Citizen Science for Climate Action: Highlights from EU Climate Pact Annual Event 2025
The European Climate Pact Flagship Event 2025, themed “Together in Action,” convened on March 18-19, 2025, at the European Commission’s Charlemagne Building in Brussels. This annual gathering brought together stakeholders from across Europe to accelerate climate action, showcase successful initiatives, and forge new partnerships for a sustainable future.
The event was co-designed with Climate Pact Ambassadors and Partners and featured an exclusive exchange with Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke Hoekstra. Attendees participated in panel discussions and interactive workshops addressing topics such as inclusive transition, adaptation to climate change, youth activism, circular economy, community-led sustainability, and the integration of artificial intelligence in climate strategies. The Climate Action Village showcased impactful EU initiatives, including the LIFE Programme, highlighting cutting-edge projects from the Climate Pact community.
The European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) as a partner organization represented by project officers Anna Verones and Nikita Sharma, conducted the session titled “Citizen Science: Harnessing Its Power for Climate Action”. This session underscored the vital role of 10 principles of citizen science when engaging the public in scientific research; thereby enhancing data collection and fostering community involvement in climate initiatives. Moreover, the session featured a panel discussion, led by Martin Brocklehurst from Aurora Project on the use and integration of citizen science in current EU climate policy. The session panelists Ourania Konstanti and Stephanos Cherouvis, together with the keynote speaker Prof. Jacqueline Mcglade, further highlighted the current developments and pressing issues for the integration of citizen science in climate laws and policies. Furthermore, the panelists addressed questions from the audience making the session vibrant and interactive.
The European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) played a significant role in this session, emphasizing the 10 principles of citizen science, importance of integrating citizen science into climate action strategies, and collecting audiences’ experience with these issues. The “Together in Action” event exemplified the European Union’s commitment to collaborative climate action, highlighting the indispensable contributions of citizen science and organizations like ECSA in achieving Europe’s climate goals.
You may access and view the recording of the event via this link (beginning at approximately 11:32:45).
Photos source: EU Climate Pact
