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limate change is an unfortunate certainty and at today’s emission rates, it is only getting worse. Any chance of successfully addressing the problem will require international cooperation and collectivism to affect the transformational changes needed worldwide in our economies, societies, and industries. The EU has set its own goals for dealing with climate change under the European Green Deal, which aims to cut emissions by 55% by 2030 with the goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. IIASA science has backed the “Fit for 55 package”, which contains legislative proposals to revise the climate policies needed to get the EU on track to meet the goals outlined in the Green Deal. IIASA models have provided substantial scientific support for the “Fit for 55 package”. Using models such as the Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies (GAINS) Model, the Global Biosphere Management Model (GLOBIOM), and the Global Forest Model (G4M), researchers were able to analyze and calculate valuable information for the European Commission as it prepared policy proposals and revisions. The G4M and GLOBIOM models were used to assess mitigation potentials from greenhouse gas emissions for the land use, land-use change, and forestry sector and contributed to the assessment of afforestation costs included in the New EU Forest Strategy, another part of the “Fit for 55 package”. “As climate change escalates, we need our climate policies to be both ambitious and comprehensive. It is important to account for emissions and sequestration potentials from the land sector and its interlinkages with renewable energy production,” says Andre Deppermann from the IIASA Integrated Biosphere Futures Research Group. The GAINS model was used to provide the “Fit for 55 package” with country-specific mitigation pathways for reductions in the non-CO2 greenhouse gases like methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases for each of the 27 EU countries. “Climate neutrality means reducing greenhouse gases across all sectors, not only phasing out carbon dioxide emissions in the energy sector,” says Lena Höglund-Isaksson from the IIASA Pollution Management Research Group. The GAINS model was also used to assess the impacts on air pollution from implementing the “Fit for 55 package”. “We have reached a point now where climate change is already happening and aspects of its detriment are inevitable. However, strong policies backed by comprehensive research and transparent processes instill trust in policy solutions that can improve the direction we are headed,” she concludes. Building the road to European climate neutrality Lena Höglund-Isaksson: hoglund@iiasa.ac.at Andre Deppermann: depperma@iiasa.ac.at Further info: www.iiasa.ac.at/news/21-GreenDeal Strong policies are needed if the European Union (EU) wants to reach its climate targets. IIASA research has underscored much of the framework for the policies amended in EU climate legislation, including the ‘Fit for 55 package’. 8 Options www.iiasa.ac.atWinter 2021 Science into policy By Neema Tavakolian