It goes without saying that the effects of climate change are increasingly visible at global level. We witness this every day, in the form of various natural disasters around the world, causing extensive suffering to countries and local communities.
Despite the fact that humans are to blame for a large portion of climate change, and the numerous efforts for a global agreement to tackle these challenges, many countries are unwilling to take a decisive step. This results in mediocre and unambitious agreements for effectively combating the effects of climate change.
The scientific community has a great role to play in the fight against the effects of climate change. The only way we can figure out how to avoid global warming exceeding two degrees above pre-industrial levels, is through science and innovation. This should be a common global target.
What has the EU been doing? Through Horizon 2020, the EU has shown its continuous commitment to encourage and finance research in the European research area. Between 2007 and 2013, over 250 pan-European multidisciplinary research projects dealing with climate change were funded through the seventh framework programme.
This brought an outstanding contribution to our knowledge and understanding at international level in different areas, from climate processes, to observations and projections, to climate-relevant projects on natural hazards and extreme events.
Science and technology options assessment (STOA) is Parliament's body devoted to exploring and investigation the usefulness of scientific and technological innovations, and how effective they are in improving people's living standards. It is made up of MEPs from different committees, and plays an important advisory role for carrying out their work.
More specifically, STOA is interested in the issues of climate change and has contributed with studies and assessments in the areas of 1eco-efficient transport and mobility and sustainable management of natural resources and modern energy solutions.
As the need to at least partly switch to low-carbon energy sources becomes more and more pressing, we need to develop alternatives for the technologies and the fuels employed in transport. STOA has carried out a number of studies in order to help EU member states reduce greenhouse gas emissions and diminish their dependence on oil imports.
In this way, STOA has contributed to the ongoing debate with important research and policy insights. For example, the panel found that economic growth would benefit from transport becoming more efficient and respectful of the environment.
To do so, we should, in part, tackle non-technical factors (technology costs, infrastructure issues, lack of policy coordination) and pay attention to end-user concerns, preferences and habits.
Last but not least, STOA stresses the important role that citizens' involvement in the use of new technologies can play in order to fight climate change. This is becoming more and more evident, for example with respect to the deployment of smart grids and smart metering systems.
As noted in a 2012 STOA study on smart grids, citizens as energy consumers will have to shift from the traditional passive mode to an actively participative one.