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Do ambitious cities value collaboration in climate action? Insights from the first group of cities pursuing climate neutrality
No full textAchieving climate neutrality demands effective urban climate governance and stakeholders' mobilisation. This study conducts a comprehensive analysis of 362 cities' Expressions of Interest (EOI) submitted for the European Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission to examine the prevalence and nature of stakeholder engagement in urban climate action. The analysis involves a combination of descriptive statistics, relationship analysis via Gephi software, and a customised text mining technique (pre-processing, frequency analysis, and clustering). The cities, with populations ranging from 11,148 to 15,000,000 and predominantly located in Europe, reveal a landscape of collaboration efforts that is somewhat proportional to the city size. Citizens and national governments are the principal stakeholders (83 %) with higher governance levels primarily involved in policy and regulation formulation as well as financial support. Over 70 % of cities engage academia, research institutions, and the private sector as key stakeholders, primarily in research and innovation activities. Furthermore, 72.6 % of cities participate actively in inter-city collaborations or are members of relevant networks. Contrastingly, utilities, energy communities, financial institutions, vulnerable groups, and trade unions exhibit suboptimal integration, engaged by less than half of the cities. Optimising collaboration for urban climate neutrality necessitates an enhanced integration of diverse stakeholders, particularly those proximal to marginalised groups, mass mobilisation to leverage the synergistic potential of inter-sectoral and inter-city collaborations, and a transition from predominantly educational initiatives to more comprehensive, participatory engagement practices.JRC.C.2 - Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Diet quality rather than caloric intake associated with labour wages in Kenya
No full textMalnutrition, in all its forms, poses a significant threat to human development and economic growth. Consequently, enhancing food security and consumption is a moral and social imperative for fostering development. Despite the substantial evidence on the relationship between caloric intake and labour productivity, research on the connection between labour productivity and diet quality, measured by micronutrient intake, is scarce. This paper, focusing on Kenya, estimates the linkages between micronutrient intake and labour productivity, measured by household labour income. The daily intakes of energy and micronutrients per adult male equivalent at the household level is computed employing food consumption data collected in the 2015–2016 Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey. Econometric results show that daily micronutrient (haem iron, zinc, folate, calcium, vitamins B2 and A) intakes are significantly and positively correlated with labour productivity. The quality of diets, reflected by micronutrient intakes, has a bigger impact on labour productivity than the daily energy consumed, measured by caloric intake. This paper contributes to the nutrition–productivity literature and provides a basis for designing policies to improve the nutritional quality of diets.JRC.D.4 - Economics of the Food Syste
Improvement of the Pseudo-Dynamic Testing Method for Buildings that are Seismically Protected by Means of Dissipative Devices
No full textThe pseudo-dynamic method enables seismic testing of large-scale models by applying slow, varying forces, but it can introduce strain rate effects, especially significant for materials like rubber or silicon. This paper addresses silicone fluid viscous dampers and proposes a correction strategy developed by the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment to extend the method’s applicability. The strategy includes two novel algorithms: a linear filter and a neural network-based correction, both optimized with experimental data. Validation tests showed that these new methods outperform the previous linear correction, with the neural network-based approach being the most accurate and versatile.JRC.E.3 - Built Environmen
European Flood Awareness System – A technical assessment of CEMS EFAS performance during the floods in Southern Italy in September and November 2022
Get PDFThis report presents an assessment of the performance of the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) of the Copernicus Emergency Service (CEMS) during the flood events in South-West Italy in fall 2022, with a specific focus on the Campania Region, and on the Volturno River Basin. The analysis evaluates EFAS products and service in terms of accuracy and timeliness of the forecasts; quality and effectiveness of the communications during the events. This evaluation has the purpose to uncover weaknesses of the service and prioritize follow-up actions.
The flood events in Campania Region in September and November 2022 were driven by intense precipitation and caused widespread disruptions and damages. The lack of observations (meteorological and especially hydrological measurements) impeded the quantitative evaluation of EFAS forecasts. Therefore, the assessment relied on news and social media information. EFAS issued 11 and 10 notifications for riverine and flash floods prior to the September and November events, respectively. Pre-tasking activities in view of the potential acquisition of satellite observations was completed for both the events.
The semi-quantitative analysis highlighted overall satisfactory performances of EFAS. Nevertheless, forecasted impacts were likely affected by overestimation: it must be noted that EFAS hydrological model is not calibrated in the area due to the lack of in situ observations. The follow-up actions include efforts to motivate local agencies to share their in-situ data, and the continued improvement of the EFAS hydrological model set-up.JRC.E.1 - Disaster Risk Managemen
Budget-constrained Collaborative Renewable Energy Forecasting Market
No full textAccurate power forecasting from renewable energy sources (RES) is crucial for integrating additional RES capacity into the power system and realizing sustainability goals. This work emphasizes the importance of integrating decentralized spatio-temporal data into forecasting models. However, decentralized data ownership presents a critical obstacle to the success of such spatio-temporal models, and incentive mechanisms to foster data-sharing need to be considered. The main contributions are a) a comparative analysis of the forecasting models, advocating for efficient and interpretable spline LASSO regression models, and b) a bidding mechanism within the data/analytics market to ensure fair compensation for data providers and enable both buyers and sellers to express their data price requirements. Furthermore, an incentive mechanism for time series forecasting is proposed, effectively incorporating price constraints and preventing redundant feature allocation. Results show significant accuracy improvements and potential monetary gains for data sellers. For wind power data, an average root mean squared error improvement of over 10% was achieved by comparing forecasts generated by the proposal with locally generated ones.JRC.T.3 - Algorithmic Transparenc
The effect of Covid-19 on international student credit mobility: A gravity model approach
No full textThe Covid-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption in education. We employ a gravity model to estimate its impact on international student credit mobility. Data on inbound and outbound students to and from four Spanish universities between the academic years 2017–2018 and 2021–2022 are used. While Covid-19 significantly reduced participation in international mobility programs in the academic year 2020–2021, study abroad numbers bounced back to pre-pandemic levels in the next academic year. Student flows between Spain and nonEU countries have been more negatively affected by Covid-19 than those between Spain and other EU countries. Some differential gender effects are also found.JRC.B.6 - Industrial strategy, skills and technology transfe
Non-Animal Methods in Science and Regulation
Get PDFThe 2024 EURL ECVAM Status Report highlights progress in advancing non-animal methods for science and regulation. Driven by EU-funded collaborations, research focuses on chemical safety assessment, endocrine disruptor identification, and risk assessment, using genomics, in vitro and in silico tools, and AI.
EURL ECVAM supports new approach methodologies (NAMs) validation through initiatives such as revising OECD Guidance Document 34, standardising emerging technologies like organ-on-chip, and engaging the EU-NETVAL network. Peer reviews by EURL ECVAM's Scientific Advisory Committee (ESAC) assess the scientific validity of submitted test methods.
EURL ECVAM collaborates with international organisations and EU agencies to advance emerging non-animal sciences and technologies, with the goal of integrating them into regulatory practices for chemical hazard and risk assessment. The European Commission's roadmap towards phasing out animal testing is supported, as is the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) approach in the pharmaceutical sector through the EMA 3Rs Working Party and the EMA Innovation Task Force. Education and training are key to expanded NAMs use. Ultimately, this report provides evidence-based scientific information, aiming to increase NAMs acceptance and implementation globally.JRC.F.3 - Systems Toxicolog
Ac‑225 radiochemistry through the lens of [ 225Ac]Ac‑DOTA‑TATE
No full textBackground: Targeted alpha therapy with Ac-225 showed to be efective in treating metastatic cancers. However, the complex decay chain requires optimized radiolabeling and quality control. This study aims to determine critical parameters and establish optimal labeling and accurate measuring techniques for radiochemical yield and purity with DOTA-TATE as a model molecule. Ac-225 sources were analyzed for metals (ΣFe, Zn, Cu) and quantifed by UPLC. Optimization of radiolabeling kinetics for clinical conditions was performed in regards to temperature (20–90 °C), heating time (5–60 min), pH (2.5–10, with/without excess of metal ions), bufers, quenchers, volume (0.1–10 mL) and molar activity (90–540 kBq/nmol). The quality control was investigated using radio-TLC/HPLC by changing gradient to evaluate peak separation, radiolysed peptide and impurity separation.
Results: Metal ingrowth was observed in Ac-225 stocks (n=3), (time of arrival: 17.9, 36.8 and 101.4 nmol per 10 MBq). Optimal radiochemical yields were achieved with>80 °C (20 min) at pH 8.5 (15 mM TRIS) up to 270 kBq. Labeling at a high pH showed a higher RCY, even in presence of an excess of metals. High stability (RCP>90%) was achieved after addition of quenchers (cysteine, methionine, ascorbate, histidine, or gentisic acid (35 mM)) up to 24 h. For optimal determination of the radiochemical purity (indirect HPLC) ffty fractions are required.
Conclusion: The quality of Ac-225 labeled DOTA-radiopharmaceuticals is highly dependent on the pH and stabilization (bufer/quencher). Within this research it is demonstrated that optimized quality control methods and accurate measurement of the radiolabeling kinetics are crucial to ensure safe implementation for patient treatment.JRC.G.I.5 - Nuclear Science and Innovation for Energy and Healt
Evidence-informed Policymaking: A pathway to increasing trust in democratic institutions and boosting competitiveness
Get PDFThe project ‘Building capacity for evidence-informed policymaking in governance and public administration in a post-pandemic Europe’ was inspired by the need of Member States to respond to complex policy issues requiring specialised knowledge, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic led to a widespread recognition in governments that the use of evidence in advising policy is vital but has not been as effective as necessary. Meanwhile political agendas have shifted in the past two years towards geopolitical threats, competitiveness, misinformation and democratic upheaval. Societal challenges are huge, while trust in national governments has declined in many countries over recent years. This erosion of trust leads to a decreased ability to deal with these problems in a publicly supported way. EIPM is not a silver bullet, but it appears to have significant potential as a key driver. It improves the ability of governments to solve problems directly, by supporting better design and implementation of policies. EIPM also can increase trust more indirectly, as citizens strongly support the use of science in policymaking, and that translates into increased trust in institutions that use evidence. Ensuring effective uptake of evidence in the policy process can only be achieved if two conditions are met. A technical one: the ability to provide the best available relevant evidence to the decision-maker at the right time in the right format; and a political one: willingness to seriously consider, ask for and use evidence in policymaking and public communication. The EIPM- project has delivered seven national roadmaps with a range of recommendations to strengthen both conditions, by focusing on technical aspects such as the need to strengthen EIPM skills of individual scientists, policymakers and knowledge brokers, as well as on the need for a supportive ‘tone at the top’, to create a culture in which evidence is actively requested and used, even if it challenges prevailing assumptions. This project provides lessons that are helpful for the continuation of this mission. These are presented in this publication, followed by a future agenda for evidence-informed policymaking.JRC.S.2 - Science for Democracy and Evidence-Informed Policymakin
Raw Materials Information System (RMIS) - RMIS Newsletter n.8 (March 2025)
No full textThe 8th issue of the bi-annual RMIS Newsletter provides an overview of most recent knowledge outputs developed under RMIS umbrella and links these outputs to the knowledge and policy needs that RMIS aims to fulfill.JRC.D.3 - Land Resources and Supply Chain Assessment