Understanding and responding to Europe’s climate risks requires sustained investment in science, from fundamental research and the development of research talent to long-term observations, advanced analytical capabilities and world-class research infrastructures. Climate risks are increasingly interconnected across ecosystems, food systems, human health, infrastructure, and the economy and finance, highlighting the need for robust knowledge, data and research capabilities to understand their interactions and strengthen climate resilience.
Across the Horizon Europe programming period, Pillar I – Excellent Science has contributed to this knowledge base through frontier research supported by the European Research Council (ERC), researcher training, mobility and interdisciplinary collaboration through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), and the development, access and integration of European Research Infrastructures (RIs).
The session welcomes contributions on how frontier science, research talent and research infrastructures provide the knowledge, data, methods and scientific capabilities needed to address these risks areas and interactions among them, including compound, cascading and cross-border risks. Research highlighting risks associated with heat, drought, floods, wildfires and changes affecting marine and terrestrial environments are particularly encouraged.
By bringing together researchers, projects and infrastructures supported across the different components of Horizon Europe Pillar I, the session aims to connect complementary expertise and capabilities and explore how Excellent Science can provide the knowledge, people, observations and research capacity needed to better understand Europe’s interconnected climate risks and strengthen the scientific foundations for a climate-resilient Europe.