How can scientific advice support effective climate policy?

This question is particularly timely as COP31 is under way. A significant gap still remains between what science tells us, the goals of the Paris Agreement, and action on the ground.

At the Finnish Climate Change Panel’s COP31 side event, Supporting decision-making through climate councils: practices and success stories, climate councils from several countries shared their experiences of supporting evidence-informed policymaking.

Jyri Seppälä highlighted the scientific evidence developed by the Finnish Climate Change Panel to inform the emissions reduction and carbon neutrality targets enshrined in Finland’s Climate Change Act.

Olof Johansson Stenman discussed how recommendations from the Swedish Climate Policy Council have contributed to accelerating the deployment of BECCS and strengthening the integration of climate considerations into government budgeting and economic policy.

Heleen de Coninck shared examples of successful ways of communicating scientific advise to policy-makers and reflected on the impact of the Netherlands Scientific Climate Council’s recommendations concerning carbon dioxide removal.

Published today, the International Climate Councils Network’s (ICCN) first Annual Report, Climate councils: Turning evidence into action, also showcases how independent scientific advice is informing climate policymaking and implementation around the world.

ICCN brings together more than 30 climate councils worldwide, with the Finnish Climate Change Panel among its founding members. International cooperation allows councils to exchange effective practices and learn from each other’s experiences.

Together, the side event and the ICCN report show the important role science-based climate councils can play in bringing research evidence into policymaking and supporting effective climate action, as countries work to limit global warming to as close to 1.5°C as possible.

Explore the ICCN Annual Report (climatecouncils.org)