‘EEmeetsEP’ - Helmholtz Earth and Environment meets the European Parliament and Stakeholders in Brussels

In December 2023, the Helmholtz SynCom (Synthesis and Communication) traveled to Brussels with a delegation of selected scientists from the seven Helmholtz Earth and Environment Centres. This visit aimed at sharing current research findings and exchanging ideas with members of the European Parliament and other key stakeholders. The agenda included meetings with various entities such as the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS), the Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA), the European Space Agency (ESA), and members of the European Parliament Niklas Nienaß and Jutta Paulus. 

This trip proved to be a valuable opportunity to connect European environmental and climate policy with fundamental research. When communicating scientific research, the importance of selecting a format suitable for the targeted audience constituted a key point. We discuss the lessons learned, and needs for user-oriented innovative tools for public outreach and for supporting policy decisions. Our exchanges also covered the potential impact of ongoing and upcoming European projects, like satellite-based Earth Observation missions and Digital Twins of the Earth, in providing crucial data for science-backed regulations. Lastly, we address the challenges faced in policymaking and the hurdles in integrating scientific discoveries into political decisions: we report suggested possibilities of including policy makers or the consideration of current regulatory questions within research projects.