Surrounded by various ministries, university outbuildings, policy advisory councils and research institutes, all within walking distance of each other, the Interest Group for Sustainability Research and Solutions (IG EPAS) and CASRI project members met on 2 and 3 October 2024 in the heart of the Dutch science-policy interface. The meeting was called to discuss updates and outline future directions for both the CASRI initiative and the broader IG. Representatives from environmental agencies across Europe shared their experiences, updates, and challenges, with a focus on enhancing collaboration and moving towards a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) that considers the evolving societal and policy landscape.
National Agency Highlights: Innovations and Challenges
The session began with participants introducing themselves, creating a sense of community and shared purpose. Representatives expressed their motivations and readiness to collaborate, followed by updates from various agencies that highlighted promising projects and the challenges they face.
The Environment Agency Austria has established a new department focused on transformation and innovation, addressing environmental impact assessment methods, environmental economics, societal transformation, and climate change adaptation. Current projects in the Agency with relevance for sustainability research inter alia include assessing the impact of photovoltaic and wind energy installations on biodiversity, and exploring biodiversity-friendly land use with infrastructure companies. Additionally, a notable initiative is the analysis of climate-counterproductive advertisements, in line with recommendations from Austria’s climate council.
The Finland's current political landscape is characterized by austerity measures under a liberal-conservative government. Despite significant public spending cuts, investment in research—particularly in commercial and technical innovation—remains intact. Finland’s focus contrasts with the European Green Deal's sustainability goals, sparking a discussion on how technological advancement can coexist with climate action system-level approaches to sustainability transformation.
France is facing challenges in particular about severe budget cuts and political uncertainty. However, there is optimism for future growth, highlighted by a recent conference from the French research funding agency emphasizing sustainability science. This focus aligns well with the CASRI project’s objectives.
The German Environment Agency (UBA) reported on its recent celebrations of its 50th anniversary. Its European event was paired with presenting key recommendations of European EPAs to strengthen the European Green Deal. Growing attention is devoted to the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for sustainable development, where UBA is collaborating in the CODES framework with the United Nations and various partners. Another focus has been the development of methods and tools for sustainability transformations with professionals and stakeholders, facilitated by UBA’s TES Academy. Internally, UBA is placing growing emphasis on modern working environment, incl. attracting and supporting talents and agile work methods.
The Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) highlighted Italy’s efforts to combine environmental protection with the new objectives of the European Commission's Critical Raw Materials Act. ISPRA is also leading a project to reconcile mineral extraction with environmental conservation and marine ecosystem restoration. Additionally, ISPRA is building an Italian research hub to improve observation systems, monitoring data and modelling analysis in the atmosphere, marine and terrestrial domains.
For the Netherlands the newly installed Dutch government already resulted in changes to budgeting and suspension of key environmental policies, such as the nitrogen reduction plan.
The Slovak Environment Agency’s challenges include organizational restructuring, lack of communication and clear vision. Creation of new departments focusing on climate change and environmental research, however, underline the agency’s trajectory towards the current societal needs and challenges, but the effectiveness of these steps is currently questionable due to lack of research staff and experts. Despite these issues, the agency remains hopeful about advancing sustainability efforts.
On one side, the Basque Country’s focus is on integrating environmental policy with economic and social goals. The region has implemented innovative taxation strategies and is collaborating closely with universities and the private sector. to strengthen research and innovation linked to transformative projects, particularly in climate resilience, circular economy and AI. On the contrary, Spain has not yet a unified knowledge based environmental agency, what difficults the holistic establishment
The Office for the Environment in Switzerland essentially commissions research that supports policy development and implementation. For the period starting January 2025, three cross-sectoral themes have been added to its research master plan: circular economy, environment and health, and social aspects in natural disaster prevention. These themes are crucial for sustainability transition. A pilot project is set to launch to implement these priorities while developing and exemplary transdisciplinary approach facilitating collaboration among multiple partners.
Advisory Board Insights: Science-Policy Alignment and Strategic Directions
The CASRI’s International Advisory Board offered valuable perspectives on aligning science with policy in the context of the European Green Deal.
Initially, the European Green Deal benefited from an unusual alignment between science and policy, but shifting political, economic, and geopolitical dynamics have made systemic transitions more challenging. Improving public support and democratic innovation while noting significant changes in biodiversity and climate policy, such as the nature restoration law and increased climate acceleration, is extremely important. Furthermore, nowadays a crucial challenge is to address misinformation including AI-generated fake science, which undermines legitimate efforts.
The discussion also emphasized a shifting approach regarding the European Green Deal, acknowledging that while 95% of it has been implemented at the European level, the focus must now be on national-level execution and reframing the conversation. Indeed, it is necessary to truly understand the challenges faced by businesses in order to ensure that the significant knowledge is made accessible and relevant beyond its usual confines. In general, an increased reporting burdens from regulatory requirements like the taxonomy, and the gap between policy frameworks and practical implementation coexist together, undermining entrepreneurial potential.
The Advisory Board also discussed the significance of incorporating local and indigenous knowledge into sustainability efforts and the need for strategic communication to engage policy makers effectively. For example, new legislation in Germany addressing flooding underscores the significance of localized responses.
CASRI Updates: Towards a Collaborative European Research Network
In the further course of the meeting, the current assessment phase of CASRI was discussed on the basis of the CASRI topics: Resilient, net-zero, circular production systems, Biodiversity and Climate, Sustainable urbanisation and Energy transition were emphasized.
Main challenges for a co-designed Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda development are the time and human resources needed to motivate stakeholders to participate in the different activities (e.g. the interviews and the workshops). Indeed, the discussion also highlighted the need to convince stakeholders by emphasizing its broader implications and benefits.
The EEA emphasized the importance of maintaining citizen engagement mechanisms to improve the science-policy interface. With 70-75% of environmental legislation requiring local and regional implementation, upcoming efforts will focus on ensuring these authorities are supported in achieving sustainability targets.
The meeting concluded with a discussion on the future directions for IG EPAS over the next six months, particularly on advancing cross-sectoral governance in energy and nature integration. Leveraging upcoming conferences to influence research agendas and ensuring concrete and actionable strategies were also key takeaways. Agencies recognized their critical role in data monitoring and policy intervention, especially in light of the European Green Deal.
Stakeholder Perspectives and Future Directions
At the end of the first day, a stakeholder meeting was held with national and European experts in environmental sustainability research and policy, including decision-makers, directors, and strategic leaders. Following an overview of the role of Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs) in promoting sustainable development and the formation of the IG EPAs and the CASRI project, the discussion addressed the complexity of transitioning to resilient, net-zero, circular production systems and the significant challenges inherent in implementing these changes.
The participants emphasized the importance of systemic understanding, actionable results, and enhanced collaboration between EPAs, stakeholders, and research institutions. Key points included the need for comprehensive research into the distribution of costs and benefits, recognizing the resistance from powerful stakeholders, and fostering consumer motivation and awareness. Specific examples cited were electronics, fast fashion, and furniture production supply chains.
The conversation also stressed the necessity for policy changes, such as tax reforms and standardized certifications, as well as the role of robust knowledge infrastructure. Linking long-term strategies with short-term policies was highlighted as critical to success. The meeting concluded with a call for a better understanding of social and environmental externalities, which must be addressed in transition policies to ensure a just and sustainable shift.
CASRI Future Actions: Identification and Prioritization
The second day of the CASRI meeting focused on advancing the project's progress and defining its future direction, particularly regarding the potential backdrop of a challenging political landscape. The initial discussion focused on consolidating information from national comprehensive reviews, aiming to identify shared, systemic, actionable, and transversal Environmental and Social Research and Innovation (ES R&I) needs across different countries. This effort also involved prioritizing and elaborating on topics that could be included in the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) that CASRI aims to develop.
During the discussions, some key issues emerged such as prioritization of the research agenda and identifying gaps, stakeholder involvement through workshops and the use of artificial intelligence for analysis. The EPA Network meeting in Vienna, scheduled for spring, was also highlighted as a valuable opportunity to connect EPA directors with interim results from CASRI. This involvement will help ensure continuous engagement with the CASRI process and leverage the unique position of EPAs, particularly in cross-border cooperation and alignment with broader initiatives like the European Green Deal.
EPAs have a distinct role in contributing to systemic and actionable solutions, thanks to their longitudinal data and direct links to policy-making infrastructures.
At the conclusion of the meeting, some strategic considerations were highlighted for the effective development of CASRI. First, it is essential to organize meetings that prioritize actionable outcomes and make practical contributions to pressing environmental and climate challenges. Discussions must be substantive and focused on meaningful topics, moving beyond procedural details to ensure depth and engagement. Additionally, a well-crafted communication strategy is crucial, emphasizing the need to clearly articulate the EPAs’ unique strengths and value proposition. This approach will help effectively bridge the gap between research and policy-making, ensuring that the project’s contributions are both impactful and aligned with real-world needs.
