🇪🇺 The European Union aims to become climate neutral by 2050, which is in line with its commitment to global climate action under the Paris Agreement. This ambitious target is enshrined in in the European Climate Law of 2021 and is part of the European Green Deal, which is the EU's plan to achieve climate neutrality by mid-century. The EU has also committed to reducing net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55 % by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. To achieve these goals, the EU supports the development of renewable energy, increased energy efficiency, cleaner transport, greener agriculture and the circular economy. Emissions that cannot be avoided will be offset by better forest management, the protection of ecosystems and investment in innovation and research.

🔬 This thematic set of results CORDIS, published in April 2025, focuses on 11 projects funded under the EU Horizon 2020 programwhich contribute to paving the way for a climate-neutral economy and society by developing state-of-the-art knowledge. The package highlights a wide range of aspects that support a low-carbon transition in the main sectors responsible for GHG emissions at EU level and globally. It examines the technical feasibility, financial viability, social acceptability and potential benefits and trade-offs of low-carbon transformation pathways. Projects provide recommendations for policymakers and identify strategies to significantly reduce GHG emissions, thereby helping to better understand the feasibility and socio-economic impacts of a changed environment and avoid the worst consequences of global warming.

📱 CAMPAIGNers Project developed Climate Campaigners mobile application for educating and motivating citizens to change behavior towards a low-carbon lifestyle. The app collects demographic and behavioral data from users, providing analyses that can inform policymaking and predictive modelingThe project included lifestyle challenges in four sectors: mobility, housing, food and other consumptionThe application relies on prosocial behavior, integrating a sense of belonging and community and emphasizing co-beneficial effects, such as improving health. It has been launched in 14 cities around the world. The collection of multidisciplinary knowledge and innovative communication strategies between cities and citizens are considered the most promising results of the project.

🌊 COMFORT project studied critical thresholds (tipping points), which, when exceeded, lead to significant and often irreversible changes in marine ecosystems. He investigated the "triple threat" – ocean warming, deoxygenation and acidification – caused by human activity. He found that some thresholds, for example in some regions of the North Atlantic, have already been exceededThe ocean absorbs about 25 % of annual anthropogenic CO2 emissions and more than 90 % of additional heat from global warming. Project recommends the urgent implementation of drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and limiting the input of reactive nitrogen into the oceans, emphasizing that Acting in advance is better and more economical. rather than later solving problems through geoengineering. The project was a major contributor to the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report.

📊 CONSTRAIN project focuses on known knowledge gaps in three areas: radiative forcing, cloud feedbacks, and the relationship between ocean variability and atmospheric change. Initiated by more frequent updates of key climate information, contributing to the creation of an annual overview Indicators of Global Climate Change (IGCC), which complements the IPCC reports. It has developed various climate modeling tools, including simple climate models called emulators, which capture the behavior of more complex models with lower computational costs. The project results are disseminated through an interactive IGCC dashboard and news ZERO INto reach policymakers and the general public.

🤝 ENGAGE project used integrated assessment models to identify pathways that explicitly limit the peak temperature in line with the Paris Agreement. It found that pathways focused only on the average global temperature at the end of the century lead to dangerous levels of peak temperature exceedances by mid-century. The project highlighted that The capacity of governments and other institutions is key to rapid mitigationCountries with high institutional capacity should take greater responsibility for short-term mitigation and international assistance for capacity building and knowledge transfer is essentialThe project developed tools such as the Scenario Explorer and the Multidimensional Feasibility Visualisation Tool and contributed to the conclusions of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report.

🥵 Project EXHAUSTION examined combined health impacts of heatwaves and air pollution in Europe. He found that Air pollution significantly alters the health impacts of heat, with high levels of pollution leading to higher increases in deaths from respiratory diseases. He identified vulnerable groups (elderly people, women) and urban factors (dense population, high pollution, few green spaces) increasing the risk. The project warns that emissions from fires are likely to increase, and emphasizes that Air quality and climate change are interconnected challenges, which need to be addressed together. Modelling studies suggest that Climate change could lead to more than 2.3 million additional deaths related to temperature by the end of the century in Europe.

🏠 Project HABITABLE studied Migration decisions in the context of climate changeHe found that The primary motivators of migration are socio-economic factors (employment opportunities, income), family reasons and education. Environmental shocks only exacerbate existing socio-economic vulnerability and drive migration through socio-economic incentives. He identified social tipping points at the household level for climate-related migration, with poorer households reaching the limits more quickly. Community coping mechanisms and overall social resilience are said to weaken, as climate impacts affect entire communities. The project highlighted that policies must take into account gender and social perspectives and be sensitive to the broader impacts of migration.

🌱 LANDMARC project was engaged in land-based mitigation technologies and practices (LMTs), which reduce and remove greenhouse gases using soil as a carbon sink. He found that LMTs have significant global and regional potential and provide environmental (biodiversity) and social (job creation) benefits. It emphasizes the need for standardized and cost-effective methods to quantify the performance of LMTs and the need for simplify and harmonize policies for "carbon farmers". It emphasizes the value of local and indigenous knowledgeThe project proposes a more integrated approach to policies and financial incentives, which supports the achievement of multiple socio-economic and environmental goals.

⚙️ LOCOMOTION project developed a new open-source integrated assessment model (IAM) called WILIAM, which addresses key limitations of current models. WILIAM dynamically models the economy with a detailed representation of production and consumption, including interactions between energy, economics, materials and land use. Unlike other models, WILIAM takes into account the constraints of the biosphere, geography, natural resources and energy return on investment (EROI) when assessing the potential of renewable resources. It provides a breakthrough tool for all stakeholders for planning a sustainable future. Simulations of the WILIAM model are already producing relevant results for various policy scenarios.

➖ NEGEM project assessed the realistic potential of negative emissions technologies and practices (NETPs) as complementary measures to emission reductions to limit global warming. He examined the technical, environmental, social and commercial aspects of engineering (e.g. direct CO2 capture) and natural solutions (e.g. afforestation). He found that engineering solutions with geological storage provide permanent CO2 removal, while natural solutions offer synergies with nature restoration and the Sustainable Development Goals. The analysis showed that no NETP comes without compromises, and therefore it is necessary NETP portfolio. Current market mechanisms are insufficient to support the necessary portfolio of NETPs. The project highlights that drastic and immediate reduction of emissions is essential, supplemented by large-scale deployment of NETPs, expected to begin by 2030, which requires clear policies.

✅ VERIFY project developed new tools for gaining unbiased knowledge about the impacts of humans and nature on climate change. Its aim was to provide more accurate assessment of carbon stocks and GHG emissions distinguishing between anthropogenic and natural components. The project used atmospheric measurements, trace element transport inversions, and extensive ground-based observations. It developed scientifically robust methods for assessing accuracy and potential bias in national GHG inventories through independent operational frameworks. This information should help monitor the progress of EU mitigation efforts towards the goals of the Paris Agreement.

♻️ Project 4C was focused on improving quantitative understanding of climate-carbon interactions and feedbacks, which can amplify global warming. He developed new tools and methods for predicting the evolution of global carbon cycle variability over the next decade, including atmospheric CO2, land and ocean carbon sinks, and climate response. It integrated models and observations to provide new climate change projections. The project contributed to major international scientific assessments such as IPCC Sixth Assessment Report and Global Carbon Budget.

🏛️ All projects presented in this package are managed by the European Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and Environment (CINEA). CINEA plays a key role in supporting the European Commission's decarbonisation and sustainable growth objectivesThe agency is responsible for the full grant management cycle of seven EU programmes focusing on transport, energy, climate action, nature, environment and marine fisheries and aquaculture. CINEA promotes knowledge sharing and synergies across its programmes and enables strong partnerships between public and private stakeholders. Spring

Glossary of key terms

• 4C: A project aimed at improving the understanding of climate and carbon cycle interactions and feedbacks.
• Anthropogenic emissions: Greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels and industrial processes.
• CAMPAIGNers: A project that developed the Climate Campaigners mobile app to educate and motivate citizens to change climate behavior.
• CDR (Carbon Dioxide Removal): Carbon dioxide removal, processes that physically remove CO2 from the atmosphere.
• CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency): The European Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and Environment, which manages EU-funded projects in these areas.
• Climate neutrality: A state where net greenhouse gas emissions are zero, achieved by balancing emissions and removals from the atmosphere.
• COMFORT: A project that investigated tipping points in marine ecosystems due to ocean warming, deoxygenation, and acidification.
• CONSTRAIN: Project focused on reducing uncertainty in multi-decadal climate projections and developing new modeling tools.
• CORDIS (Community Research and Development Information Service): A service providing information on EU-funded research and innovation.
• EROI (Energy Return on Investment): The ratio of usable energy obtained to the energy invested in its production.
• ENGAGE: A project that used integrated assessment models to identify feasible pathways to limit maximum temperature in line with the Paris Agreement.
• EXHAUSTION: A project that quantified the impacts of extreme heat and air pollution on cardiopulmonary diseases in Europe.
• GHG (Greenhouse Gas): Greenhouse gases, gases in the atmosphere that trap heat and contribute to global warming (e.g. CO2, CH4, N2O).
• HABITABLE: A project that studied the link between climate change, habitability and social tipping points with regard to migration.
• Horizon 2020: EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.
• IAMs (Integrated Assessment Models): Integrated assessment models, tools for modeling the complex interaction of socioeconomic, energy and environmental systems.
• IGCC (Indicators of Global Climate Change): Global Climate Change Indicators, a report providing annual updates on key climate indicators.
• Institutional capacities: The ability of governments and other institutions to effectively implement policies and achieve goals.
• IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change): Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the main international body for assessing climate change.
• LANDMARK: Project focused on assessing land-based mitigation technologies and practices (LMTs).
• LMTs (Land-based Mitigation Technologies and Practices): Land-based mitigation technologies and practices, land use for emission reduction and removal of greenhouse gases.
• LOCOMOTION: A project that developed a new open integrated assessment model called WILIAM.
• NBS (Nature-based Solutions): Natural solutions, measures for the protection, sustainable management and restoration of natural or modified ecosystems.
• NO: A project that assessed the realistic potential of negative emission technologies and practices (NETPs).
• NETPs (Negative Emissions Technologies and Practices): Negative emission technologies and processes, methods for removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
• Paris Agreement: An international treaty under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that deals with climate change mitigation, adaptation and financing.
• Peak temperature: The highest level of global warming achieved under a given scenario.
• Regime shifts: Sudden and significant changes in ecosystems, often caused by crossing critical thresholds.
• Tipping points (critical thresholds): Critical thresholds in a system, after which a substantial and often irreversible change occurs.
• UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change): United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
• VERIFY: A project that developed tools to more accurately distinguish between anthropogenic and natural greenhouse gas emissions.
• WILIAM (World Integrated and Long-term Model): A new open integrated assessment model developed by the LOCOMOTION project.