submit your input here until midnight CET on 23 February 2026.

Marine environment protection – revision of EU rules

This initiative follows the recent evaluation of the 2008 Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The evaluation concluded that while the Directive established a broad framework for monitoring and protecting marine ecosystems, it has not fully achieved its objective of good environmental status (GES) in all EU marine waters by 2020. The planned revision of MSFD aims to enhance marine protection, simplify implementation, improve data management, and reduce the administrative burden.

You are invited to share your contribution here until midnight CET on 9 March 2026.

EU Arctic policy – Update

The consultation seeks to update the Joint Communication on the EU Arctic policy that was published in 2021 to ensure its relevance to evolving environmental, socio-economic, security, and geopolitical challenges in the Arctic. Feedback is sought on climate change mitigation, adaptation and environmental protection, sustainable and inclusive development, and enhanced international cooperation.

You can provide feedback here until midnight CET on 16 March 2026.

The International Science Council (ISC) is currently seeking a full-time Science Officer to primarily work on a new project focused on principles and values for international collaboration in research and innovation, but the scope of work is not limited to this project. 

Responsibilities of the role range from project management and implementation to providing thematic and methodological expertise, as well as coordinating and connecting individuals across a diverse network of academic, scientific, science-policy, and intergovernmental organisations.

The position is based in Paris, and the applications are open until 18:00 CET on 31 January. If you think you are a good fit, you can see more here.

In December 2025, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and European Commission published a report that could be of interest for anyone at the science-policy interface at national or EU level. The report synthesises the findings of a project carried out by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the OECD to support seven European countries (Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania and the Netherlands) to build capacity for evidence-informed policymaking (EIPM) in governance and public administration.

The project took a broad "ecosystem" approach to addressing the effective uptake of evidence in the policy process of these seven countries. It identifies pathways for promoting EIPM across Europe to address Europe’s most pressing challenges, and strengthen the capacity and resilience of public administrations with regard to future shocks. Finally, the report identifies areas where the JRC and OECD remain committed to supporting EIPM in the future.

If you are interested, you can check it out here.