Citizen Science Future Scenarios

The Challenge – Tackling the long-term effects of climate change and the heat island effect is now an urgent issue to adapt to and mitigate collectively. Crippling heat waves have been exacerbated by a surge in the cost of living crisis that has continued to rise over the last five years, leading to a lack of volunteering capacity for many individuals who struggle to find time to engage in non-work related activities.

The Challenge- There is an ever-increasing gap between the institutional discourse on climate adaptation and mitigation needs and what’s happening on the ground across Europe, meaning that there is a lack of impact on policy and decision-making, and citizens’ priorities are not aligned with policy agendas.

The Challenge – Across Europe, there is a waste disposal crisis. The European Commission has introduced significant penalties and regulations to reduce consumption and encourage circularity and recycling. Due to increasing inflation, an exacerbated cost of living crisis has taken hold of many countries across Europe. The population, more broadly, has less capacity for volunteering, and participation levels in citizen science, more generally, are low.

The Challenge – The increased negative impact of urban extreme heat – particularly indoor extreme heat – is pushing more and more cities to the point of crisis. Lowering heat stress in urban environments is crucial to protecting the lives of vulnerable people, ensuring urban climate resilience for the future and improving the quality of life for European citizens.