The Role and Effectiveness of Scientific Advisory Bodies in Advancing EU Climate Policy
This roundtable debate invites experts to explore how specialised climate advisory bodies can enhance both the quality and legitimacy of climate policymaking. Participants will address practical examples where scientific insights have accelerated national climate action and improved policy processes, while also discussing emerging best practices in the governance, structure, mandate, and stakeholder engagement of these bodies. The event will further examine whether a more coordinated European platform might better bridge the gap between science and policy, and speakers will discuss the challenges faced by these advisory bodies due to a polarized political landscape, questioning how they can stay relevant amid evolving climate science, risks, and policy needs.
Watch it here on YouTube if you'd like to access the video transcript or jump chapters.
Key Themes
- Role and value of scientific advisory bodies:
Advisory councils provide evidence-based, independent input to inform climate policymaking. They help clarify complex issues, depoliticise debates, and increase transparency and accountability.- Impact and effectiveness of advisory bodies:
Case studies from the UK, Ireland, and others highlight the success of well-mandated councils in shaping long-term climate targets and driving national strategies. Key factors include legal obligations for governments to respond, strong mandates, and credibility.- Challenges in polarised political landscapes:
Scientific bodies operate in environments increasingly marked by misinformation, populism, and distrust. Ensuring their legitimacy and perceived neutrality is vital to their influence.- Public communication and engagement:
Advisory bodies are evolving their communication strategies—through plain-language reports, social media, and citizen engagement—to make scientific advice more accessible and trusted.- EU-national coordination and gaps in coverage:
Not all EU countries have advisory councils. A more networked approach, with better coordination between the EU Scientific Advisory Board and national bodies, could improve coherence and fill regional gaps.- Advisory role in sensitive areas:
Panellists explored how advisory bodies can help governments address complex or contentious issues such as agriculture, removals, and climate-induced migration by offering politically neutral, science-based framing.- Institutional design and future direction:
There was a call for stronger legal anchoring, greater visibility in policymaking processes, and more systematic mechanisms for governments to engage with and act on expert recommendations.
Speakers
- Alina Averchenkova, Distinguished Policy Fellow on Climate Change, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics (LSE)
- Ben Rhodes, Head of Secretariat, International Climate Councils Network (ICCN)
- François Dejean, Head of Secretariat, European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (ESABCC)
- Michael Bloss, Member of European Parliament - Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance
Moderator
- Moderated by Matthias Duwe, Head of Climate, Ecologic Institute
Speaker's biographies
| Alina Averchenkova | Distinguished Policy Fellow on Climate Change, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics (LSE) | Dr. Alina Averchenkova is a Distinguished Policy Fellow at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and a visiting Senior Fellow at the Royal Elcano Institute. With extensive experience on climate change and international development, Alina’s current work focuses on the design and effectiveness of climate change governance and legislation around the world and capacity building and advisory to governments, parliaments, and international organisations on these issues. She is a founding member of the Knowledge Network on Climate Assemblies (KNOCA), and a trustee of the Legal Response International. Her prior experience includes international consultancy KPMG, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, a carbon asset manager First Climate, the Environmental Defence Fund, Metroeconomica Ltd, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Alina holds a PhD in Economics and International Development from the University of Bath. |
| Ben Rhodes | Head of Secretariat for the International Climate Councils Network (ICCN) | Ben Rhodes leads the International Climate Council Network (ICCN) Secretariat, which is hosted by E3G. The network is made up of national climate advisory councils which play a unique role in advising governments and holding them to account. The aim of the ICCN is to facilitate collaboration and mutual support between climate councils from around the world, as well as encourage new countries to mandate national climate councils. Ben leads the work of the secretariat to build capacity of members, grow the network, and amplify their voice internationally. Before joining E3G, Ben worked as a civil servant for 18 years in a wide range of roles, most recently in the International Climate Finance team leading on capacity building programmes. Ben began his career in environmental issues at the Sustainable Development Commission specialising in deliberative engagement. |
| François Dejean | Head of Secretariat, European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change | François Dejean is Head of the Secretariat to the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change, an independent body established under the European Climate Law to provide scientific advice on EU climate policy. The Advisory Board evaluates policies and identifies actions to help achieve EU climate targets. Before this role, François spent 15 years at the European Environment Agency, where he led work on climate change mitigation, energy and transport, focusing on transparency, progress monitoring and EU policies. He also worked as an environmental consultant. He is based in Copenhagen. |
| Michael Bloss | Member of European Parliament (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance) | Michael Bloss has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2019, representing the Greens/EFA in key climate policy negotiations within the Environment, Industry, and Energy Committees. He played a leading role in shaping the European Climate Law and the reform of the EU Emissions Trading System. His focus is on implementing ambitious climate targets, ending fossil fuel subsidies, and driving the transition of European industry towards climate neutrality |
| Matthias Duwe | Head of Climate, Ecologic Institute | Matthias Duwe is Head, Climate at Ecologic Institute. He coordinates the institute's climate policy related work strands. His work focuses primarily on the European Union's (EU) energy and climate policies, including their connections to national policy, as well as the international regime. He has more than twenty years of experience in EU climate policy, working in Brussels and in Berlin for more than a decade each, and has developed a rich network of experts and policy-makers. He is an accomplished speaker and facilitator and works in both German and English. At Ecologic Institute, Matthias serves as senior project leader and expert contributor to a variety of projects looking at EU climate policy and its national implementation, as well as international climate diplomacy. Since 2016, his primary focus has been on various elements of transformative climate governance, involving framework climate laws, long-term climate strategies, national energy and climate plans and advisory bodies – but also progress monitoring systems and policy mainstreaming. He regularly presents the teams' analyses to decision-makers across Europe. Matthias also acts as lead coordinator for the European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO), which was launched in June 2023. |
The roundtable debate series "Key Issues in EU Climate and Sustainability Governance" delves into pressing issues surrounding climate and sustainability governance in the context of the European Green Deal. Each debate offers a platform for exchanging unique perspectives, featuring a diverse panel of experts and stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, civil society and industry representatives.