Climate Sense

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An overview of the European Community

climate research programme

José Manuel Silva Rodríguez, Director General, DG Research, European Commission

limate change is happening and represents one of the

greatest environmental, social and economic threats the

planet is facing. The overwhelming scientific evidence

gathered on the causes of climate change and possible response

measures urges us to act. The European Union (EU) is leading

the way by both taking ambitious action on its own and through

its commitment to working constructively for a global agree-

ment aimed at controlling climate change.

The EU’s objective is to ensure that global average temperature

does not increase above 2°C over pre-industrial levels. To achieve

this goal, global emissions of greenhouse gases must peak before

2020 and then decrease below 50 per cent of 1990 levels by 2050.

The necessary cuts in global emissions can be achieved only if all

countries contribute their fair share, according to their respective

responsibilities and capacities. However, reducing greenhouse gas

emissions worldwide will not be sufficient. Even if the global average

temperature increase stays below 2°C, significant adaptation efforts

will be required in many, if not all regions of the world.

The key priority for the EU is to achieve a successful conclusion to

the international negotiations on a global agreement for the period

after 2012 at the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen.

Reducing global emissions of greenhouse gases will require action

by both developed and developing countries. Developed countries

must take the lead and cut their collective emissions to a level 30

per cent lower than 1990 by 2020. The EU has set an example by

committing to this reduction target, if other developed countries

agree to comparable cuts. The EU has already adopted policy meas-

ures to reduce its own emissions by 20 per cent from 1990 levels.

The European Commission also published a strategy paper to foster

policy action on adaptation to climate change.

Such policy actions are only possible because they are built on solid

climate science. Serious climate change impacts and risks have been

identified, analysed and assessed, most notably in the assessment

reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

However, to ensure efficient and effective action, knowledge needs

to progress further: in the understanding of the climate system; on

the evaluation of the impacts of climate change; and on the iden-

tification and assessment of options for mitigation and adaptation.

This endeavour requires and will continue to necessitate significant

sustained support to research activities on climate change.

Climate research and observations activities at the EU level are under-

taken within the Framework Programme of the European Community

for research, technological development and demonstration activities.

European Community (EC) research funding complements research

activities supported by the 27 Member States of the European Union

and Associated Countries. EC-Framework Programme

projects are characterized by: the involvement of a diversi-

fied set of research institutions based in the EC; their strong

international dimension structuring the European Research

Area; and by going well beyond European borders in terms

of participation. The 7th Framework Programme (FP7),

covering the period 2007-2013, is the world’s most open

research programme to international cooperation.

Climate relevant collaborative research under FP7 is

mostly undertaken in four thematic areas. These are

environment, energy, transport and global monitoring.

Environment

The objective of relevant activities under the environ-

ment theme is to improve our knowledge of the Earth

system. This involves the enhancement of our capacity

in observing and predicting the evolution of the climate

system, improving the accuracy of climate information

at regional and local levels as well as developing our

knowledge on adaptation. This can be achieved through

the ‘downscaling’ of modelling techniques and their

application to smaller areas. Additional research focuses

on integrating the physical and socioeconomic aspects

of climate change in order to quantify its impacts and

costs, and thus design more effective technologies and

sustainable development strategies for mitigation and

adaptation in Europe and beyond. This will help to

further develop knowledge of vulnerability assessments

and responses to natural climate-related disasters, as

well as in the assessment of climate-induced changes on

natural resources and impacts on human health.

Energy

Energy research activities support the development

of a less resource intensive and carbon-emitting

energy system to address the pressing challenges

of energy supply and climate change. This involves

improving energy efficiency throughout the energy

system, accelerating the increase in renewable energy

sources’ share of the energy mix, reducing green-

house gas emissions, decarbonising power generation

and the transport sector.

Transport

The main objective is to promote the development of inte-

grated, ‘greener’ and ‘smarter’ European transport systems

bserving

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