The EU is making promising progress on the road to climate neutrality, but must maintain momentum to achieve its goal. This is the conclusion of the third progress report by the European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO), which assessed more than 150 indicators across all sectors of society. The weak points identified provide crucial guidance for the work of EU institutions.

This report explores options for an EU purchasing programme for permanent carbon removals to address a critical gap in climate change mitigation. While cutting emissions remains the primary objective of EU climate policy, achieving climate neutrality and, eventually, net-negative emissions, will also require large-scale deployment of carbon removals. To achieve this, cost-effective and socially beneficial carbon removal technologies must be developed and deployed swiftly.

With the 2027 deadline of the Water Framework Directive approaching and the new Nature Restoration Regulation mandating large-scale ecosystem recovery, the CAP's role in safeguarding rivers, wetlands, and catchments has become critical. This Policy Working Paper argues that long-term agricultural resilience is inseparable from healthy freshwater ecosystems and illustrates how water restoration can be embedded in future agricultural policies to enhance water resilience. 

This SCALE-UP report presents an evidence-based framework to support regional and local actors in designing, implementing, and monitoring small-scale bio-based solutions in rural areas – practical, flexible, and adaptable to local contexts. The framework builds on experiences from six European regional platforms.

Moderation and Speech: McKenna Davis, Dr. Benjamin Kupilas, Teresa Spantzel

Representatives from Alpine countries, experts, and stakeholders discussed how to integrate cross-border cooperation into National Restoration Plans. Key outcomes included setting priorities for rivers, wetlands, forests, and pastures, as well as strengthening alignment on monitoring, data sharing, and stakeholder engagement.
 

In a time of mounting global uncertainty and industrial transformation, the EU is advancing a Clean Industrial Deal to modernize its economy, accelerate decarbonization and boost competitiveness. On 3 September, the European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO) launched its 2025 progress report, presenting data-driven insights into Europe’s transition and engaging with Cillian O’Donoghue, Policy Director at Eurelectric (federation of the European electricity industry) and Julian Parodi, EU Policy Specialist for industrial decarbonization at EPICO Klimainnovation. The event also marked the first systematic mapping of EU policies relevant to enabling climate neutrality. Watch the full recording of the launch event

How far has coastal Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) progressed – and how can it be effectively financed in the future? These questions will take center stage during the two-day in-person workshop in Berlin on 7 and 8 October 2025. Day one will provide high-level inputs and thematic deep dives into the current state of EbA implementation, key challenges, success factors and methods for measuring progress. Day two will focus on financial instruments, funding opportunities and the application of key insights to practical case studies. The workshop aims to strengthen exchange across practice, policy and research while building lasting networks to support the implementation of ecosystem-based approaches to coastal resilience. Each morning session will be open to virtual participation.

On 20 October 2025, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) will host an in-person User Engagement Workshop in Prague, supported by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute and Charles University. As a side event of the Czech National Copernicus User Forum, the half-day workshop offers scientists, policy officers, businesses, and students a unique opportunity to explore C3S data and services, learn from real-world use cases, and strengthen their skills through targeted breakout training sessions. Please register by 30 September 2025.

Our Water Team in Berlin is looking for new colleagues – full- or part-time, starting as soon as possible. You work on topics such as water governance, climate change adaptation, or strategic planning and monitoring? Then we look forward to receiving your application by 21 September 2025.

To support our Berlin-based team, we are looking for an experienced Financial Accountant – full- or part-time, starting as soon as possible. You are highly skilled in accounting and annual financial statements, comfortable working with DATEV, and want to contribute to the mission of a non-profit research institute for environmental policy? Then we’d love to hear from you! Apply online by 3 October 2025.