Key Expoitable Results (KERs)

Microorganisms regulate key biogeochemical processes and ecosystem feedbacks to climate change, yet they remain underrepresented in global environmental policy and implementation frameworks. The World Microbiome Partnership (WMP) Environment and Climate Change Roadmap sets out a coordinated agenda to embed microbial science into climate mitigation, adaptation, and nature-based solutions. It identifies three scientific priority actions: (i) microbial process accounting, (ii) global integration of microbiome data, and (iii) the deployment of microbiomes for ecological resilience. These priorities define the core knowledge and governance gaps that currently limit the effectiveness of climate mitigation, adaptation, and nature-based solutions. To operationalise these priorities, the Roadmap establishes interoperable microbiome data infrastructures linking distributed observations across biomes, a federated governance model combining regional stewardship with global standards, and measurable microbial indicators translated into policy-relevant targets for climate, biodiversity, and ecosystem rehabilitation. The roadmap proposes alignment with existing climate and biodiversity agreements to avoid duplication and maximise impact. By articulating concrete near-term priorities and cross-sector partnerships, this comment aims to catalyze coordinated investment and action so that microbial systems are recognized, protected, and harnessed as essential components of a stable and just climate future.

Context for this document: #AllAtlantic CLUSTER of Project Managers run between 2021-2024 by AtlantECO & Mission Atlantic and attended by 15+ concurrent projects, identifies a series of barriers to meaningful clustering of fully funded parallel projects, all explicitly supporting the #AAORIA Priorities on research, as well as cooperation with Atlantic states. Follow-up conversation(s) between EC Project Officer for Mission Atlantic, Isabel Pinto, CIIMAR, & Ivo Grigorov (26 Sept 2024) and multiple HorizonEU Consortia submitting to the 18th Sept 2024 Deadline (to be disclosed 20 Dec 2024) identified a series of existing and tested mechanisms for structural clustering between concurrent projects. This document aims at highlighting lessons learned since 2013 with actionable advice for both EC REA colleagues implementing multi-project portfolio, and future applicants to FP9 and FP10.)

Sea levels have risen an average of 1.5 mm/y over the twentieth century and are predicted to further rise by 2100, in particular under the SSP5–8.5 scenario. Although the consequences of rising sea levels for coastal areas have been observed, predicted, and discussed in the literature, the concerns predominantly addressed are understandably issued from a land-centric perspective. Little consideration has been devoted to systematically studying the consequences of submersion for the sea itself. We suggest that the viewpoint of the ocean should be included in future research and policy-making, inviting the coordination of three main research areas: 1. What parts of land will be submerged? 2. What human infrastructure and non-human features will be reclaimed by the sea? 3. What kind of effects will the submerged infrastructure and features have on the marine environment and its inhabitants? We detail some models and challenges, and advocate for an integrated study of the Marine Impacts of Sea Level Rise (MISR).

The ocean microbiome is at the forefront of science, and although most of the global ocean lies in the southern hemisphere, research efforts have historically been concentrated in the northern hemisphere, leaving important southern regions underexplored. Here, we address this geographic gap in ocean microbiome research, including sampling efforts, access to technology, and expert human resources. We showcase north–south and south-south collaborations and discuss the main challenges posed by parachute research, and collective efforts to avoid it and achieve shared capacity, equitable access to knowledge, and shared benefits. Our recommendations emphasize the importance of actively involving students and researchers from low- and middle-income countries from the global south in co-designing global ocean microbiome research.

Oil spill simulation models are essential for predicting the oil spill behavior and movement in marine environments. In this study, we comprehensively reviewed a large and diverse body of peer-reviewed literature obtained from Scopus and Web of Science. Our initial analysis phase focused on examining trends in scientific publications, utilizing the complete dataset derived after systematic screening and database integration. In the second phase, we applied elements of a systematic review to identify and evaluate the most influential contributions in the scientific field of oil spill simulations. Our analysis revealed a steady and accelerating growth of research activity over the past five decades, with a particularly notable expansion in the last two. The field has also experienced a marked increase in collaborative practices, including a rise in international co-authorship and multi-authored contributions, reflecting a more global and interdisciplinary research landscape. We cataloged the key modeling frameworks that have shaped the field from established systems such as OSCAR, OIL-MAP/SIMAP, and GNOME to emerging hybrid and Lagrangian approaches. Hydrodynamic models were consistently central, often integrated with biogeochemical, wave, atmospheric, and oil-spill-specific modules. Environmental variables such as wind, ocean currents, and temperature were frequently used to drive model behavior. Geographically, research has concentrated on ecologically and economically sensitive coastal and marine regions. We conclude that future progress will rely on the real-time integration of high-resolution environmental data streams, the development of machine-learning-based surrogate models to accelerate computations, and the incorporation of advanced biodegradation and weathering mechanisms supported by experimental data. These advancements are expected to enhance the accuracy, responsiveness, and operational value of oil spill modeling tools, supporting environmental monitoring and emergency response.