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Key Aspects of One Health Governance in the European Union
No full textOne Health governance involves the integrated coordination and management of policies, programs, and activities addressing the interconnected health of humans, animals, and the environment. Its development and implementation necessitate collaboration and coordination across various sectors and require significant resources. Consequently, key performance indicators are essential for monitoring progress and informing adaptations. Additionally, integrative surveillance systems encompassing human, animal, and environmental health sources, along with digital technologies and interoperable data systems, are crucial components for effective governance. These elements collectively foster health and well-being in a holistic manner.JRC.F.7 - Digital Healt
Final technical report on the revision of the EU Ecolabel criteria for indoor and outdoor paints and varnishes
Full text linkThis Science for Policy Report is intended to provide the background information for the revision of the existing EU Ecolabel criteria for indoor and outdoor paints and varnishes (Commission Decision 2014/312/EU). The study has been carried out by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) Unit B.5 – Circular Economy and Sustainable Industry with the technical support of Viegand Maagøe A/S. The work was developed for the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment.
The EU Ecolabel criteria for indoor and outdoor paints and varnishes set out in Decision 2014/312/EU were established in 2014. Commission Decision (EU) 2022/1229 prolonged their validity until 31 December 2025.
The main purpose of this Technical Report is to examine whether the criteria are still appropriate and up-to-date, or whether some of them should be revised, amended or removed; and finally, whether any new criteria should be added. The Technical Report provides elements supporting the proposal for revised EU Ecolabel criteria for decorative paints, varnishes, and related products, performance coatings and related products, and new products such as water-based aerosol spray paints.
This Technical Report includes scope adjustments and revised criteria for three annexes: decorative paints, varnishes, and related products, performance coatings and related products, and water-based aerosol spray paints.
This Technical Report addresses the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 (EC, 2010) regarding technical evidence to inform the criteria revision, and incorporate input from three stakeholder consultations. To support the revision process, a first version of this report was produced as a working document and was updated and complemented as the revision developed. That document provided the rationale for the revised criteria proposal and summarised the research and the outcome of the three stakeholder consultations, which were crucial to develop revised criteria that are able to pinpoint the best environmental products available on the market while taking into account the state of the art of the sector.
After a revision process lasting 24 months, this is the final version of the report which supports the adopted criteria for decorative paints, varnishes, and related products, performance coatings and related products, and water-based aerosol spray paints.JRC.B.5 - Circular Economy and Sustainable Industr
The Importance of Accounting for Stakeholder Values, Power Relationships and Language in Constructing Relevant and Trustworthy Climate Information
No full textFacing increasing risks from climate change, governments at all levels have started to mainstream the use of climate information. It has been widely acknowledged that the inclusion of stakeholder knowledge and needs, for example, in a co-design and co-production process, is important for producing user-relevant information. Here we start from a hypothetical example and two real-world case studies from South America and West Africa to discuss the role of user values, power relationships and language in the construction of climate information. While these aspects have been discussed individually in several papers, we focus on the mutual influences of these aspects in the information construction and argue that, therefore, they cannot be considered separately. We identify five dimensions—the level of risk, the complexity of the scientific problem, user values, power relationships and language—to characterize the complexity of a given user context. Analyzing these dimensions can guide the choice and design of user engagement in a given situation. In particular, even basic research may benefit from such an engagement. Regularly accounting for these aspects in research projects may require substantial changes in the way research funding is organized and how the work of researchers is rewarded.JRC.C.6 - Economics of Climate Change, Energy and Transpor
A radiometric and elemental characterisation of sludge and scales found in Dutch geothermal plants
No full textGeothermal energy originates from the heat stored within the Earth’s core. Thermal water from geological reservoirs is extracted to the surface to generate electricity or heat buildings and greenhouses. This thermal water contains minerals and primordial radionuclides, which can deposit, precipitate, and form scales in the installations. Workers are exposed to these radionuclides during the maintenance and cleaning of geothermal plants.
This study complements the limited research available on naturally occurring radionuclides in geothermal installations by examining their presence in various facilities across the Netherlands. Sludge and scale samples were provided from five different surface installations. The samples were analysed using radiometric methods (alpha-particle and gamma-ray spectrometry) and a non-radiometric method (energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, EDXRF). EDXRF identified several hazardous elements, such as Lead, Arsenic, Chromium, and Thallium. In the scales, radiometric analysis detected three main radionuclides: 228Th, 210Pb, and 210Po. Furthermore, for both scales and sludges, a notable disruption in the equilibrium was observed in parts of the natural decay chains 232Th-228Ra-228Th and 226Ra-210Pb-210Po, complicating the correct assessment of the massic activity of the radionuclides and the appropriate disposal of the materials. These findings highlight the importance of mapping Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) during geothermal plant maintenance and accurately assessing their massic activity.JRC.G.II.6 - Nuclear Data and Measurement Standard
JRC technical proposal on EU harmonised waste sorting labels under the packaging and packaging waste regulation
Full text linkThis report outlines a technical proposal for EU harmonised waste sorting labels based on insights from behavioural and participatory design research. Specifically, it proposes the harmonised visual and systemic design of consumer-facing labels applicable to packaging waste, to be applied on packaging and waste receptacles. The proposal is based on extensive desk research, systematically gathered empirical evidence from citizen workshops, surveys, and experiments, as well as insights from expert stakeholder workshops and consultations. The report outlines a comprehensive conceptual and visual proposal consistent with the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation—particularly its ambition to reduce internal market barriers—and the various waste sorting schemes existing in the Member States. It makes evidence-based recommendations for a flexible, yet harmonised conceptual approach based on informing consumers about the material composition of packaging and communicating correct sorting instructions through matching labels on packaging and waste receptacles, and for a flexible, yet harmonised visual approach ensuring consumer understanding and salience across Member States, while aiming to provide adequate flexibility for their use on packaging and waste receptacles. The report proposes a level of granularity specifying the distinct labels required based on theoretical and practical considerations. Importantly, the report also highlights challenges identified, compromises that had to be made, and need for future work given the complex interplay of regulatory requirements, citizen and expert stakeholder preferences, practical limitations and best practices from behavioural and design research. In its entirety, the report aims at informing the Directorate-General for the Environment in creating the implementing acts outlined in Articles 12(6) and 13(2) of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.JRC.S.1 - EU Policy Lab: Foresight, Design & Behavioural Insight
Addressing key challenges by Smart Specialisation in the Western Balkans
Full text linkThis paper examines the effectiveness of Smart Specialisation strategies in addressing sustainability and competitiveness challenges in the Western Balkans, a region whose innovation performance is strongly tied to EU accession efforts. Emphasizing green and digital transitions as key drivers but also situating Smart Specialisation within the New European Innovation Agenda (NEIA), the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, and their emphasis on building connected Regional Innovation Valleys (RIVs), it highlights the need for system-level innovation focused on inclusive growth. The involvement of local players and strategic resource allocation remain crucial for practical outcomes. Evidence shows progress in digital infrastructure and sectoral initiatives, yet persistent gaps in data availability, skills and regulatory frameworks hamper uptake. In addition to environmental considerations, the paper draws attention to ICT cooperation, sectoral knowledge and innovation systems and sustainability reporting alignment as critical enablers for resilient development. Strengthening regional cooperation and stakeholder trust emerges as the key to optimising Smart Specialisation strategies for sustainable, innovation-led growth in line with EU prioritiesJRC.B.3 - Territorial Developmen
The effect of external assurance on corporate carbon disclosures: Empirical evidence from Europe
No full textCompany carbon disclosures are a fundamental piece of information for assessing firms’ environmental impact, and many policy actions are associated with them. Responding to a rising demand for transparency and regulatory requirements, firms disclose information on their greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions and voluntarily engage with external assurance of the reported data. However, the possible existence of systematic differences in reported emissions with respect to their assurance status is under-explored. This study investigates the causal effect of external assurance on carbon disclosures in a sample of European companies. Findings suggest that, on average, non-assuring firms under-report their direct GHG emissions by a share similar to the largest annual emissions reduction in the EU, compared to the assured reports of their peers. Instead, assurance’s effect is much weaker in indirect emissions. These results demonstrate that third-party assurance could provide more prudent estimates of corporate GHG emissions which are important for all stakeholders, including companies, investors and policymakers, to mitigate climate change.JRC.B.1 - Economic and Financial Resilienc
Can we conclude on mutagenicity classification based in in vitro data only?
No full textThe increasing number of new chemical substances covering various industry sectors has raised concerns about their potential to harm human health and the environment. Criteria for hazard classification of chemicals are implemented by the UN Globally Harmonised System for Classification and Labelling (GHS) to facilitate chemical risk management and transport. Currently, the GHS criteria for germ cell mutagenicity are being revised to clarify issues that have brought to difficulties in their interpretation, consider current state of science and facilitate hazard classification using non-animal methods. To support these discussions we explored whether there are situations where the standard in vitro tests alone can be sufficient to classify substances as mutagenic. Currently, the genotoxicity testing strategy involves a step-wise approach, starting with in vitro tests that cover gene mutations, clastogenicity and aneugenicity. If in vitro tests yield positive results, follow-up confirmatory in vivo tests are required. In our study, we analysed the EURL-ECVAM genotoxicity database which includes over 700 chemicals, exploring six combinations of in vitro tests that cover all the three key endpoints. We then compared the in vitro results with overall in vivo assay outcome. We observed that most combinations of in vitro results that were positive for all endpoints (gene mutation, clastogenicity and aneugenicity) were confirmed in vivo, with at least one positive study. Additionally, the number of substances that were negative for genotoxicity in vivo was very low (>3%). Interestingly, for the most part of these outliers there is a clear insight of why they are misleading positives. These findings indicate that it may, in some cases, be possible to classify a chemical as a somatic cell mutagen using in vitro assays alone. Novel in vitro assays that address specific biological mechanisms providing supporting information in a weight of evidence may help increasing confidence in the results.JRC.F.3 - Systems Toxicolog
The heat capacity of (U1− y Np y )O2 solid solutions: The effect of Np substitution on the first-order transition at low concentration (y ≤ 0.05)
No full textThe low-temperature heat capacity of neptunium-doped UO2 samples were measured by low-temperature relaxation calorimetry. A strong effect was observed on the antiferromagnetic anomaly, both the Nèel temperature and transition entropy. By comparison to data for other (U1−y,My)O2 solid solutions, it is suggested that this effect can be explained by lattice strain resulting from substitution on the anion sublattice, and electron spin interaction.JRC.G.5 - Nuclear Science and Innovation for Energy and Healt
Pricing GHG emissions in agriculture: accounting for trade and fairness for effective climate policy
No full textAlthough agriculture is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, the sector remains outside the scope of greenhouse gas (GHG) pricing policies in the EU. To align the future food system with the transition to net-zero emissions, two key questions arise: To what extent can tax policies help achieve this transition in a fair and effective way? And, would it be preferable to levy a GHG tax on the production or the consumption side? We employ an EU agro-economic model to compare supply and demand-side GHG taxes, quantifying their environmental impact as well as their effects on the EU competitiveness. We find that supply-side pricing in agriculture exhibits leakage rates of over 40% and leaves EU producers at a competitive disadvantage; on the other hand, demand-side measures level the playing field in the Single Market and generate positive leakage as they boost the exports of (greener) EU producers. However, increased exports from the EU imply that emission reduction is rather limited domestically. Focussing on four countries – Spain, France, Romania, and Poland – we explore the distributional impacts of demand-side pricing measures using household-level microsimulation. We show that, when demand is kept constant, these reforms are regressive without complementary measures. Designing a VAT reform as a Feebate and equal-per-capita revenue recycling address vertical equity concerns and produce welfare gains for the majority of the population, while the top 20-30% of meat consumers experience welfare losses. Overall, findings suggest that price-based measures can help align agriculture with climate goals, while trade and distributional aspects should be reflected in policy design to ensure an effective and equitable transition.JRC.B.2 - Fiscal Policy Analysi