Stronger national action is essential to meet the EU's climate and energy goals. This briefing, co-authored by Ecologic Institute, reveals major gaps in how Member States currently contribute to EU targets – and in the projected impact of their planned policy measures across key sectors. It highlights the need for Member States to update their National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) with stronger contributions and policy measures, particularly in renewables and energy efficiency. It also suggests that the European Commission requests further NECP updates in 2025 and revises the Governance Regulation to ensure more consistent and accountable planning across the EU. 

Climate targets for Member States are central to EU climate policy. They help hold governments accountable, track progress, and support tailored national action – while ensuring the collective pursuit of the EU's climate goals. The new discussion paper by the Ecologic Institute and Oeko-Institut explores seven options for designing national climate targets beyond 2030. The paper is available for download.

Cities across Europe are feeling the impacts of climate change. To support urban resilience, the REACHOUT project has launched two new videos and the Guidelines for Climate Service Tools. The videos highlight selected tools from the Triple-A Toolkit – a flexible, web-based platform that offers a wide range of solutions for urban climate adaptation. Complementing the videos, the Guidelines provide a structured overview of more than 20 technical and soft tools available through the Toolkit. 

Human-induced environmental crises call for new forms of interdisciplinary marine research. A new impulse paper – featuring contributions from Dr Grit Martinez (Ecologic Institute) – advocates for closer strategic collaboration between the natural, technical, social, and cultural sciences. It identifies five key areas for development, ranging from reforms in education and targeted funding instruments to institutional openness. The aim is to establish an integrated marine research approach that enables societally relevant solutions. Interdisciplinarity, as envisioned here, means genuine collaboration among scientific cultures on equal terms – fostering marine research that actively contributes to societal transformation.

How can climate change-induced hazards affect the EU's economy? This report, co-authored by Jenny Tröltzsch and John Tarpey, offers both qualitative and quantitative insights into how climate shocks could disrupt key sectors and hinder progress toward climate goals. The study begins with a comprehensive review of the socio-economic costs of inaction and climate-related events. Using the NEMESIS macroeconomic model, it assesses two future scenarios: one in which no further action is taken, and another that aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

This report presents insights from the SCALE-UP Innovation Support Programme. Co-authored by Gerardo Anzaldúa and John Tarpey, it highlights how 12 regional Task Forces support bio-based innovators across six European regions, offering tailored assistance to help bring sustainable products and services to market. The report underscores the importance of structured support systems, robust business strategies, and enabling policy frameworks. It also stresses the value of international collaboration and regionally adapted services in advancing a strong circular bioeconomy.

Moderation: Natalia Burgos Cuevas and Ewa Iwaszuk

How do cities effectively mitigate the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect? This question was at the centre of an online workshop held on 14 April 2025. 80 representatives from Athens, Milan and Vienna presented concrete measures – ranging from schoolyard greening to microclimate simulations. The discussion was further enriched by insights from Bilbao, Granollers, Rome and the research institute TECNALIA. The key takeaway: successful UHI mitigation requires data-driven planning, social equity, and long-term integration into urban governance. A summary of the workshop is available online. 

Moderation: Dr. Ulf Stein, Speech: Ida Meyenberg

The final conference of the Biodiversa-funded NICHES project took place online on 24 March 2025. It focused on the role of nature-based solutions (NBS) in making urban water management systems more climate-resilient. More than 50 experts exchanged on the challenges and opportunities of NBS in major cities, particularly in the context of stormwater management and combined sewer overflows. Case studies from Rotterdam, Barcelona, and Berlin, as well as inclusive governance approaches, highlighted the need for local adaptation, integration with traditional infrastructure, and early stakeholder engagement. A summary of the discussions and the full conference recordings are available online. 

Moderation: Dr. Zoritza Kiresiewa

On 25 March 2025, Ecologic Institute hosted an online validation workshop as part of the 3-CO project, exploring how policy support for social innovation in Europe can be strengthened. Twenty-one experts from across Europe discussed funding barriers, regulatory challenges, and the role of platforms such as the German Platform for Social Innovation and Social Enterprises (SIGU) in supporting early-stage innovations. Practical insights from Germany and Austria underscored the importance of local context, cross-sector collaboration, and impact measurement. Presentations and a summary of the workshop are available online. 

Speech: Julia Jägle

How can cities design sustainable agricultural systems for 2045? This question guided the kick-off event for Zukunft Agrar+ 2045, held on 4 March 2025 in Hamburg. Around 100 participants from administration, farming, civil society, and academia discussed climate resilience, biodiversity, land access, and regional value chains. Julia Jägle introduced the thematic trends that guided the group discussions, contributing to a structured dialogue on Hamburg's agri-food future. The event documentation is available online. 

The SCALE-UP project, together with five other EU-funded initiatives, invites you to the European Rural Circular Bioeconomy Conference (EuRCBC) in Brussels on 13 and 14 May 2025. Over two days, the event will gather voices from politics, industry, and rural regions to explore the strategies and solutions developed across six projects for advancing the rural bioeconomy. We look forward to your registration!