Setting the European environment and health research agenda – Research gaps

Abstract

Background: Aim of the HERA project is to set priorities for the European environment and health research agenda. A survey was developed to assess research gaps from the perspective of the scientific community. Methods: Research gaps were elicited for 21 predefined areas: classical environment and health paradigm (e.g. chemical, physical exposures and health); problem or sector based approaches (e.g. urbanisation, occupational changes) and holistic approaches (e.g. one health, planetary health). Nearly 500 researchers/organisations across Europe were invited to fill in the survey and were asked to snowball it to others in the field. Reported research gaps were evaluated by expert groups with criteria pertaining to novelty, importance to people, importance to the environment, impact (on policies and practices) and potential to promote innovation within the sustainable development goals. The expert groups then developed summaries per area adding gaps in the gaps. Results: Between May-July 2019, 318 respondents from 38 countries reported 624 research gaps. The number of reported gaps differed widely per area: >100 were reported for chemical and urban exposures and health each, while others like biodiversity loss and health or energy transition and health only had 1-2 reported gaps. Subsequent evaluations showed a large variation in scorings of relevance criteria. Conclusions: Strong representation of some research gaps likely reflects the number of scientists engaged in the respective area rather than the relevance of a specific topic. The survey also highlighted gaps in the gaps as well as areas for which hardly any research was proposed. Evaluation of individual gaps turned out to be challenging in part reflecting individual normative values. The HERA project developed an interim report that brings together identified research gaps and knowledge needs reported from stakeholders. In a next step, results will be prioritised for a future environment and health research agenda in Europe. Keywords: Research Needs, Environment, Climate Change, Europe, Planetary Health