Governance Principles

The governance principles derive from both the thematic contents, addressed by JPI Climate as well, as the strategic objectives of the JPI Climate concept itself. They provide support to assure coherence between ‘what’ we are working on and ‘how’ we are working. In addition, they represent procedural objectives that broaden the scope for advancements and provide motivation for constant improvement.

Hitherto discussions have mostly addressed the rationales of these principles. In order to put them into effect in our future work, we – however – need to reflect on what these principles mean to us and, more specifically, our operations. For these reasons the principles and related objectives have been formulated ambitiously.

The following principles have been addressed in the context of different discussions on the JPI Climate:

Sustainability principle

Objective: To take into account the challenges of climate change in the work of JPI Climate, based on active reflection of operations (e.g. “green meetings”) and to formulate the endeavour of constant improvement of the operations’ climate performance.

Rationale: In consideration of the grand societal challenge of climate change being central to research efforts that are initiated by JPI Climate, its members seek to contribute to mitigating the carbon footprint of its work and activities. In doing so, the JPI Climate governance is committed to increasing the credibility of climate impact research and function as a role model for other groups of society in terms of responsible, climate-friendly science and research.

Stakeholder orientation principle

Objective: To integrate the knowledge, values and objectives of societal decision-makers in the implementation and operation of the JPI Climate through the active participation of stakeholder group representatives in accordance with the JPI Climate mission.

Rationale: The JPI ‘Connecting Climate Knowledge for Europe’ aims to improve the utilisation of scientific knowledge on climate change in societal decision-making processes. Therefore the involvement of stakeholders from civil society, politics and the business sector is crucial when it comes to identifying themes and setting up research agendas.

Adaptability principle

Objective: To enable the JPI Climate’s thematic framework to respond to novel scientific insights and research requirements, current states of societal transformations and potential demands due to sudden social-ecological crises.

Rationale: JPI Climate is setting up a research framework on a strategic, long-term basis. Alongside its overall objective to facilitate societal transformation by improving the utilisation of scientific knowledge on climate change in societal decision-making processes, in the course of its operations it is very likely that the JPI’s mission will be subject to shifting and novel research needs and priorities. The JPI’s governance structure therefore needs to allow for the adaptation of the JPI’s operations to these changing framework conditions where necessary.

Transparency principle

Objective: To base the collaborative efforts encompassed within JPI Climate development and implementation on the notions of openness, mutual learning, mutual dependency and joint creativity; and to foster the free flow and sharing of information, experiences and opinions.

Rationale: Access to knowledge and information is a prerequisite for individual and mutual learning processes. Given the grand and complex societal challenge that is addressed by JPI Climate, fostering both is a prerequisite for successful completion of the JPI Climate mission. Allowing access to knowledge and information within JPI Climate – a multi-level, multi-stakeholder institution – for both internal work and external information is not a trivial task and therefore requires active and continuous deliberation and promotion.

Cost efficiency principle

Objective: To limit superfluous duplication of scientific/technical outputs, research and funding activities.

Rationale: Joint Programming is based on coordinating European research efforts to increase its capacities to tackle grand societal challenges, such as climate change. An understood objective of the JPI Climate operations is therefore to use its existing resources in a cost-efficient manner. In order to meet this objective, JPI Climate needs to assess the availability of present and potential joint initiatives and joint calls at European and international level pertaining to the same or related topics to build up inter-linkages and streamline activities with potential partner initiatives.