The European Commission has appointed Jaroslav Mysiak, Principal Scientist and director of CMCC’s Risk Assessment and Adaptation Strategies (RAAS) division, as one of 10 individual experts to the Commission Expert Group on Nature Credits, positioning CMCC at the centre of one of Europe’s most significant emerging policy initiatives, combining scientific rigour with practical market-based mechanisms to address the continent’s critical biodiversity financing gap.
The appointment follows the publication of the European Commission’s Roadmap towards Nature Credits in July 2025, a strategic initiative designed to unlock innovative financial mechanisms supporting the protection, restoration and sustainable management of Europe’s ecosystems. “The Roadmap sets out a strategic vision to unlock new financial mechanisms that support the protection, restoration and sustainable management of Europe’s ecosystems. Recognising that nature underpins climate resilience, food and water security, and long-term economic stability, yet remains chronically underfunded, the Communication from the Commission outlines how high-integrity voluntary nature credits could complement public investment and help close Europe’s biodiversity financing gap,” says Mysiak.
The Expert Group on Nature Credits has been established to guide the development of the EU framework for certifying and rewarding nature restoration outcomes. Drawing on scientific evidence, practical experience and emerging methodologies, members will advise the European Commission on designing the comprehensive roadmap for nature credits and defining what high-quality credits should look like. Their mandate encompasses multiple critical dimensions: developing technical standards for assessing ecosystem condition, establishing robust monitoring and verification protocols, defining appropriate indicators to ensure environmental integrity, and guaranteeing coherence with EU legislation spanning biodiversity, climate and carbon removal policies as well as international initiatives.
The Roadmap therefore defines the concept of nature credits and proposes a phased approach whereby nature-positive actions are certified and subsequently converted into verified credits that reflect measurable ecological outcomes. It also announces the development of robust scientific methodologies, governance frameworks, and transparency safeguards to ensure market credibility and avoid greenwashing.
“The Roadmap lays the foundation for potential future regulation and positions nature restoration as a mainstream investment opportunity that aligns economic incentives with the EU’s climate, biodiversity and resilience goals,” says Mysiak.
Bringing together a broad and balanced mix of expertise from across Europe and internationally, the Expert Group is led by the European Commission’s DG Environment with participation from other relevant directorates-general, and comprises individual experts selected for their specialist knowledge in ecosystem science, biodiversity assessment, certification and monitoring/reporting/verification, environmental governance and nature finance, alongside representatives specialising in biodiversity metrics and monitoring methodologies.
Mysiak’s appointment reflects his extensive expertise in climate risk assessment, transformative adaptation policies and governance, and bridging of scientific expertise with policy implementation. His appointment also positions CMCC at the centre of one of Europe’s most significant emerging policy initiatives, combining scientific rigour with practical market-based mechanisms to address the continent’s critical biodiversity financing gap. The Expert Group’s work will be instrumental in shaping how private finance can complement public investment in nature restoration across the EU and beyond.
