In the international context of COP30 in Belém, the EU projects PARIS, AVENGERS and EYE-CLIMA were represented at the side event “What you can’t measure, you can’t manage: Improving GHG estimation for informed climate policy”. The event was organised by the CMCC (Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change) Foundation, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), and the University of Urbino Carlo Bo. COP is not only a forum for international climate negotiations; it is also an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to exchange knowledge and explore how science can support climate action.

The three projects address different aspects of the climate challenge, but all focus on bringing together bottom-up and top-down approaches to better understand greenhouse gas emissions. PARIS, in particular, also aims to strengthen the dialogue between scientists and experts responsible for national emission inventories. By connecting different perspectives, the projects can help improve the exchange and use of information relevant to emissions assessment. Together, PARIS, AVENGERS and EYE-CLIMA illustrate how European research can contribute to the broader climate effort.

Scientific research cannot solve climate change on its own. Addressing this challenge requires political decisions, investment, technological development, and changes in how we, as societies, produce, consume and adapt to a changing climate. Research can nevertheless provide some of the building blocks for these efforts. Better knowledge about climate risks and possible responses can support policymakers and other stakeholders as they consider how to make communities, economies and ecosystems more resilient.

But it is not only about generating knowledge. It is also about bringing different communities of experts together, helping them understand each other’s perspectives, and developing a common language. By creating opportunities for scientists, inventory experts and other stakeholders to exchange knowledge, projects such as PARIS, AVENGERS and EYE-CLIMA can help bridge different approaches and communities.

The presence of PARIS, AVENGERS and EYE-CLIMA at COP30 provided an opportunity to connect European research with the international climate agenda. By sharing our work at the Italian Pavilion, the projects contributed to the exchange of ideas that is an important part of turning climate knowledge into practical action.