Climate tipping point

Nieuws

• Framework developed to protect aquatic communities

  Researchers at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam introduce an analytical definition of the concept of 'water commons', examining how vulnerable water is to seizure. They also discuss the associated water justice and environmental implications.

• Fake caterpillars offer insight into warm city

  Cities are often warmer than rural environments. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam will investigate the effect this has on the behaviour of birds and insects. In the coming year researchers will monitor forty trees in the city. "With the results, we want to restore the ecological balance."

• New model for food production, biodiversity and land rights

  Large-scale food production is often framed as being at odds with protecting biodiversity, and expansion of industrial agriculture can also displace vulnerable communities. But according to new research by environmental geographer Camille Venier-Cambron this does not have to be the case. “It is possible to explore futures which meets our goals of food production, biodiversity conservation, and social justice.”

• Suffering from ecodepression? VU first university in the Netherlands to train spiritual caregivers who can offer perspective

  How to deal with climate anxiety and ecodepression? At VU Amsterdam, future mental health professionals learn to assist people in their concerns about the future of the planet.

• Maximum one-and-a-half degree warming? ‘Politically and socially unachievable’

  VU climate scientist and IPCC co-chair Bart van den Hurk has little faith that we will succeed in limiting global warming to one and a half degrees. “That's just the reality”, van den Hurk told NRC. “The climate is not going to sit and wait for us to turn off the CO2 tap. If we manage to do that at all, we are several decades away from noticing the results of this closed tap in the climate system.”

• ‘Is the World on Fire?’ Explaining Geopolitics, Energy, and Climate in Crisis

  In his new book ‘Is the World on Fire?’, Mathieu Blondeel, a climate and energy policy researcher at VU Amsterdam, emphasises that our dependence on fossil fuels is not only the cause of the climate crisis, but it also contributes to (colonial) wars, economic recessions and other problems. But he says that simply replacing fossil fuels with materials such as lithium, cobalt or nickel, which are essential for producing electric batteries, is not a good solution.

• Lightning fires threaten northern forests

  Last summer, Canada’s forests were on fire. The cause? Lightning strikes. This was not a coincidence, VU researchers revealed. Due to climate change, lightning will likely increase in northern forests. The article says that it will ‘likely’ increase, so I added that to the English text.

• ‘Short-term climate change measures remain overlooked in debate’

  Climate lawyer Tim Bleeker examines whether the climate targets in party programmes for the House of Representatives elections comply with European climate standards and human rights. “Whether or not to reduce Dutch greenhouse gas emissions is not a political issue but a legal obligation”, says Bleeker.

• New way of nudging leads to a more sustainable meal

  If you first let people think about whether they want to make sustainable choices in their eating behaviour, it then becomes easier to nudge them in the right direction afterwards. That is the conclusion of environmental and behavioural economist Sanchayan Banerjee.

• AI, the energy guzzler

  Many people gratefully use ChatGPT, but if demand remains the same, AI will potentially consume as much energy as the whole of the Netherlands in 2027. That’s the conclusion of a study by VU Amsterdam PhD student Alex de Vries, as reported by NOS (in Dutch). “Artificial intelligence is simply very energy-intensive,” says de Vries.

• Undervaluing nature underlies today’s environmental crisis

  How do different people value nature? In various ways, according to recent research by VU Amsterdam environmental economists Marije Schaafsma and Anna Filyushkina. For many people, nature is linked to their cultural identity and social values. These different values are not sufficiently reflected in political and economic decisions, the researchers saw. “We must include all these different voices in decisions and policies as much as possible, taking into account how each policy impacts those different groups of people,” says Marije Schaafsma.

• Carcinogenic substances known to Tata Steel

  As early as the 1970s, a high concentration of carcinogenic substances was measured near the former blast furnace site in Wijk aan Zee, and Tata Steel knew about it – according to an unearthed report. “It was clear-cut 50 years ago, but environmental science was still in its infancy. People hesitated to do anything about it and then the report disappeared,” says professor of environmental chemistry and toxicology Jacob de Boer in an NOS article (in Dutch).

• The right to demonstrate is under threat

  “And that’s not just the fault of the authorities,” says Professor Jacquelien van Stekelenburg in Ad Valvas.She claims that the number of demonstrations without prior notification has increased. “A number of activists recently told the Dutch House of Representatives that they have stopped issuing notifications because they saw that the trifecta – public prosecution service, mayor and police – does little to facilitate and mostly imposes restrictive measures.”

• General public willing to pay for global coral reef conservation

  Large-scale coral bleaching has increased in severity and frequency worldwide. However, citizens in both high- and low-income countries are willing to make a major contribution to conserve coral reefs, according to new research by VU Amsterdam environmental economist Peter Robinson.

• Heat in water triggers extremes

  Thousands dead and at least the same number displaced: storm Daniel hit Libya exceptionally hard. Professor of weather extremes Dim Coumou explains to NRC, “This summer the water in the Atlantic Ocean is extremely warm. As a result, we have seen bizarre heat waves in the US, in China and also in the Mediterranean. That is because that heat from the water is in the system and that triggers the extremes.” According to Coumou, a lot of misery could have been avoided if people had been warned in time.

• More news

  Want to redeem your can or bottle deposit via Tikkie or donate to charity? Both are possible at VU Amsterdam!

  Opposite the Mainstreet coffee corner in the Main Building, a container deposit machine has recently been installed where you can return your empty cans or bottles. Your deposit will then be paid out via Tikkie, but you can also donate it to a good cause.

  The impending drinking water shortage is a result of inequality

  A shortage of drinking water is a threat in many cities – and the Netherlands is no exception. According to scientists at VU Amsterdam, this is not only a consequence of climate change, as is often portrayed. “It is primarily a problem of inequality,” they argue in Vrij Nederland (in Dutch).

  VU Amsterdam once again the most sustainable university in the Netherlands

  On Friday 26 May, the SustainaBUL awards were handed out. VU Amsterdam was once again named the most sustainable university in the Netherlands, while our CO2 assistant student project was declared a 2023 best practice.

  VU Amsterdam sets new course on behalf of energy transition

  On 20 April 2023, VU Amsterdam decided only to enter into new research collaborations with companies from the fossil fuels sector that are demonstrably committed to the objectives of the Paris Agreement in the short term.

  VU Amsterdam has been selected in the Trends & Innovations section of the 2023 Sustainable Campus Index (SCI) due to the discontinuation of cooperation with the fossil fuel industry. This is a publication sharing campus sustainability initiatives by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

  VU's master’s in Climate Law: will its students sue or defend Shell?

  VU Amsterdam offers a master’s programme in Climate Law. Who are the climate lawyers of the future? Trouw interviewed the students (in Dutch) about their studies and motivation. “In the end, we filed a 96-page complaint against Shell.”

  “When are we going to occupy the university?”

  More than 30 people attended a debate on climate activism in Debatcentrum 3D in January. Ad Valvas joined the debate, which was organised by Scientist Rebellion.

  VU professor Bart van den Hurk appointed co-chair of UN climate panel IPCC 

  Professor of climate change and adaptation at VU Amsterdam, Bart van den Hurk has been appointed as co-chair of one of the three working groups in the UN climate panel, IPCC. His working group is concerned with the consequences of, and adaptation to, climate change. “I feel a strong need to deliver the message in such a way that the knowledge that is missing triggers social action,” says Van den Hurk. Read the article on VU.nl.

  Mining pollution affects millions and threatens health and the environment globally

  VU Amsterdam climatologist Paolo Scussolini and hydrologist Dirk Eilanden showed that metal mining causes serious environmental and health problems. Mining has a major impact on rivers and on the fertile, flat land along their banks, with negative consequences for people and the environment. The findings highlight the need for improved mining management and pollution control.

  Extreme weather the new normal

  Climate scientist Bart van den Hurk could no longer keep up with the large number of extreme weather events this summer, he says in NOS Journaal (in Dutch). Recently appointed co-chair of the UN climate panel IPCC, Van den Hurk advocates not only for warning people about the climate crisis but also for emphasising what’s still possible to be done about it.

  A campus free of cigarette butts: that's what we're aiming for

  On Monday afternoon, 18 September, we held a big cigarette butt cleanup on the VU Campus, together with Peukenzee and Green Office VU. Will you help us fight against the cigarette sea?

  Read more about the initiative here.

  The playful media gimmicks of climate activists

  Extinction Rebellion has a clever media strategy, says VU professor of social change Jacquelien van Stekelenburg to NOS (in Dutch). According to her, the activist group has “in an incredibly clever approach, with playful campaigns and strong media direction, which has ensured they kept getting news coverage.”

  Point of no return

  Devastation on Maui, flooded streets in Slovenia and landslides in Norway: the current extreme events are in line with expectations, says VU climate researcher Sem Vijverberg in an article on NU.nl (in Dutch). He’s particularly concerned about tipping points: moments when systems become irreversibly damaged.

  VU researcher Niels Debonne named in ScienceGuide as influential scientist for 2023 – 2024

  Last year, VU Amsterdam became the first Dutch university to sever ties with the fossil fuel industry. According to ScienceGuide, Niels Debonne, IVM researcher and member of Scientist Rebellion, was an important voice in this. Debonne, along with four other scientists, will be defining figures in the knowledge sector in the Netherlands and abroad in 2023 – 2024, as per ScienceGuide.

  Veni grant for climate scientist Marleen de Ruiter

  It’s not clear when, where and how often successive natural disasters lead to disease outbreaks and what factors play a role in this. Climate scientist Marleen de Ruiter plans to research this using her Veni funding.

  Mediterranean region becoming more sensitive to effects of heat

  Although the wildfires in Greece have been larger and more intense than in recent years, the Mediterranean region has not yet been hit harder than average over the past ten years. This is according to VU Amsterdam researcher Roland Vernooij on BNR (in Dutch). “But due to the effects of heat, the area is becoming increasingly sensitive.”

  Carbon offsets by fossil fuels industry prove to be greenwashing

  The climate promises of oil and gas companies are a joke – so says the research that VU scientist Mathieu Blondeel carried out with Gregory Trencher (Kyoto University) and Jusen Asuka (Tohoku University) into the climate strategies of the fossil fuels industry. “The carbon compensation policy of companies like Shell is the prototype for greenwashing,” says Blondeel.

  Climate-proof future: saline agriculture on the European policy agenda

  On 11 July 2023, VU Amsterdam scientists from the Institute for Environmental Affairs (IVM) wrote a policy brief to the EU, asking for saline agriculture to be given a prominent place on the policy agenda. They emphasise that climate change caused by human activity is a threat to agriculture, while arguing that embracing saline agriculture can bring about a climate-proof future for the agricultural sector.

Opinion

• Tim Bleeker: "CSDDD an important step for our climate"

  After years of negotiations, the Council and the European Parliament had reached a political agreement on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (abbreviated CSDD or CS3D) last December. This directive requires large companies to embed environmental considerations, climate action and human rights in their business operations. VU climate lawyer Tim Bleeker talks about this breakthrough in climate law. 

• Fabian Dablander and Niels Debonne: "Our leaders are doing far too little for the climate. That's why it is up to us now"

  According to VU lecturers Fabian Dablander and Niels Debonne in NRC, it is logical that we despair over the lack of climate policy. “By taking concrete action for the climate yourself, you create hope.”

• Paul van Lange: "Wouldn't it be lovely if, through increased air travel taxes, train prices could be lowered?"

  VU professor of psychology Paul van Lange recently took the night train from Amsterdam to Vienna and wrote about it in NRC (in Dutch). Is this much greener alternative to flying worth it? According to the scientist, there's still a lot to be done to make the overnight train journey appealing. "Railway companies should increase the availability and space of sleeping accommodations and comfort by 30 percent."

• Jan Jorrit Hasselaar: “There’s an alternative to either pessimism or optimism: hope."

  The climate discussion seems to be divided into two camps: the doomsday pessimists and the naive optimists. Both pessimists and optimists clearly have blind spots, says VU Amsterdam economist and theologian Jan Jorrit Hasselaar to NRC (in Dutch, paywall). He advocates for a “third way”: hope.

• Matthias Smalbrugge: "Doom spiralling or keeping the hope: which strategy will help us move forward in the climate debate?"

  “Neither,” says Matthias Smalbrugge, professor of European culture and Christianity to Trouw (in Dutch). “For me, the motivation to fight climate change does not come from hope or fear, but from a sense of duty, an imperative that stems from being human itself.”

• Klaas Rozemond: "Conviction of A12 climate activists will be reversed."

  The conviction of climate activists who blocked the A12 will be reversed on appeal. They did not actually endanger traffic, writes Klaas Rozemond, associate professor of criminal law, in an opinion piece for de Volkskrant (in Dutch).

• Paul van Lange: “Government, encourage climate-friendly behaviour by removing barriers.”

  Taking the train instead of the plane: the government must do much more to encourage climate-friendly behaviour. So says psychology professor Paul van Lange (FGB) in an opinion piece in NRC (in Dutch). One of the options is financial incentive: “Make train tickets cheaper, for example, by adding an extra tax on flying,” says Van Lange.

• Jorim Tielbeek: “Climate should be part of every study programme.”

  In Ad Valvas on 1 June 2023, neuroscience teacher Jorim Tielbeek argues that every higher education programme should have a climate component. Tielbeek: “I see scientists as citizen scholars, with a clear responsibility.”

• Petra Verdonk: “Criticising your own organisation is frowned upon.”

  In VU Magazine on 15 May 2023, university lecturer and climate activist Petra Verdonk talks about her climate activism. She’s fighting the climate crisis both at the university and on the A12. Verdonk: “I've heard all my scientific life that I couldn't be objective.

• More opinion

  Niels Debonne and Edina Doci: “The requirements that VU Amsterdam sets for fossil fuels companies are noble, but naïve.”

  In Het Parool (in Dutch) on 28 April 2023, VU Amsterdam scientists Niels Debonne and Edina Doci ask why the university wants to set up a national dialogue platform with the fossil fuels industry. “VU Amsterdam can turn this platform into an important innovation engine if it’s limited to those who are willing and not stakeholders. Otherwise it will be just another lobbying exercise.”

  Matthias Bickelhaupt and Luuk Visscher: “Cutting ties with Shell would be greenwashing.”

  In Ad Valvas on 24 February 2023, VU Amsterdam professors of theoretical chemistry Matthias Bickelhaupt and Luuk Visscher explain why they believe the university should continue to collaborate with companies like Shell.

  Phillip Pattberg: “Academic boards must cut all ties with the fossil fuels industry.”

  In Trouw (in Dutch) on 17 January 2023, professor of transnational environmental management and policy Phillip Pattberg and other scientists express their criticism of the response of Dutch universities to student protests about ties to the fossil fuels industry.

  Jacob de Boer: “PFAS should be banned.”

  More thorough research is needed into the concentrations of PFAS in the air and its possible consequences, toxicologist Jacob de Boer argues in Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). These “forever chemicals” are found in products like raincoats and non-stick pans. “In order to stop the concentrations from increasing, PFAS production must be banned as soon as possible,” says de Boer.

  Stefan Paas: “The crisis we find ourselves in is fundamentally a religious one.”

  In NRC (in Dutch) on 23 May 2023, Stefan Paas writes that some people who oppose a tougher climate policy use the term “climate religion” to dismiss those who are committed to climate action as dogmatic, subservient and irrational.

  Katinka Quintelier: “Let nature take over the cities.”

  In Ad Valvas on 6 April 2023, management and organisation teacher Katinka Quintelier talks about plans to make the city greener. Quintelier: “Let plants grow on every roof, plants and animals live on every wall. Every lawn can become a natural landscape where all sorts of things grow and flourish.”

  VU Amsterdam student: “Cutting ties with Shell would send an important signal to society.”

  Ad Valvas on 24 February 2023 describes a discussion at VU Amsterdam about collaboration with the fossil fuels industry. “Not only are these companies destroying the earth – they’re also violating human rights.”

Agenda

• Lunch Seminar - ASI research cluster Natural Hazards & Society

  Join the lunch seminar of the ASI research cluster Natural Hazards & Society if you want to take part in a conversation about natural hazards!

  Upcoming lunch seminars: 

  • May 21
  • June 18

• 23 May: From Socio-Ecological Peril to Safeguarding Futures - CLUE+

  Verhalen zijn aangrijpingspunten voor verandering. De verhalen die we nu gebruiken blijken destructief te zijn. We hebben meer duurzame en rechtvaardige verhalen nodig om door te leven. Neem deel aan de workshop Climate Change storytelling op 23 mei en creëer je eigen verhalen, deel ze met anderen en ga met elkaar in discussie. 

• Past events

  17 November 2023 - 29 March 2024: Life of Plants @ VU ART SCIENCE gallery

  The new exhibition Life of Plants focuses on our relationship with plants. We usually have little regard for their unique biological characteristics, beauty and importance. That's why VU ART SCIENCE gallery displays art works by Arja Hop & Peter Svenson, Elspeth Diederix, Špela Petrič and Oscar Santillán. Scientists share their insights with the audience in a series of ART SCIENCE dialogues.

  14 November: The new economy: is green growth possible? 

  Is the current capitalist system based on the destruction of our planet? How can we transform our economic system? Director of Our New Economy Maarten Nijman will discuss these questions during this lecture on 14 November.

  PhD defence P. Ignjačević: “Calming the waves”

  Why is assessing global climate change at a local scale so important? In his research, climate scientist Predrag Ignjačević shows the impact of measures to limit the extent or speed of global warming in different regions of the world. He shared his findings during his PhD defence.

  12 October: COP28 and the power of storytelling 

  COP28 – the Climate Change Conference in Dubai – will start at the end of November. During the lead-up, VU Amsterdam is organising two workshops focusing on storytelling, led by geologist Sjoerd Kluiving. Create meaningful stories about climate, health and justice together with scientists, artists and activists. Join us and make your voice heard! Register via this link.

  10 October: Sustainability Day “Bring on the action”

  The VU Sustainability Office wants to bring sustainability to the attention of the academic community on 10 October through workshops, an initiative market, a citizen assembly and a presentation by professor Arjen Wals. Under the theme of “Bring on the Action,” we call on everyone to make an active contribution to a more sustainable university.

  28 September: Climate science in dialogue

  Are you a researcher working on climate issues? Or are you involved in scientific communication? Are you looking for ideas about how you can start a conversation with members of civil society and how you can contribute to the social debate? The VU Athena Institute and G1000 invite you to participate in De Proeverij on 28 September in Utrecht. Sign up via this link.

  15 September: The quest to identify harmful substances and exposure of people and the environment

  Analytical chemist Marja Lamoree spoke in her inaugural lecture on 15 September about human and environmental health and how it is under pressure from exposure to a cocktail of different substances. “We need to measure this much better and more often to protect the environment and people”, explained Lamoree.

  5 September: What is the Anthropocene?

  According to experts, we are in a new era: the Anthropocene. The beginning of a period in which human activity is the main cause of climate and ecological changes on our planet. VU Amsterdam professor and geologist Sjoerd Kluiving will explain exactly what this means in his lecture.

  19 September: Transition Pathways

  The transition from fossil fuels to clean and green energy sources is crucial to combat climate change. On 19 September, professor Sjoerd Kluiving will talk to professor of climate change and energy transition Marjolein Dieperink, who is also a lawyer in this field, asking: How can we reach this transition? And what laws and regulations are needed?

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