The European Research Council (ERC) has released a report highlighting over 300 projects, representing an investment of €653 million, that address the critical global challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, and widening social disparities resulting from them.
These ERC-funded projects explore why existing technological and social solutions to these challenges are not more widely adopted. They focus on identifying barriers to overcome and the enabling factors that can help accelerate transformative change.
Transformative change refers to deep, systemic shifts in how societies, economies, and institutions operate. It occurs when new ideas challenge established ways of thinking and acting, leading to meaningful changes in how societies and organisations function.
The report highlights how ERC-funded research addresses the key challenges we must address to lower emissions and achieve climate goals. Examples include research on biodiversity conservation, which explores new methods for protecting ecosystems, and studies on supply chain reforms, which look at accelerating sustainability efforts while promoting decent global living standards.
The report also details how ERC funding encourages cross-disciplinary collaborations, generating innovative methodologies and more holistic perspectives. Social sciences and humanities (SSH) take centre stage, emphasising that transformative change must be equitable, culturally relevant, and socially sustainable.
The report underscores the value of blending diverse knowledge—from indigenous and local insights to scientific, business, and technological expertise—to spark innovative solutions for complex challenges.
Released ahead of the plenary meeting of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) from 10 to 16 December 2024 in Namibia, this report is the latest in a series that highlights the broader impact of ERC-funded research. By providing researchers with long-term resources and the freedom to explore pioneering projects, the ERC supports research that contributes to societal change and helps drive transformative solutions for a sustainable and equitable future.
Source: European Research Council | News & Events | News (https://shorturl.at/5LYce)