Events

Despite the political turbulences caused by the government coalition’s breakup just the day before, it was decided not to cancel the event. Both Harald Ebner and Helmholtz SynCom agreed: Even in times of crisis, dialogue must continue, and we must work together on solutions and innovations that balance ecological and economic needs. This decision was welcomed by the members of parliament, parliamentary staff, scientists, regulatory authorities, industry representatives, and NGOs who engaged into the lively discussion.

Following Harald Ebner’s opening remarks, three presentations by Helmholtz researchers Dr. Pia-Johanna Schweizer, Prof. Dr. Beate Escher, and Prof. Dr. Sina Leipold were held. The central message of the evening was that current methods for chemical assessment are inadequate to keep up with the increasing pace and complexity of new substances. New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) or In Vitro Assays, were highlighted as crucial tools to more efficiently and rapidly identify hazardous chemicals.

Dr. Pia-Johanna Schweizer from the Research Institute for Sustainability – Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS) gave an overview on the environmental chemicals issue. She presented findings from the ModHaz project, explaining how a co-creative process was used to align the interests of industry, NGOs, scientists, and regulatory authorities to develop practical solutions for chemical assessment. Schweizer emphasized that dialogue among diverse stakeholders is vital for overcoming regulatory barriers and paving the way for innovative approaches like NAMs.

Prof. Dr. Beate Escher from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) stressed the need for modern, efficient chemical assessment methods due to the growing complexity and number of substances. She demonstrated how broader use of NAMs could replace animal testing with faster and more resource-efficient alternatives, thus addressing critical gaps in current regulations. Escher focused particularly on the concepts of 'Cumulative Toxicity Equivalents' (CTE) and 'Persistent Toxicity Equivalents' (PTE). The combination of these concepts allows for the evaluation of chemical persistence and toxicity characteristics and is applicable to individual substances, mixtures, and substances that are difficult to analyze. She illustrated how NAMs can prevent 'regrettable substitutions', where one harmful substance is replaced by another equally hazardous one, using examples such as PFAS and Bisphenol-A alternatives. She also pointed out that regulatory acceptance of NAMs is often hindered by limited resources and conservative structures within agencies – a concern echoed by attendees in the later discussion.

Prof. Dr. Sina Leipold from the UFZ explored how Germany could take a leading role in European chemical regulation and promote NAMs. She emphasized the economic and political influence of the German chemical sector in Europe. Germany could contribute more actively to expert groups at the EU level (such as CARACAL) to modernize the REACH regulation and integrate NAMs systematically. Faster incorporation of NAMs into REACH could reduce the risks posed by hazardous chemicals, especially from mixture effects. Leipold discussed strategic approaches identified in stakeholder workshops, such as "chemical simplification," which involves reducing the number and diversity of chemicals used in products to lower exposure to harmful substances. Alternatively, there is the strategy of enhancing chemical diversity to support Germany and Europe’s competitiveness and to provide the material basis for sustainable technological innovations. She highlighted the importance of considering mixture effects in regulation and noted that science is already able to offer knowledge and methodologies for safer chemical governance.

Key points were further discussed:

• Mechanisms of NAMs: How to investigate the specific characteristics of substances and the variations between different compounds.
• Ways to introduce NAMs into regulation: Their potential role in relation to Classification, Labeling, and Packaging regulations. Should new labels and limits be introduced, or should NAMs serve as preliminary tests for further evaluation steps?
• Validation and Regulatory Hesitancy: Steps necessary to accelerate regulatory acceptance of NAMs.
• Industry Implementation: How to support companies in integrating NAMs into their processes without jeopardizing competitiveness.

The attendees expressed the evening’s enriching contribution. The scientific presentations, the discussions, and the involvement of diverse sectors – science, industry, regulatory authorities, and politics – were particularly appreciated. There were also suggestions to make the demands more concrete, especially tailored towards decision-makers at the EU level.

The evening concluded with informal conversations that further deepened the exchange between science, politics, and industry. The event showed the importance of interdisciplinary and cross-institutional dialogue to sustainably address pressing challenges like chemical regulation.

Lisa Badum, Chairwoman of Bündnis 90/Die Grünen for the Committee on Climate Action and Energy and Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on International Climate and Energy Policy, opened the breakfast and pointed out that the reduction of methane emissions is currently a very relevant topic for the Bundestag. She emphasised the importance of methane as a powerful greenhouse gas that represents an important lever in climate protection.

Leopoldina Vice President Prof. Robert Schlögl and Helmholtz Vice President Prof. Dr. Susan-ne Buiter then welcomed the guests. Prof. Buiter emphasised: “Precise satellite measurements show for the first time the full extent of methane emissions in Germany - and how urgently we need to act. In view of the high short-term climate impact of methane, it is of the utmost importance that we consistently implement the EU Methane Regulation at national level and immediately reduce emissions in the energy and agricultural sectors”.

Prof. Dr. Robert Schlögl emphasised the need to minimise technical emissions in energy production: “Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, but it will remain relevant as a natural gas for energy production in the foreseeable future. This makes it all the more important to avoid technically induced methane emissions during production and transport”.

During the event, leading scientists provided exciting insights into current research and discussed necessary political measures. Prof. Dr. Susanne Liebner from the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences provided an overview of methane concentrations in the atmosphere and pointed out the current rapid increase. She emphasised the importance of peatlands and thawing permafrost as significant sources of biogenic methane emissions: “With the Global Methane Pledge, Germany has also made a commitment to reduce its methane emissions by 30 % by 2030 compared to 2020. In light of new studies, we need to restore confidence in what has already been achieved and improve the reporting of methane emissions overall”.

PD Dr. Ralf Sussmann from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) focused on the energy sector in his presentation and emphasised the role of new technologies in the detection and reduction of emissions: “In addition to reducing the consumption of fossil fuels, our strongest lever for reducing emissions is the elimination of large sources that can be detected by new satellite technologies”.

Prof. Dr. Markus Reichstein from the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry made it clear that agriculture, as the largest emitter of methane in Germany, requires special attention: “When regulating methane emissions, agriculture must be brought into focus. It is the largest emitter nationwide, and these methane emissions have barely decreased in recent years”.

In the subsequent discussion with members of the Bundestag, the following topics in particular were discussed in depth:

• Transformation of agriculture towards an animal-free diet: A switch to plant-based diets offers co-benefits such as lower greenhouse gas emissions, more efficient use of resources, a positive effect on biodiversity, improvements in health and animal welfare.
• Upstream chain emissions: Imported LNG fracking gas causes significantly higher methane emissions than conventional pipeline gas, which makes a targeted selection of low-emission suppliers necessary.
• Regulation and incentives to reduce emissions: The extent to which stronger regulations and bans are needed in addition to existing incentives in order to achieve the necessary changes in behaviour and reductions in emissions was discussed. Scientific recommendations could serve as the basis for a targeted policy.
• Future challenges: Leakage from hydrogen networks: When switching to hydrogen as an energy carrier, leakages could become a problem that needs to be addressed proactively.

In the final evaluation (see also Diagram), the participants particularly praised the “clearly summarised facts” and the “reference to the short-term opportunities for success”. It was also positively emphasised that the presentations were "short, clear, understandable” and included “concrete possible solutions”.

In addition to the committed contributions from patron Lisa Badum, other members of the Bundestag from various parliamentary groups also actively contributed to the discussion. The event made it clear that rapid, decisive and scientifically sound implementation of the EU Methane Regulation and national measures is required to achieve the climate targets. The breakfast impressively demonstrated how science and politics can work together to pave the way for effective climate protection.

During the first part of the event, we launched our CDR expertise mapping website (available at hereon.de/cdr-expertise), which showcases a diverse range of projects related to various aspects of CDR. Over 50 projects, involving numerous organizations, were compiled in the CDR expertise mapping. This network, which makes science more visual and more accessible, supports CDR researchers in identifying projects relevant to their expertise. In addition to helping scientists find suitable collaboration partners, the CDR expertise mapping establishes a foundation for deeper dialogue between science and industry, as well as potential future collaborations.

For the Networking Dinner, we gathered outstanding experts to discuss relevant questions related to CDR with invited stakeholders:

• What is the perception of CDR in the German society?; Expert: Dr. Rodrigo Valencia (GERICS/Hereon)
• How can politics contribute to a responsible and effective application of carbon dioxide removal methods? And how can the ramp-up of technologies be achieved in a timely manner given the required quantities?; Expert: Dr. Miranda Boettcher (SWP)
• Why do we need Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) and what could be possible strategies to implement MRV systems? Experts: Dr. Allanah Paul (Bellona), Dr. Klas Ove Möller (Hereon)
• What should be improved in collaboration with science and how can we connect start-ups with bigger players/larger companies for technology development? Experts: Carla Glassl (Ucaneo), Dr. Dhana Wolf (DACStorE)
• What is our current state of research on CDR methods? Experts: Prof. Dr. Daniela Thrän (UFZ), Lukas Fehr (LMU München, CDRterra), Dr. Michael Sswat (CDRmare/GEOMAR)

This ‘Dialogue and Dinner’ format provided a unique opportunity to engage with experts in the field and explore critical topics that will impact our future.

Additionally, we engaged in discussions about the future of the project consortium and the collaborative network of scientists involved in the SynCom Project over the past year.

On the evening of the first workshop day, we launched the CDR expertise mapping (available at https://hereon.de/cdr-expertise), coordinated by Dr. Rodrigo Valencia (GERICS/Hereon) and Dr. Katharina Sielemann (Helmholtz SynCom). Together with invited stakeholders from industry, politics, and other research organizations, we addressed five relevant CDR-related questions in our ‘Dialogue and Dinner’ format.

After lunch of the second day, we visited NeoCarbon and talked to Co-Founder and CTO Silvain Toromanoff to learn about their Direct Air Capture technology.

Moderator Marie Heidenreich, head of the SynCom office in the Helmholtz Research Field Earth & Environment, opened the breakfast at 7:30 a.m. in the Jakob-Kaiser-Haus in the German Bundestag. In addition to the massive reduction in CO₂ emissions, negative emissions are necessary to achieve the German climate goal of climate neutrality in 2045: ‘Today, we would like to talk about the 'net' in 'net zero 2045', she welcomed the guests.

In her welcoming speech, Dr. Nina Scheer said that the priority in climate policy must be on avoiding CO₂ emissions. She underlined the challenge of dealing with the amounts of CO₂ and warned against ruling out individual measures to avoid and adapt to climate change.

Prof. Dr. Julia Pongratz (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and spokesperson for the BMBF research program CDRterra) introduced the topic of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR), and gave an overview of the different CO₂ removal methods. She emphasized that ‘in order to spread risks and increase acceptance (…) we needed a broad portfolio of CDR measures’. She presented the advantages and disadvantages of the different CDR methods in terms of storage permanence, storage potential, costs, and side effects. In addition, she raised concerns that the potentially long time scales for upscaling had to be taken into account when developing the CDR portfolio. Therefore, incentive mechanisms must be put in place now to ensure planning security.

After the introductory lecture, the speakers discussed two selected methods for carbon dioxide removal: BECCS and DACCS.

First, Prof. Dr. Daniela Thrän from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research UFZ in Leipzig talked about bioenergy with CO₂ capture and storage (English: Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage, BECCS). Thrän pointed out that BECCS can be integrated into the existing bioenergy infrastructure and immediately contribute to CO₂ removal. Politically necessary are ‘a framework for action for both, the sustainable provision of biomass and for carbon capture and storage,’ a funding program for BECCS demonstrators and the ‘integration of the land use sector into CO₂ emissions certificate trading.’

Afterwards, Prof. Dr. Roland Dittmeyer from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) presented another CDR method: Direct Air Capture - the removal of CO₂ from the air with subsequent storage (DACCS). The leading DAC approach uses solid absorbers and regeneration at around 100°C. Dittmeyer sees potential for the integration of direct air capture technology in ventilation systems of large industrial plants and office complexes and emphasizes the need for research and development: ‘New DAC technologies need to be developed that require less energy and can utilize waste heat, with components that can be manufactured inexpensively on an industrial scale.’ Despite many studies, there are so far few reference systems, which makes the costs difficult to estimate. However, a price that is significantly higher than the $100 per tonne of CO₂ mentioned by investors can be expected. Dittmeyer pointed to Climeworks' DAC plant in Iceland, which opened the week before and is the largest in the world with an expected annual CO₂ capture capacity of 36,000 tonnes.

Prof. Dr. Klaus Wallmann from GEOMAR – Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel emphasized the need for CO₂ storage for BECCS, DACCS and industries with emissions that cannot be avoided or are difficult to avoid, such as the cement industry. Billions of tons of CO₂ could be stored beneath the seabed. Wallmann showed which areas in the North Sea are particularly suitable for CCS: marine areas without old drilling, which are also not ‘occupied’ by fishing, wind power, tourism, nature conservation and other competing uses. In summary, he emphasized: ‘The most important thing is that we are now really making progress and the laws and strategies are being passed,’ the key points of the carbon management strategy and the long-term negative emissions strategy are already present. ‘An updated legal framework for the storage and transport of CO₂ in Germany and export to neighboring countries must be created promptly. Since the CCS costs are still significantly higher than the CO₂ prices in European emissions trading, suitable incentive systems must be created to enable the first CCS projects in Germany.’

Following the lectures, there was a lively exchange between members of the Bundestag and ministry representatives with the speakers. The topics covered in the discussion included i) removal of stored CO₂ and the associated infrastructure, ii) industrial reuse of captured carbon, iii) number of DAC systems required and the height from which they suck in the air, iv) possible certification systems and v) acceptance of peatland rewetting. Finally, both, MPs (including a state secretary) and a rapporteur from a government group on the topic of CCS, emphasized the relevance and urgency of CO₂ saving and removal.

The parliamentary breakfast ended after an hour and a half at 9 a.m. before the plenary session of the Bundestag. Many guests stayed longer to delve deeper into the topics in smaller groups. All participants and anyone who is interested is invited to contact the experts on CDR. Key messages and contact details of our experts can be found on our fact sheet.

In May, 2024, in our 2^nd SynCom Hour, we gave insights into the science-policy work of SynCom and gave a short overview of the SynCom Project Call and SynCom Flex Call. Afterwards, the 28 participants of the event had the opportunity to ask their questions on science-policy dialogues and SynCom activities.

In the future, we are planning to organize a SynCom hour every 3-4 months to report on current SynCom developments, to exchange information on current and planned projects, and to answer open questions.

On the first day of the Writing Retreat, the structure of the review and the synthesis section was further developed. Additionally, there was enough time to discuss open questions about different CDR methods. One time slot was specifically used to develop a chapter around permanence and a chapter on land-based CDR opportunities and issues. In the afternoon, the writing group decided to continue a session outside, while walking through sunny Berlin around the Berliner Dom and the Museumsinsel.

The main topics for the second day, which ended with a joint lunch and a discussion about next steps, were biodiversity, soil carbon, and the development of figures for the synthesis paper.

After a short welcome from the project leads, the first day started with an outline of the political landscape of CDR by Jörg Rüger (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)), emphasizing the necessity of negative emissions and Germany's strategy for net-negative emissions by 2050. The following talk by Prof. Dr. Sabine Fuss (Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC)) focused on the scientific framework, compared CDR approaches, and discussed the critical role of CDR in projections for achieving Paris Agreement goals, while stressing rigorous assessment and policy prioritization.

The following part of the first workshop day focused on three activities: a synthesis paper on biological CDR methods, an expertise mapping, and a parliamentary event on climate neutrality, BECCS, and DACCS. A breakout session discussed possible COP topics, including CDR financing and market inclusion under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, emphasizing a coordinated Helmholtz presence.

The second day of the workshop focused on the exchange between science and industry. Nine representatives from eight companies shared insights on CDR methods, discussing challenges like scalability, MRV, and the need for collaboration with scientists. They emphasized standardized methodologies, clearer regulations, and faster collaboration timelines.

In summary, the insights into the current scientific and political framework, the discussions on specific project activities between the involved scientists, and the exchange between science and industry are very valuable to advance the knowledge on CDR and the SynCom Project itself.

SynCom took part in the European Geoscience Union (EGU) General Assembly 2024 organizing and contributing to two engaging sessions aimed at fostering collaboration and dialogue at the science-policy interface.

The first session was a so-called splinter meeting i.e. a networking session, which was hosted by Marie Heidenreich. The session served as a platform to exchange ideas and experience between scientists and other actors who work within the science-policy interface. After an icebreaker activity the attendees were divided into three groups, each focusing on different aspects of the science-policy interface. The discussions were lively and constructive, covering the topics i) science-policy experiences, ii) challenges of science-policy interactions and how to overcome them, and iii) big science-policy questions that so far have not been answered.

Further, SynCom organized a PICO session titled ‘Science Policy Interface: Shaping Debates and Building Bridges.’ In this format, each speaker briefly showcased their science-policy project in a two-minute presentation. Afterwards, the audience could directly engage with the speakers and their respective projects during a ‘virtual poster session’. Overall, the session served as a catalyst for dialogue and knowledge exchange, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing complex societal challenges.

Thirty participants from all seven Helmholtz Earth and Environment Centres came together in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to learn about research statements (workshop by Dr. Viola Gerlach, RIFS), writing a policy brief (workshop by Matthias Tang, RIFS), audio storytelling (workshop by Marie Heidenreich and Dr. Katharina Sielemann, SynCom) as well as stakeholder dialogues and career opportunities in science communication. The participants positively emphasized both, the concept and the networking aspect, of the successful event ‘Bridging Spheres Pop-up Campus’.

The SynCom project group 'ModHaz', consisting of scientific representatives from the participating Helmholtz Centres UFZ, RIFS/GFZ, and Hereon, organized a stakeholder synthesis workshop with the support of SynCom on March 12th and 13th, 2024 in the Magnushaus of the German Physical Society (DPG) in Berlin. 37 stakeholders from companies, business associations and industry, research, NGOs as well as legislation and regulation discussed various aspects of new methodological approaches in chemical assessment, so-called NAMs (New Approach Methodologies).

The synthesis workshop marked the conclusion of a series of four stakeholder-specific workshops in which the participants discussed their common, but also sometimes contradictory, assessments of the current EU chemicals policy and expectations for shaping the future of European chemicals regulation.

The discussion of the synthesis workshop took place in the plenary session and within World Café working groups. It was structured along the following two narratives that the project group for this workshop had developed from the previous online workshops:

i) Rapidly growing production of chemicals, associated pollution of the environment, and its impact on human health, calls for appropriate measures within the framework of a scientifically based method under the premise of the precautionary principle.

ii) Strong focus in legislation on hazard assessment, risk of bans on safe applications, greater consideration of risk assessment, and the preservation of the diversity of substances to ensure competitiveness.

During the course of the event, differences and similarities between the two narratives were discussed. The results will contribute to several scientific publications, the further development of a policy brief and a roadmap for chemical assessment, which will be presented to representatives of the German Bundestag during a parliamentary evening in November 2024.

Interested researchers from all seven Centres of the Research Field Earth and Environment came together on February 16, 2024 for the 1st SynCom Hour. At this online event, the anchor persons first introduced themselves, followed by a presentation from the SynCom coordination office. Afterwards, Beate Escher (UFZ), Pia-Johanna Schweizer (RIFS), and Sina Leipold (UFZ) presented the ongoing SynCom project “A science-society dialogue for modernizing chemical hazard assessment (ModHaz)”. The subsequent discussion highlighted the added value of working in SynCom projects and gave suggestions for future SynCom work. “SynCom is a great opportunity and support,” says Pia-Johanna Schweizer about the ModHaz SynCom project.

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A report written by Dr. Marylou Athanase, Dr. Alison Beamish, Dr. Séverine Furst, David Mengen and further delegation members

From December 4th to December 7th, 2023 Helmholtz SynCom traveled to Brussels alongside a delegation comprising selected scientists from the seven Helmholtz Earth and Environment Centres. The purpose was to engage in an exchange of ideas with the European Parliament and various stakeholders. This excursion was extended upon the invitation of Niklas Nienaß, Member of the European Parliament. The program included, amongst other things, meetings with Jutta Paulus, MEP, representatives from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS), the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG Climate Action), and the European Space Agency (ESA). In the subsequent text, we share insights into our successful trip!

Day 1: Icebreaker and dinner at Maison Antoine

Despite some train cancellations and snowy conditions, everyone arrived safely in Brussels! Our icebreaker kicked off in the hotel lobby with engaging games aimed at getting to know each other. Roles were assigned, with team members designated for navigation, documentation, and community management. Following this, we headed to Maison Antoine to enjoy the renowned Belgian fries.

Day 2: European Parliament, DG DEFIS, and Institute of Natural Sciences

1. Meeting MEP Jutta Paulus

For each of the stakeholder exchanges, the seven researchers from the seven centers had prepared seven short presentations, providing insights into current research findings. During the discussion with Jutta Paulus, we presented these for the first time, and Ms. Paulus expressed keen interest in the current topics of environmental and climate research.

Amidst insightful discussions on methane and PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ legislation, MEP Jutta Paulus emphasized the imperative of the grouping approach aiming to restrict thousands of chemicals at once, stating that tackling the PFAS issue is fundamentally a “public health concern”. She aptly highlighted the challenge of industry critique, underscoring the necessity to shift focus from the irreplaceable 1% to the replaceable 99%. Additionally, the risk of revising regulations was underscored, acknowledging the potential for weakening rather than consolidating existing measures. Paulus advocated that regulation acts as a catalyst for innovation and emphasized the role of scientists in societal communication, underlining the need for public pressure over traditional lobbying efforts. She highlighted the impactful influence of initiatives like Fridays for Future on politicians. 

“We need public pressure to overcome the lobbies.” (Léonie Bühler, Office of Jutta Paulus)

Paulus deplored that “we are 25 years behind science”, attributing this lag to the inherent delay between scientific discoveries and legislative updates.

2. Tour of the European Parliament

During our tour, we explored the Hemicycle plenary room, assorted meeting rooms and diverse facilities, each playing a pivotal role in the Parliaments functions. Among them was the bustling main hall, a hub for journalistic activities and information dissemination. Additionally, we walked across the half-moon closed bridge, spanning the Esplanade Solidarnosc 1980.

3. Meeting MEP Niklas Nienaß

Efficient policymaking hinges on evidence-based strategies, prompting discussions on how to better communicate our findings to MEPs. As a potential solution, MEP Niklas Nienaß proposed establishing a dedicated channel for disseminating our results more effectively. Suggestions included hosting regular high-impact informational seminars offering comprehensive overviews of the latest scientific advancements. However, challenges arise as existing user-oriented platforms, although rich in valuable data, remain relatively obscure to MEPs. Nienaß expressed caution, citing the necessity for active participation, deeming it an excessive demand. These platforms, perceived as more suitable for one-time use, face barriers in uptake. Alternatively, a more pragmatic approach involves showcasing practical examples and referencing the data sources, advocating for informing MEPs through direct references to the platform, thereby simplifying their accessibility and utilization.

4. Meeting Hugo Zunker, European Commission DG DEFIS

In order to support evidence- and science-based policy decisions, the European Commission implements ambitious Earth observation programs. Hugo Zunker, policy officer in the Copernicus unit of the Directorate-General for Defense Industry and Space (DG DEFIS), presented the landscape of ongoing and future EU space programs addressing crucial gaps and specific needs across various domains.

These programs encompass a wide array of missions, ranging from expanding capabilities to monitor CO2 emissions, crucial for climate action, to specialized missions like sub-daily monitoring of Sea Ice Concentration (SIC) in the Arctic using Passive Microwave Radiometer technology, pivotal for supporting safe ship navigation in challenging conditions. Additionally, the programs focus on monitoring Sea Ice Thickness (SIT), snow depth, and land-ice elevation, pivotal for understanding and responding to environmental changes. Furthermore, they also focus on monitoring forest cover, ground deformation, crop-water use, and agricultural management, providing comprehensive insights crucial for land management and food security. Conjointly with Earth observations, the European Commission additionally fosters modeling efforts, such as the Destination Earth initiative to build digital twins of the Earth in a changing climate.

“We have high expectations for the Destination Earth project.” (Hugo Zunker)

Collectively, these programs underscore the EU's commitment to harnessing space technologies for societal and environmental benefits, emphasizing innovation and sustainability at their core.

5. Meeting the Institute for Natural Sciences 

At the Institute for Natural Sciences, our Belgian peers shared their experience in bridging academic research and environmental policy making. After a concise overview of past and ongoing collaborations with Helmholtz Centres presented by Dr. Serge Scory, discussions turned towards the approach of the Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences regarding involvement in policy advice.

The institute operates within a dynamic two-way process between academic research and stakeholders, fostering the active participation of scientists in negotiations on international treaties like the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CAMLR). Two crucial levels of engagement were outlined: political and technical negotiations, emphasizing the need to define focal aspects before presenting to decision-makers. Dr. Hendrik Segers highlighted the cyclical nature of the process: identifying policy questions, collecting and analyzing data, and providing information relevant to policy making. He stressed the importance of scientific projects being tailored not only to scientific inquiries but also to address pertinent policy questions, thus establishing a stronger connection between science and policy making. This science-policy interface emerged as a distinct research theme, underlining the importance of translating scientific inquiry into actionable policy decisions.

Day 3: DG Climate Action, Helmholtz Office Brussels, ESA, and Science Communication

1. Meeting Dušan Chrenek, European Commission DG Climate Action

Day 3 started at the Helmholtz Office Brussels where we were met with the most wonderful hospitality (an extra special thanks again to Alexandra Lawson). Our first meeting was with Dušan Chrenek, Principal Advisor of the European Commission Directorate-General Climate Action, to discuss the importance of Earth observation products to support policy implementation.

Mr. Chrenek expressed his interest in the research we are doing and highlighted the recent cooperation with ESA and DG Climate Action to support better policy making through the availability of better data and applications. The focus of the cooperation is, among other things, on supporting science and related innovations, which can be used directly for political decision-making. Themes of particular relevance included land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF), carbon removal certification and greenhouse gas (methane) emission measurements and monitoring. Mr. Chrenek also talked about the current focus on AI as a tool to reduce emissions while also pointing out the importance of decreasing emissions from digital activities. In total, he expected the potential of GHG reduction due to digital transformation between 15% to 20%. With the future extension of emission trading to maritime as well as the building and transport sector, the goal of net zero EU countries as a whole in 2050 can be achieved, aiming at an intermediate step of a reduction of 45% already in 2030. To foster this development, part of the emission trading will be used for financing a 40 Billion Euro innovation fund.

Moreover, Mr. Chrenek shared his perspectives on more contentious climate interventions, including cloud brightening and stratospheric aerosol injection. This sparked specific inquiries regarding the safety and feasibility of approaches like solar radiation management.

2. Meeting Dr. Andreas Krell from the Helmholtz Office Brussels

For the remainder of the morning we had an interesting discussion with Dr. Andreas Krell about Helmholtz’s strategic and technical activities in the Research Field Earth and Environment in Brussels. The Helmholtz Office Brussels represents the research policy interests of the Helmholtz Centres. The focus is on both strategic and technical support, so that corresponding innovations from the six Research Fields i) Energy, ii) Earth and Environment, iii) Health, iv) Information, v) Aeronautics, Space and Transport, and vi) Matter receive more attention at the European level. The statement on Open Science by the G6 Taskforce, consisting of the i) Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), ii) Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), iii) Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), iv) Helmholtz Association, v) Max Planck Society, and vi) Leibniz Association, was cited as an example. In addition, a key part of the work done in Brussels is centered around communication with the Centres about European funding opportunities, for example within the Horizon Europe programme, including ERC grants. For many of us, this was the first time we became aware of the Helmholtz Office Brussels and its activities. We realized that there are many professional benefits of having this important connection to Andreas and the Helmholtz Office Brussels. Krell also stressed the importance of aligning Helmholtz activities to the European Parliament's Framework Programs for strategic success. Then we had what was arguably the most delicious food of the trip – a casual and delicious catered vegan lunch at the Helmholtz Office.

3. Meeting the European Space Agency (ESA)

After lunch we made our way over to the European Space Agency in Brussels to meet with Jean-Christophe Gros and Mathilde Reumaux who, along with their colleagues, gave a very thorough overview of ESA as an organization as well as its missions and training activities.

We began with a fascinating presentation by EUCLID mission leader Giuseppe Racca who introduced ESA's latest mission and its goals to explore the dark universe. This was followed by a presentation about ESA’s training and educational programs. Especially the new ESA science hub, located in Esrin, Italy, was of particular interest, being a place to network with excellent scientists and discuss research ideas. Having access to the latest advantages in open data science, cloud computing, and HPC capabilities provides the opportunity to convert research into innovative solutions. The infrastructure of the ESA science hub can be accessed either by being a post-doctoral research fellow, having an ESA living planet fellowship as well as applying for visiting scientist opportunities. A further highlight was the new PUMAS initiative between ESA and CONAE, giving access to the L-band SAOCOM recordings.

4. Afternoon in Brussels and Science Communication Evening with Dr. Sam Gregson

After our trip to ESA we had a free late afternoon to explore Brussels. Many visited the Christmas Markets in the city Centre. Our day ended back at the Helmholtz Office Brussels with an entertaining evening with particle physicist Dr. Sam Gregson. We had a lot of fun learning a bit about particle physics and working as a team on fun interactive games!

Day 4: Committee meetings and lunch debate in the European Parliament

1. European Parliament committee meetings ITRE and AGRI

Our final day in Brussels brought us back to the European Parliament where we were able to listen to committee meetings of the European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research, Telecoms & Energy (ITRE) and the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI). Though we were not able to be present for the entire meeting we were able to see some real debate and differences of opinion on common agricultural policy which was exciting.

2. Lunch debate “Copernicus Data at the Service of the EU Arctic Policy”

The main event of the final day was the lunch debate Copernicus Data at the Service of the EU Arctic Policy. This even highlighted an effort by ESA to create a hub for remote sensing data related to the Arctic. This initiative is recognized as a key step in improving the accessibility and application of Copernicus data to address urgent questions of current and future climate change as well as mitigation and adaptation strategies. Much of the conversation centered around the importance of providing data and value-added data products to create actionable change. It is not enough to generate the data and say we are doing something for the protection of the Arctic, data needs to get into the hands of the people living there.

“EE Meets EP” Summary

The Helmholtz Earth and Environment trip provided valuable insights and facilitated informative discussions with stakeholders from the European Parliament and various organizations in Brussels. It was evident that there is significant interest among different parties in engaging with scientific endeavors. We were able to establish various personal contacts with European institutions that we aim to leverage and sustain in the future. Determining the most effective means of communicating our scientific findings to stakeholders remains important. Research proposals should consider not only the scientific inquiry but also the science-policy aspect and efforts should be made to disseminate scientific knowledge in the most accessible manner possible. Finally, the connections we were able to establish among the seven Helmholtz Earth & Environment Centres are of special significance and will undoubtedly accompany us throughout our professional lives.

The SynCom project group "ModHaz" organized four workshops in November and December 2023 with stakeholders from companies, trade associations, science, NGOs, civil society, legislation and regulation. In these workshops, the participants discussed their assessment of the current EU chemicals policy and communicated the strengths and weaknesses of the current hazard assessment methods. In addition, the ModHaz team presented a new method for chemical assessment that can be used to speed up the process and make it animal-free and high-throughput. The participants from various interest groups were then asked to share their demands and needs for the further development of the new method.

Von Spitzbergen, über den pazifischen Ozean bis hin zur Antarktis – Wissenschaftler:innen sind weltweit tätig. Im Format “Meet the Scientist” konnten Besuchende der Berlin Science Week erleben, wie Daten über die Atmosphäre und das Klima auf der Erde erhoben werden. Während einer Live-Schalte auf die Helmholtz Forschungsstationen konnten Fragen zum Leben der Forschenden auf den Außenstationen gestellt und diskutiert werden. Die Veranstaltung, die am 04. November im Naturkundemuseum stattfand, wurde von Rosmarie Wirth vom Deutschen Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY und der Universität Hamburg sowie Matthew Slater vom Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (AWI) moderiert und gemeinsam von der Helmholtz-Klima-Initiative und Helmholtz SynCom organisiert.

Fieke Rader, Stationsleiterin AWIPEV auf Spitzbergen, arbeitet und lebt in einem kleinen Forschungsdorf weit nördlich des Polarkreises. Im Dorf leben fast ausschließlich Forschende unterschiedlichster Nationen, wie Frankreich, Deutschland, Norwegen, China, USA und Großbritannien. Ein Restaurant gibt es nicht, ein kleiner Supermarkt, der zweimal wöchentlich für eine Stunde geöffnet hat sowie eine Bar werden von den Bewohner:innen des Dorfes selbst betrieben. Und bald beginnt die Polarnacht, die zwei Monate andauern wird. „In einer Woche wird es gar nicht mehr hell“, sagt Fieke. Doch die Übergangsphase sei am Härtesten. Doch ein klarer Tagesrhythmus, die Polarlichter und der Sternenhimmel helfen mit der Dunkelheit umzugehen: „Ich finde, dass die Nacht viele schöne Aspekte hat“, meint die Stationsleiterin auf Spitzbergen. Und auch im Winter weiß man sich zu beschäftigen. Es gibt eine Sporthalle, in der u.a. zweimal wöchentlich Indoor Hockey gespielt wird und „am Donnerstag wird zusammen gestrickt“.

Vom Palau Atmosphären-Observatorium berichtete die Masterstudentin Lisa Rüther über ihre Erfahrungen. Unter normalen Bedingungen ist die Luft auf Palau sehr sauber und dadurch, dass der Ozean so warm ist, gibt es viel Wolkenbildung. Auch weil ein aktiver Austausch zwischen Tropo- und Stratosphäre stattfindet, ist der Standort für atmosphärische Untersuchungen gut geeignet. Im Gegensatz zu den anderen Außenstationen, wo außer den Forschenden niemand ist, leben die Menschen auf Palau vom Tourismus. Wenn Lisa eine Pizza essen möchte, muss sie nur ein paar Straßen weiter ins Restaurant – ganz anders als bei Fieke.

Nellie Wullenweber (Luftchemisches Observatorium) und Lukas Muser (Meteorologisches Observatorium) schalteten sich von Dach der Neumayer-Station III in der antarktischen Kälte zu. Nellie und Lukas sind Teil des diesjährigen Überwinterungsteams, bestehend aus fünf Forschenden, drei technischen Mitarbeitenden, einer Köchin und einem Arzt, und haben die letzten Monate zu zehnt auf der Station verbracht. „Langweilig wurde es eigentlich nie“, erzählt Lukas. Man habe viel Sport gemacht und Spiele gespielt. Trotzdem sei der begrenzte Kontakt zu Familien und Freunden schwierig - bei Geburtstagen und Hochzeiten sei man eben nicht dabei.

Wie auch von der Arktisstation in Spitzbergen, wird vom Dach der Neumayer-Station III in der Antarktis jeden Tag um 12 Uhr ein Wetterballon gestartet. Während der Veranstaltung konnten die Anwesenden in Berlin live beim Start eines solchen Wetterballons zusehen. Am mit Helium gefüllten Latexballon hängt eine kleine Box, die u.a. Druck, Temperatur und Feuchte misst. Der Ballon steigt 30 Kilometer in die Höhe und sendet bei seinem Flug die gemessenen Daten direkt über Funk an die Station. So werden über Tage, Monate und Jahre hinweg wichtige Messdaten erhoben, die es erlauben, die Veränderung der Atmosphäre über einen längeren Zeitraum hinweg zu erfassen.

Die Forschenden auf den Außenstationen erleben nicht nur vieles, was anders ist als in der Heimat, sondern sehen auch, wie sich die Welt und das Klima wandeln. Man wisse wie es in den 1990er Jahren aussah und es gebe Gletscher, die seitdem um mehrere Kilometer geschmolzen sind. „Man sieht die Unterschiede ganz klar – die Erwärmung ganz klar“, erklärt Fieke. Auch am Palau Atmosphären-Observatorium ist das Thema präsent. Lisa weist darauf hin, dass Palau zu Mikronesien gehöre, also zu Inselgruppen, „die v.a. den Meeresspiegel bemerken“. Es gebe einige Staaten, die Prognosen haben, ab wann ihr Land im Meer verschwinden werde und damit die Region unbewohnbar ist. Obwohl Nellie und Lukas erst seit Kurzem auf der Neumayer sind und an der Station selbst die Aufzeichnungen soweit stabil sind, bilde sich extrem viel weniger Meereis in der Antarktis als sonst. Auch größere Schneemassen deuten darauf hin, dass die Luft wärmer und damit auch feuchter werde. 

Spannende Erlebnisse und intensive Erfahrungen machen einen Forschungsaufenthalt auf einer Helmholtz Außenstation unvergesslich. „Es ist eben das Gesamtpaket, was es hier so spannend macht“, berichtet Fieke. Die Landschaft sehe durch das sich ändernde Licht immer anders aus, es werde nie langweilig und es sei besonders in einer solchen Gemeinschaft zu leben. Für Lisa ist es eine „intensive Zeit, in der man super viele Eindrücke sammelt“. „Es ist immer was Neues“ und man macht „Sachen, die man sich früher nicht zugetraut hat“. Das erst Mal Polarlichter zu sehen, war für Nellie sehr beeindruckend. Ein besonderes Erlebnis war es „das erste Mal die Sonne wiedersehen“ zu können - nach zwei Monaten Polarnacht. „Da merkt man, dass man die Sonne vermisst hat“.

Our parliamentary breakfast on sea level rise, directed by Dr. Jan-Niclas Gesenhues (Alliance 90/The Greens, GRÜNE), took place on October 11, 2023. The event was attended by 28 people in total. These included eleven members of the German Parliament (members of SPD, CDU/CSU and Alliance 90/The Greens, GRÜNE) and employees from SPD, CDU/CSU, Alliance 90/The Greens, GRÜNE and FDP.

Prof. Dr. Karin Lochte (UN-Ozeandekaden Komitee Deutschland, former AWI director), who held a short key-note lecture, pointed out that sea level rise is a slow, gradual development, which also offers an opportunity for adaptation. Sea level rise is a global and high risk, which is associated with an increasing number of storm surges. This threatens, among other things, drinking water supplies and biodiversity. Various Helmholtz centers are working on the important topic of “sea level rise” as part of the joint research program “Changing Earth - Sustaining our Future”.

First, Dr. Ingo Sasgen (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI)) covered the polar perspective of the global risk. The decrease in ice masses can be measured with satellite data at relatively high resolution and is progressing faster than predicted by climate projections. The question is not if, but when we will have a certain sea level rise. Through climate action, we can influence the future sea level rise.

Another problem that adds to sea level rise is land subsidence. In the next presentation, Dr. Tilo Schöne (Helmholtz Center Potsdam - German Research Center for Geosciences GFZ) made aware of this problem. Sea level varies in different places across the world and particularly affects smaller island states. Jakarta - the ‘sinking city’ - now lies with 40% of the city area below sea level. In 2011, 26 cm of land subsidence was recorded in a single year. Coastal erosion and limited coastal protection, for example because dikes cannot be built on reefs, are key problems in these island states.

But rising sea levels also have an impact on the German coasts. According to Dr. Insa Meinke (North German Coastal and Climate Office; Helmholtz Center Hereon) and Dr. Ralf Weisse (Helmholtz Center Hereon), the increase of sea level in Cuxhaven in the last 100 years was 20 cm and in Warnemünde 13 cm, which is comparable to the global average. The precautionary measure for construction measures in coastal protection until 2100 is currently 1 m. Regional scenarios predict an increase of 30 - 120 cm in Cuxhaven by 2100. Erosion increases the threat to coastal protection and also affects drinking water supply. In addition, the overloading of the inland drainage system is a problem. Storm surges will be higher, more frequent and longer in the future, which will increase the area which has to be protected and requires more intensive protection measures.

Following the presentations, questions and comments from the participants on i) the influence of tourism on the North Sea coastal region, ii) storm formation, iii) measures to support small island states, and iv) political requirements were answered by the experts. All participants and anyone who is interested is invited to contact our Helmholtz experts further on the topic of sea level rise. Key messages and contact info from our experts can be found on our fact sheet. The parliamentary event was organized by SynCom, Climate Office at AWI, German Arctic Office, REKLIM and North German Coastal and Climate Office.

Researchers from all seven Helmholtz centers Earth & Environment came together in the Magnus-Haus in the center of Berlin for the kick-off meeting of the SynCom project ‘Scaling up Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)’.

Mark Lawrence and Kathleen Mar (RIFS) introduced CDR in the context of CO₂ budgets and climate goals and discussed challenges that CDR faces. After this scene-setting talk, terrestrial (Daniela Thrän, UFZ) and marine (Klaus Wallmann, GEOMAR) CDR concepts and highlights of research were presented. Oliver Geden (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik) provided valuable insights into the politics of CDR policymaking.

The second day was dedicated to work on the objectives of the SynCom project and to organize the next steps. Fruitful discussions led to three different formats regarding i) research synthesis, ii) connection of science and industry, and iii) policy dialog. We are looking forward to the progress of these formats in the upcoming months and to the next workshop of the SynCom Project ‘Scaling up Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)’.

Meta-Analysis is performed to gain insights beyond the specific contexts of individual studies. Generalizations across studies can help us to understand the bigger picture and tell us what individual studies contribute to the earth as a system.

The accumulation of thousands of studies addressing particular questions in the environmental sciences has presented a compelling need for robust, replicable and unbiased methods for synthesizing results across studies. Research synthesis methodology provides a tool kit of powerful procedures to accomplish these goals.

Within the SynCom activities for research synthesis, Prof. Dr. Helmut Hillebrand (University of Oldenburg & HIFMB) offered a Research Meta-Analysis Workshop.

The online course comprised an overview of all steps necessary to perform a meta-analysis, starting with systematic literature search and the definition of selection criteria. Common metrics (effect sizes), construction of a comprehensive database, statistical models and heterogeneity were discussed. Finally, important quality aspects of a meta-analysis were assessed. The participants had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and perform a meta-analysis in R.

On Sep 21^st (2023) the participants had the opportunity to discuss open questions and get feedback on own synthesis ideas and analyses. The participants thought that the workshop provided valuable and interesting insights into meta-analysis and are already discussing the information gained from the workshop for their own studies.

Marie Heidenreich (head of SynCom) and Annette Kirschmann (intern) presented at the IUGG 2023 in Berlin on Science-Policy-Dialogues, emphazising the importance of creating an active dialogue with decision makers to ensure effectiveness of science communication. They also shared tips for the preparation of parliamentary events to maintain long term contacts with members of the German parliament.

Interdisciplinary scientists from the AWI, GFZ and Hereon met with group representatives of the German parliament on June 1st to prepare the parliamentary breakfast on sea level rise. The workshop aimed at establishing an active dialogue between science and policy to identify knowledge gaps and to collect current research results and to process them into key messages for science communication.