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Reports

Annual Report 2024

SynCom as a central integrating instrument in the Research Field Earth and Environment

SynCom drives the synthesis of overarching research topics in the Research Field. The activities are closely aligned with the goals of the research program ‘Changing Earth – Sustaining our Future’. With innovative approaches such as stakeholder dialogues, parliamentary events, data analyses, writing retreats, and the transdisciplinary integration of research results, SynCom makes a valuable contribution to the Program Objectives and acts as a central interface between science, society, and politics.

Relevant synthesis and communication activities in the SynCom Projects 2024 (selection)

Scaling-up Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)

  • Strong involvement of the seven Earth and Environment Centers, close cooperation with Helmholtz Energy, Helmholtz Klima Initiative, and other partners such as CDRmare, CDRterra, DACStorE
  • Synthesis workshops
  • Writing retreat
  • CDR Expertise Mapping
  • Networking in various stakeholder dialogue formats: Two workshops and a networking dinner in Berlin brought together researchers and stakeholders from science, industry, and politics. The results were incorporated into fact sheets and specialist publications.
  • Visit to a Direct Air Capture (DAC) start-up in Berlin
  • Parliamentary breakfast and fact sheet “Climate neutrality 2045 – opportunities and challenges of DACCS and BECCS”

Modernizing Chemical Hazard Assessment (ModHaz)

  • Stakeholder dialogue on the future of chemicals regulation:
    • Four SynCom stakeholder workshops (NGOs & civil society: November 27, 2023; legislation & regulation: December 1, 2023; industry & business associations: December 6, 2023; science: December 7, 2023)
    • SynCom stakeholder synthesis workshop. March 12-13, 2024, in Berlin. BMUV, stakeholders from industry (including Bayer, Henkel), NGOs (including ChemTrust, Greenpeace), science, and regulation (including UBA/BfR)
  • Policy brief ‘Accelerated Testing of More Substances’
  • Results from the stakeholder dialogue were dicussed with members of parliament at the parliamentary evening in the Bundestag (patronage: Chairman of the Environment Committee). The researchers presented options for action to improve chemicals regulation and brought these into dialogue with science, politics, NGOs, approval authorities and industry.
  • Continuation at European level (REACH) in 2025 (as a SynCom Flex activity)

Developing Operational Biodiversity Targets (BioDiv)

  • Three synthesis workshops in Berlin with researchers from six Centers and external stakeholders from BMUV and the Bundestag
  • The workshops laid the foundation for a scientific article, a joint perspective paper (in prep.), and the development of new indicators for the National Biodiversity Strategy.

Further highlights from synthesis and communication (selection)

  • Synthesis paper ‘Digital Twins of Planet Earth’ with contributions from all seven centers: Overview of the development of digital twins in the research field that support decision-makers in environmental and climate policy issues. Presentation at the annual meeting of the Brussels Helmholtz office.
  • Parliamentary breakfast on methane emissions in the Bundestag in cooperation with the Leopoldina (recommendations for action in the fact sheet)
  • Application advice for new SynCom projects and management of the selection process. Focus topics 2025: Hydrometeorological extreme events, plastic, copper and lithium extraction in German geothermal drilling.
  • Intensive network maintenance with seven centers and partners: parliamentary groups, federal ministries, state representations, Office for Technology Assessment at the Bundestag, German Institute for International and Security Affairs, Science in Dialogue, sDiv, German Climate Consortium, REKLIM, German Marine Research Consortium, German Marine Research Alliance, Helmholtz KLIMA, Helmholtz Energy, Helmholtz Office, Fraunhofer, Leibniz, Max Planck and at European level with ESA, European Research Council, EGU, European Commission, MEPs, etc.
  • Audio storytelling workshop on the occasion of the 'Bridging Spheres Campus' as part of the research area’s joint personnel concept: training young researchers from six centers in interdisciplinary science communication; promoted close cooperation in the research area at junior level
  • Increasing the national and international visibility of the Research Field and promoting academic policy engagement through conference sessions at the EGU 2024 and the Forum Science Communication 2024
  • Online SynCom Hours and SynCom Newsletter for internal communication in Earth and Environment

Outlook and conclusion

In 2025, SynCom will continue the successful dialogues and activities in research synthesis, including a delegation trip to the European Parliament with a representative from each Earth and Environment Center and a strong presence at the EGU 2025. In April, a SynCom Flex workshop on the future of EU chemicals regulation will take place in cooperation with the Brussels Helmholtz Office and the Hesse State Representation in Brussels. These activities aim to further strengthen the dialogue between science, politics, and society and to develop evidence-based solutions to global challenges.