European Strategy Research Articles

Passing the hot potato: a multinational study on public trust in the health policy process

Abstract Background Health data-sharing initiatives are central to European and national e-health strategies, aiming to improve healthcare quality, inform policymaking, and drive research. Public trust is crucial for their success, influencing public participation and policymakers’ legitimacy. This study investigates the role of public trust in the health policy process at both the European level and in Italy, France, and Switzerland to determine 1) if a common conceptual understanding of public trust across different countries and policy stages exists, and 2) if policymakers explicitly discuss and implement trust-building measures in their legislative work Methods A total of 60 interviews were conducted with 16 European, 15 Italian, 14 French, and 15 Swiss policymakers from the World Health Organization, the Council, Parliament, and Commission at the European level, along with representatives from the Ministry of Health, Parliament, regional councils, local health authorities, frontline staff, and relevant agencies at the national levels Results Preliminary results reveal that a common definition of public trust in health data sharing is missing. Associations to public trust are observed at the European level with citizens’ reassurance about their sensitive data being shared, and in Switzerland with data security. In France, public trust is connected to public engagement, while no distinct patterns were identified in Italy. Findings also reveal a consensus among interviewees on the central role public trust plays in health data-sharing initiatives; yet public trust is perceived as a vague concept, often addressed implicitly without a clear strategy Conclusions The study reveals widespread ambiguity among policymakers regarding the definition of public trust and its translation into policy. Practical guidance is crucial to effectively integrate elements of public trust into policymaking, thereby actively reinforcing trust in health data sharing through legislative efforts Key messages • While policymakers recognize the importance of public trust for data-driven health initiatives, they lack a common conceptual understanding on what trust is and how to build it. • Guidance is needed to help policymakers actively contributing building trust in health data sharing through their legislative work.

8.B. Scientific session: Strengthening health information systems in the European Region

Abstract Strong health information systems (HIS) are essential for robust, evidence-informed policymaking and decision making in all levels of healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the vital importance of HIS, but also highlighted flaws and weaknesses across HIS in Europe. Common HIS challenges include limited resources and capacity; insufficient coordination and collaboration between HIS stakeholders, leading to fragmentation and problems with interoperability; lack of central governance; and limited use of health information for decision-making. Both at the level of the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) and the European Commission, policies and strategies are being implemented to support Member States in strengthening their HIS, thereby improving the availability of high quality, timely data for evidence-informed decision making, both at the country and international level. Supporting the further digitalization of HIS is an important element in this. In 2023, WHO/Europe and the European Commission joined forces in the field of HIS strengthening. This workshop will inform participants about current and future capacity building tools and activities that will be implemented under the umbrella of the EU-funded action ‘Supporting Member States in the WHO European Region in strengthening HIS and boosting health data governance and interoperability’. It will explain the policy as well as situation-on-the-ground contexts in which the action will be implemented. The workshop will start with a (1) presentation by WHO/Europe on the current HIS situation in the Region and what are the main priority areas in WHO’s work for the coming years. After that, (2) the European Commission will give more information on the above-mentioned EU-funded action and the related EU policy landscape, most notably the European Health Data Space (EHDS). Next, (3) WHO/Europe will present their catalogue of capacity building tools and activities, and share experiences with implementing these. Finally, (4) HIS modernization cases with enabling factors and challenges will be presented based on different countries’ real life experiences, illustrating the impact of HIS strengthening activities at the country level. Workshop participants will get a comprehensive overview of available HIS strengthening tools and activities in the European Region. This will help them in selecting and applying tools for strengthening their own national or regional HIS, and ensuring their HIS is prepared for aligning with the EHDS and other important policies and strategies. This will contribute to sustainable and future-proof HIS across Europe. During the workshop, there will be ample time for questions and discussion. In the discussion, participants will be asked whether they have any HIS strengthening needs that are not yet covered in the current package of tools and activities. This will help WHO and the European Commission to further harmonise their efforts with what is needed on the ground. Key messages • Despite investments in HIS following the COVID-19 pandemic, many challenges remain, which are often similar across European countries. • WHO/Europe and the European Commission have joined forces to strengthen HIS and boost health data governance and interoperability, while leveraging EHDS developments.

Review of national climate change risk assessment methods for impacts on health and health systems in WHO European Region

Abstract Background Climate change poses significant risks to health and health systems. The European Union climate adaptation strategy sets out the pathway to become climate resilient by 2050 and supports the development of adaptation strategies across all levels of governance. Whilst many European countries have published climate change risk assessments (CCRA), it is unclear to what extent health outcomes have been quantified or prioritised. There is a need to improve methods for CCRA methods to support decision making on adaptation and better quantify future impacts on health. The aim of this study is to review the methods used in national CCRAs for impacts on health and health systems in the WHO European region. Methods National and European level CCRAs were identified from national government websites and European document databases e.g. Climate-ADAPT. The most recently published CCRA from each country was included. Data extracted from CCRAs included climate scenarios used, modelling data, outcomes, types of evidence evaluated, stakeholder involvement, health information, methods for prioritization of adaptation options and urgency scoring. Data extracted from each document was grouped by climate risk or outcome. Results Nearly all WHO EURO countries have conducted a formal assessment of climate risks and over half specifically include risks to health. All countries assessed the urgency to adapt to heat and flooding however, less than half consider the health related risks related to disrupted water supply and quality as well as impacts on food supply and security. The key reported health outcomes identified across countries were mortality, infectious disease, chronic diseases and mental health. Conclusions There is varying progress in the quantification and prioritization of health risks from climate change across Europe. To support better public health decision-making, CCRAs should integrate sub-national and local information for targeted adaptation action.

Organic cropping systems balance environmental impacts and agricultural production

Agriculture provides food to a still growing population but is a major driver of the acceleration of global nutrient flows, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Policies such as the European Farm2Fork strategy aim to mitigate the environmental impact of land-use by fostering organic farming. To assess long-term environmental impact of organic food production we synthesized more than four decades of research on agronomic and environmental performance of the oldest system comparison experiment on organic and conventional cropping systems (DOK experiment). Two organic systems (bioorganic and biodynamic) are compared with two conventional (manure-based integrated and mineral-based) systems all with the same arable crop rotation including grass-clover, and manure from livestock integrated in all except the mineral-based system. Organic systems used 92% less pesticides and 76% less mineral nitrogen than conventional systems. Nitrogen use efficiency, that also considers biological nitrogen fixation, was above 85% for all systems. Organic fertilization with farmyard manure maintained or increased soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in the long term, especially in the biodynamic system with manure compost. Conventional mineral-based cropping reduced soil organic carbon and nitrogen stocks. Higher soil organic carbon stocks in organic cropping did not translate to increased N2O emissions, which were the main driver for 56% lower soil-based, area-scaled climate impact compared to the integrated conventional system with manure. Organic cropping systems, especially compost-based biodynamic, showed enhanced soil health, richness of micro- and macrofauna and weed species. Highest yields were achieved in integrated conventional system, with highest total nitrogen inputs and enhanced soil health compared to pure mineral fertilization. Yet, these benefits come at the cost of lower nitrogen use efficiency and higher N2O emissions. Despite a rigorous reduction of inputs yields of the organic systems achieved 85% of the conventional systems. We demonstrate at field level that organic cropping systems with reduced external nutrient inputs have less climate impact and a larger in-situ biodiversity, while providing a fertile ground for the future development of sustainable agricultural production systems.

The Potential for the Use of Hydrogen Storage in Energy Cooperatives

According to the European Hydrogen Strategy, hydrogen will solve many of the problems with energy storage for balancing variable renewable energy sources (RES) supply and demand. At the same time, we can see increasing popularity of the so-called energy communities (e.g., cooperatives) which (i) enable groups of entities to invest in, manage, and benefit from shared RES energy infrastructure; (ii) are expected to increase the energy independence of local communities from large energy corporations and increase the share of RES. Analyses were conducted on 2000 randomly selected energy cooperatives and four energy cooperatives formed on the basis of actual data. The hypotheses assumed in the research and positively verified in this paper are as follows: (i) there is a relationship between hydrogen storage capacity and the power of RES, which allows an energy community to build energy independence; (ii) the type of RES generating source is meaningful when optimizing hydrogen storage capacity. The paper proves it is possible to build “island energy independence” at the local level using hydrogen storage and the efficiency of the power-to-power chain. The results presented are based on simulations carried out using a dedicated optimization model implemented by mixed integer programming. The authors’ next research projects will focus on optimizing capital expenditures and operating costs using the Levelized Cost of Electricity and Levelized Cost of Hydrogen methodologies.

INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF POST-CONFLICT REGIONS: PROSPECTS OF IMPLEMENTATION IN UKRAINE

The purpose of this article is to research innovative strategies of the European Union, which are aimed at the economic recovery of post-conflict regions, as well as to determine the possibilities of their adaptation for use in Ukraine. The relevance of the study is due to the fact that after the full-scale invasion of Russia on the territory of Ukraine, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, etc. oblasts were under the terror of the occupiers, which negatively affected their residents, infrastructure and development of these territories. Their restoration requires the use of new approaches, including the introduction of innovative technologies and tools. The European Union has a lot of experience in this area, and its strategies can be useful for Ukraine in terms of accelerating the reconstruction process and creating favorable conditions for economic growth. The methods of system analysis, comparative analysis and the case study method were used to achieve the research goal. The systematic analysis made it possible to study a set of economic, social and political factors that influence the recovery of post-conflict regions, and the comparative method helped to determine the most effective European strategies that can be adapted to Ukrainian realities. The case study method made it possible to analyze in depth successful examples of the application of innovative strategies in EU countries, such as Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is of great importance for the development of recommendations for the implementation of similar approaches in Ukraine. The results of the study show that innovative strategies play an important role in the reconstruction of post-conflict regions. The European Union has developed a number of tools for the reconstruction of destroyed territories, among which investments in digital transformation, development of small and medium-sized businesses, infrastructure restoration and introduction of "green" technologies occupy an important place. In particular, the European Structural and Investment Funds provide financial support to rebuild infrastructure and stimulate economic growth in conflict-affected regions. The «Horizon Europe» program also contributes to the financing of scientific research and the development of technological innovations, which can be extremely useful for the recovery of Ukraine. The practical value of the article lies in the development of a recommendation on the adaptation of innovative EU strategies for the reconstruction of the de-occupied territories of Ukraine. The implementation of these strategies can not only contribute to economic growth, but also help create new jobs, restore infrastructure and increase the investment attractiveness of regions. In addition, the introduction of "green" technologies and digital transformation can contribute to the sustainable development and integration of Ukrainian territories into the European economic system. An important aspect is also the development of human capital through educational programs and vocational retraining, which will ensure long-term growth and social stability in regions devastated by military actions.

Comparative assessment of the progress of employee financial participation in the member states of the EU

PurposeThis article provides an overview of the different measures promoting EFP schemes that are in place across the EU-27 and the United Kingdom and classifies Member States according to a “success score” given to each measure. “Success” is measured by the degree to which both soft and hard criteria have contributed to promotion of EFP in different countries.Design/methodology/approachThe article assesses the progress of EFP in EU 27 and the UK using three indicators: (i) legal framework, (ii) fiscal incentives and (iii) political support and social dialogue to obtain an overall score for each country both for ESO and PS. Countries are then grouped into clusters, showing that a significant number of countries have made progress in the spread of both ESO and PS.FindingsESO is much less frequently used in Europe than e.g. in the US. If this still largely unexploited potential is to be harnessed, further development of financial participation, ESO in particular, should be part of an overall European strategy for stimulating sustainable and inclusive growth of the EU economy. A generally favourable attitude in some countries has usually led to supportive legislation for EFP schemes, which, in turn, have led to the spread of these schemes. Tax incentives are important tools for enhancing and broadening financial participation. When properly designed, they promote the spread of EFP effectively.Originality/valueAssessing the progress of EFP schemes in EU 27 and the UK using the three indicators (i) legal framework, (ii) fiscal incentives and (iii) political support and social dialogue, we obtain an overall score for each country both for ESO and PS and compare it with those produced in 2014. We can show that in as many as twelve countries, i.e. 44% of MS, there was a positive change in their overall score between 2014 and 2024.

The European strategy and detector R&D program

The latest update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics stimulated the preparation of the European Detector Roadmap document in 2021 by the European Committee for Future Accelerators ECFA. This roadmap, defined during a bottom-up process by the community, outlines nine technology domains for HEP instrumentation and pinpoints urgent R&D topics, known as Detector R&D Themes (DRDTs). Task forces were set for each domain, leading to Detector R&D Collaborations (DRDs), now hosted at CERN. After an intensive period over the last months, seven DRD collaborations have been established which are now starting to set up their collaboration structures and begin to work. One is still in the preparation phase.In this publication, I will give an overview of the set-up process and the current status of all DRD collaborations covering detector developments in the field of gaseous detectors, noble liquid detectors for rare event searches, semiconductor detectors, photodetectors and concepts for particle ID, quantum sensors, calorimetry, electronics for HEP instrumentation and mechanical and integration aspects.

Digital Sovereignty, the Private Sector, and a Social Republican Alternative

The European Union has stated the ambition to regain control over the digital sphere, which academics have construed as both a push for digital sovereignty and as a form of digital constitutionalism. The strategy promises to be an improvement over the previous period of digital liberalism. I suggest, however, from a republican perspective, that this strategy of digital sovereignty is not sufficiently critical of the reliance on the private sector. A dominant private sector comes with a risk of widespread infrastructural dependency and yields too much of the digital sphere to a way of thinking that is shaped in accordance with silicon valley companies. On a republican account, these are arguably forms of structural domination. To prevent these risks from materialising, the European strategy should instead emphasize the role of alternative ownership models, such as those found in the digital commons and in public service media organisations.

Drivers and Impact of European Defence Market Integration: A Literature Meta-Synthesis with Economic Focus

ABSTRACT The Ukraine war, the aftermath of COVID-19, Brexit and shifting US geostrategic interests are putting pressure on the European defence situation, strategy and budgets. The current crises expose warfare capability gaps in the European armed forces and capacity constraints of the European defence industry after decades of the peace dividend. More nations are calling for stronger engagement of the EU in the defence sector to overcome these challenges and complete the European defence sector integration that started in the late 1990s. It is estimated that more cooperation in defence procurement and research could save up to 30% of the current €290 bn total EU27 defence budgets. Can this combination of recent factors provide new impulses towards a unified European defence market, more cooperation on defence procurement and industry consolidation? We conducted a literature review (‘meta-synthesis’) of 172 journal articles, studies and think-tank papers since 1995 to build a holistic picture. The analysis aims to describe the progress and challenges of European defence market integration from an economic viewpoint. It provides future researchers with a basic understanding of defence industrial challenges, motivations and economic drivers of European defence integration as well as of reasons for resistance and potential scenarios.

Assessing the carbon stock in the Alps: Considerations on three different approaches

Alpine protected areas provide a wide range of ecosystem services, with climate regulation being one of the most significant. In line with the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which emphasizes the conservation and enhancement of ecosystem services, there is an urgent need to correctly manage these areas in order to maximize biodiversity conservation and the supply of ecosystem services. To achieve efficient management and decision-making processes, it is crucial to first assess the current supply of ecosystem services and to have a basic reference for monitoring activities. Various approaches can be used to evaluate the carbon storage, a widely used indicator of the climate regulation service. In this study three approaches were compared: fieldwork data collection, the Italian National Inventory and the TESSA toolkit. Discrepancies in the results emerged, in the Aosta Valley, TESSA reported 423 Gg for OC stock in mixed broadleaves, compared to 263 Gg from field data and 210 Gg from the National Inventory. Fieldwork data collection, while the most accurate, was the most time and resource intensive. The national inventory yielded values similar to fieldwork data; for example, in the Adamello spruce forest, the National Inventory reported 1838 Gg, while field data measured 1964 Gg. However, TESSA depicted qualitatively the same organic carbon stock distribution across the habitats compared to the other approaches. Based on the results, we propose different applications for these approaches, considering the advantages and disadvantages of each. Specifically, we suggest using the TESSA toolkit for preliminary and a qualitative screening of a study area to identify potential areas of interest for the carbon stock, while more precise but demanding approaches should be employed for local studies.

Giving nature half of Cyprus: The quest for conservation allies

Increasing conservation targets to protect biodiversity and safeguard sustainability is seen as one-way for humankind. The Half earth concept proposed by E.O. Wilson led to a debate over whether and how this can be achieved given increasing societal needs and pressure for land. The new European Biodiversity Strategy (EBS) for 2030 calls among other things forbinding targetstorestore degraded ecosystems setting an ambitious target of 30 % of the EU’s land areas under legal protection with 10 % of EU land under strictly Protected Areas. A concept which is gaining ground globally as a potential ally in this effort is ’other effective area-based conservation measures’ (OECMs). The aim of the paper is to demonstrate how biodiversity conservation can be achieved on a Mediterranean island, beyond existing Protected Areas, by ’giving nature half’ on the terrestrial realm. We assess the role of conservation ’allies’ in Cyprus, by identifying potential OECM areas on the island, according to the IUCN criteria. We mapped their spatial relationship with the Natura 2000 network and propose OECM areas, which present greater conservation potential in the long term. Potential OECMs areas, which may act complementary to the N2K, extend to c. 50 % of the island. What we propose herein can serve as a model for rethinking and redesigning nature conservation in Mediterranean islands

Digital Twins for Research and Innovation in Support of the European Green Deal Data Space: A Systematic Review

According to the European Data Strategy established in 2020, the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) is described as “the basis for a science, research and innovation data space… and will be connected and articulated with the sectoral data spaces”, being one of the 14 European Common Data Spaces. While current cross-sectoral interactions with the EOSC are realised through the association’s Health Data Task Force, advancements in other EU priorities, such as the Green Deal and the Digital Strategy, should be accelerated in the green and digital transitions and integrated by reinforcing each other to be climate-neutral by 2050. With this motivation, this paper systematically reviews data spaces and digital twins (DTs) within the context of research and innovation. Specifically, focusing on the relevance of the EOSC to the Green Deal Data Space (GDDS) and DTs of the Earth, the relationship between them is explored using a topic search with various keyword combinations in the Web of Science and CORDIS databases. Based on the selected scientific articles and projects, collaboration opportunities are mapped to connect relevant stakeholders. Furthermore, existing and developing service components that could contribute to technical building blocks for the GDDS are identified. In summary, key findings are highlighted, addressing the current gaps and opportunities among the GDDS initiatives presented in this review.

GERMAN AND FRENCH POLICIES IN SOLVING MIGRATION PROBLEMS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

This article examines migration problems in the European Union, the programs and strategies adopted to solve them, a comparative analysis of the migration policy of Germany and France, and the approach of Germany and France in the process of securitization of migration.

Calling for allied efforts to strengthen digital health literacy in Sweden: perspectives of policy makers

BackgroundA more digitalised world comes with the promise to improve people’s lives. Therefore, it is essential that policymakers also align digital interventions with initiatives to empower citizens and strengthen their digital health literacy. The aim of this study was to explore the views of Swedish policymakers regarding the potential and barriers of a European strategy to strengthen digital health literacy.MethodRepresentatives from Swedish governmental agencies and regions were purposively approached by email to ask them to participate in online workshops to discuss the potential and barriers of developing a European strategy to strengthen digital health literacy.ResultsThe results highlight the need for a national strategy to strengthen digital health literacy. The findings point to critical areas for improvement, ethical and social considerations, and the importance of inclusive and accessible health information online. Participants identified vulnerable groups requiring targeted support to enhance their digital health literacy, particularly those at risk of digital exclusion. Participants emphasised the importance of considering various combinations of conditions or problems that people may have, urging policymakers to adopt a nuanced approach to enhance digital literacy.ConclusionsThere is a critical need for policymakers to strengthen digital health literacy in the population to ensure health equity in relation to digitalisation opportunities. Policymakers advocate for a dedicated national strategy, supporting policymakers to prioritize digital health literacy. Tailoring information, enhancing digital support for prevention, and considering ethical implications are reported as important aspects to improve digital health literacy.

Advancing Sustainability in a Residential Building in Europe: A Case Study on LCA and LCC across Different Scenarios

This study evaluates the environmental and economic performance of the "ESTIA of Athens" residential building considering its energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It also explores the potential for improvements in these areas. The European Union's strategy to reduce GHG emissions from buildings by 55% compared to 1990 levels by 2030, as part of its broader aim for climate neutrality by 2050 is a background for the study. The methodology involves a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) using SimaPro software, monitoring energy consumption, temperature and humidity of the building. The thirteen impact categories and damage impact assessment that include human health, ecosystem and resources were examined. The study compares various scenarios, including historical data from 2018 to 2022 and two hypothetical scenarios to assess environmental impacts across different categories. Additionally, Life Cycle Costings (LCC) are performed to evaluate the economic aspects of the building's performance. The results highlight substantial differences in energy consumption, GHG emissions and economic costs among the scenarios. The findings suggest that a hypothetical scenario, referred to as Case 3, demonstrates lower environmental impacts and economic costs compared to other scenarios, indicating its potential as an optimal renovation strategy for the building. This includes reductions of 32%, 40% and 58% in the human health, ecosystems, and resources categories, respectively. A similar trend is observed across the impact categories, with reductions ranging from 4% in the Mineral Resource category to 47% in the Global Warming category. The study underscores the importance of holistic assessments in informing energy policy and renovation strategies for achieving both environmental sustainability and economic viability in buildings.

Extreme wildfires over northern Greece during summer 2023 – Part A: Effects on aerosol optical properties and solar UV radiation

In Mediterranean countries, such as Greece, the frequency of forest fires has increased in recent years, primarily due to the widespread impacts of climate change. At the end of August 2023, Greece experienced a record-breaking heatwave that triggered severe wildfire incidents, significantly impacting the atmospheric conditions of several cities, among them Thessaloniki. A significant number of wildfires occurred in northern Greece (Evros), burning thousands of hectares of the protected Dadia forest (Natura 2000) and releasing a significant load of smoke into the atmosphere. According to the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) a total area of 90,000ha was burnt collectively by the Evros extreme wildfires during August 2023. The emissions led to severely adverse air pollution conditions, causing reduced visibility across an extended eastern Mediterranean region for several days. In this work, we analyze the influence of the transported biomass burning particles on the aerosol properties in the free troposphere, as well as on the surface UV radiation levels over Thessaloniki during the last week of August 2023. The transported smoke plume was detected over the Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics (LAP) in Thessaloniki, approximately 240 km away from the burning area, from August 22nd to the 25th. During this period, the presence of smoke led to exceptionally increased levels of aerosol optical depth (AOD), reaching up to 3.4 at 340nm (the highest ever recorded in Thessaloniki), as well as high Ångström exponent (AE) values, peaking at 2.4 for the 440–870nm range, followed by high Fine Mode Fractions (FMFs), indicating the prevalence of fine-mode smoke aerosol particle. Moreover, during the event, the presence of the biomass burning aerosols led to a strong attenuation of the solar UV irradiance by up to 90 %, reaching unprecedented levels, similar of a solar eclipse. The primary goal of this study is to highlight the extensive impacts that wildfires have, which are anticipated to increase in frequency in the near future, due to the predicted rise in the rate of occurrence of summer heatwaves especially for Mediterranean areas and specifically for Greece. Furthermore, the great value of the synergistic monitoring of the event with ground-based remote sensing instrumentation, along with satellite aerosol observations and modeling tools, is made prominent.

Social dialogue in defining the European Union economic and social strategy

Following very significant initiatives, such as the European Pillar of Social Rights and its Action Plan, the Commission presented in 2023 its Communication on Strengthening social dialogue in the European Union: harnessing its full potential for managing fair transitions, together with a Proposal for a Recommendation to the Council on strengthening social dialogue. The present analysis will discuss the progress and limitations of these initiatives, such as the lack of binding nature of the legal instruments used or their effect on policymaking. In this regard, particular attention will be paid to the insertion of social dialogue into European economic and social governance mechanisms. To this end, the study deals with the influence of the economic governance framework on the role and development of social dialogue in the most recent transformations that have taken place since the 2008 crisis to the present. Likewise, the role given to social dialogue will be analysed in the new fiscal rules and economic governance framework recently approved.

Carbon Farming of Main Staple Crops: A Systematic Review of Carbon Sequestration Potential

Carbon farming has become increasingly popular as it integrates agriculture, forestry, and diverse land use practices, all crucial for implementing European strategies aimed at capturing 310 million tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. These farming methods were proven to reliably increase the amount of carbon stored in the soil. However, there is a lack of discussion and consensus regarding the standards used to report these values and their implications. This article analyzes carbon sequestration rates, calculation methodologies, and communication procedures, as well as potential co-benefits and best practices. The average carbon sequestration rates in major staple crops range from very low values (0–0.5 Mg/ha/yr) to medium values (1–5 Mg/ha/yr). Scientific agricultural experiments in key global staple crops demonstrate positive rates of 4.96 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 in wheat–maize rotations and 0.52–0.69 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 in rice–wheat rotations. In agriculture, carbon sequestration rates are reported using different terms that are not consistent and pose communication challenges. This assessment involves a systematic review of the scientific literature, including articles, reviews, book chapters, and conference papers indexed in Scopus from 2001 to 2022. Specifically, this review focuses on long-term experiments, meta-analyses, and reviews that report an increase in soil carbon stock. The research trends observed, through a VOSviewer 1.6.18 analysis, show a steadily increasing interest in the field of carbon sequestration.

The ESPAS network and the growth of EU foresight

AbstractThis article examines the European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS) network and assesses its impact on efforts to embed strategic foresight in EU policy‐making. It analyses the development of the network through three stages: preparatory steps to 2014, quasi‐institutionalisation from 2015 and high‐level anchoring from 2019. Throughout, the view that a new approach to strategic analysis was needed met concerns about preserving institutional prerogatives and competences. The article suggests that this tension mitigated the network's impact, which has been more significant on matters of process than of substance. Achievements include the creation of foresight capacity and of dialogue across institutional and sectoral boundaries and greater appreciation of the interdependence of global challenges across different domains. Progress towards deeper engagement with worst‐case scenarios and with the challenge of societal fragmentation has been more limited.