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The Joint Research Centre: EU Science Hub
Climate neutrality 

Pathways to climate neutrality

Contributes to European Commission priorities

Portfolio overview

The EU has committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The energy transition presents unprecedented challenges but also offers significant opportunities in terms of energy security, resilience and competitiveness. Capitalising on these opportunities will require smart policies based on a deep understanding of future energy systems and their related impacts on the land sector.    

This portfolio will analyse and integrate models from the energy and the land sectors to help shape science-backed pathways to climate neutrality. It will also contribute to monitoring progress towards meeting global climate commitments.  

 

Objectives

  • Evaluate the impact of climate policies and strategies

    Analyse policies and strategies for the implementation of the Climate Law and the Clean Industrial Deal, and analyse their impacts on competitiveness and fairness.

  • Analyse 2040 climate target policies 

    Analyse how new climate policy proposals would impact the economy, distribution of wealth in society and competitiveness.  

  • Anticipate climate and energy trends 

    Contribute to developing the new EU reference scenario for climate and energy by analysing Member States’ national energy and climate plans.   

  • Enhance spatial data details for key tools and analysis  

    Increase the spatial resolution of the JRC's datasets, tools, and models beyond a regional level, focusing on integrated land-use modelling and the transition of energy infrastructure. 

  • Develop models for energy and land-use 

    Use AI-generated land-use models to integrate modelling systems for energy, agriculture, forestry and land use.  

  • Analyse climate and mitigation strategies 

    Measure the economic impact of different adaptation and mitigation strategies.  

  • Create standards and methods for carbon farming  

    Develop methods to reduce greenhouse gas levels by storing carbon in soils, plants and trees, under the EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework. 

  • Support assessment of progress in meeting climate targets  

    Update the global datasets on greenhouse gas emissions, including land use.  

Laboratories and facilities

Scientific tools

A global model assessing the contribution of different energy types and vectors to future energy needs.

An economic modelling tool aimed to assess the impacts of alternative energy and climate policies on the energy system.