During this time of crisis, when policymakers and citizens are listening closely to the advice of scientists, trust in the integrity of research and scientific evidence has never been more important. Policymakers and the public must have confidence that scientists have acted with honesty, and have adhered to principles of rigour, transparency and openness in […]
What has been the role of the media, including social media and local news, on our public debate, attitudes and behaviour during this current pandemic? As we emerge from this crisis, could we rethink the role that media and digital platforms play in facilitating the flow of information and dialogue between experts, policymakers and the […]
Co-hosted by high-profile partners, this series of short webinars explores different aspects of Europe’s food system following the publication of our evidence review report, A sustainable food system for the European Union and the associated scientific opinion of the European Commission’s Chief Scientific Advisors.
We know from reliable evidence that our societies need to transition to a more sustainable food system, so that we can provide enough healthy food for an increasing world population without harming the environment. One well-known recommendation is to promote a shift towards diets with fewer conventional animal products.
Every year, more and more plastics end up in our oceans and rivers and on the land. Once there, they pose risks to our environment and the health of living creatures. Conventional plastics persist for centuries, but biodegradable plastics are designed by scientists to break down in a few weeks or years. Could biodegradable plastics […]
In June 2020 the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors published a Scientific Opinion entitled ‘Adaptation to health effects of climate change in Europe’. This informed the implementation of the European Green Deal and highlights that climate change has consequences for human health. In particular, scientific evidence shows that the increase in heatwaves, infectious and vector […]
In conjunction with the Chefs’ Manifesto, part of the SDG2 Advocacy Hub, we hosted a special briefing on how chefs in the EU and globally can contribute to a sustainable food system.
Professor Rolf-Dieter Heuer, the Chair of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors which provides independent scientific advice to the European Commission, will answer your questions and discuss with you how to make politicians listen and understand science and why it is important.
The global crisis of 2020 has made every one of us aware that ‘business as usual’ is not an option for future food policy. How have we arrived at where we are now, in terms of the food we eat, where we source it and the impact it has on our planet? What should a […]
2020’s Covid-19 outbreak has shone the spotlight on science advice like never before. How well are Europe’s science advice frameworks standing up to this major stress test?
The Farm2Fork Strategy aims to promote sustainable food systems by setting concrete targets and establishing an Action plan, annexed to the F2F Strategy. This creates the framework for a real debate on the future of food systems, leading to a legislative proposal for sustainable food systems by 2023.
For its 2019 report Transforming the future of ageing, SAPEA brought together eminent European scientists to explore and respond to the question “What policies at the EU level could support member states in achieving inclusive, fair and sustainable systems of health and social care to promote the taking-up of innovation for ageing societies?”.
The first in our series of webinars on the sustainable food system discussed changes in consumers’ attitudes towards food as a public good instead of as a commodity. It confronted the conclusions of the SAPEA report with the challenges and changes observed during the Covid-19 pandemic. This webinar was co-hosted by Hubbub, a UK-based sustainability […]
SAPEA report will be presented and discussed at an academic conference in Spain. The event takes place on 16 and 17 April 2020. Read more
This Royal Irish Academy workshop, which will hear from high-level experts, will discuss the findings of the SAPEA report on Making Sense of Science and reflect on what insights might be applied to science advice in Ireland. The discussions will focus on both the European and the Irish dimension of evidence-informed policymaking. The event will […]
On 30th January, a panel discussion on the ‘Making Sense of Science for Policy’ Evidence Review Report was hosted by the Cambridge University Science and Policy Exchange (CUSPE) at Magdalene College, Cambridge. Read more.
At an event on 14 November 2019 in Helsinki, the SAPEA report will be a starting point for the discussion on risks of microplastics to human and the environment, the relationship between research, scientific data and legislation, and the presence of microplastics in Finnish waters. Read more
This one-day event in Helsinki brought together some 200 leading practitioners and scholars from around Europe to provide expert input as Finland developed its next-generation science advice capabilities, and to send a clear message to the new European Commission about the role of science in policymaking. All photos by Tomi Setälä and SAPEA
The SAPEA report was presented at this international workshop to formulate next steps in understanding the fate, distribution, impacts, and technology development necessary to push the science. Read more