Thirteen shades of green. Examining the climate ambitions of Dutch universities
2025 | 26 pages
Dutch universities and UMCs play an exceptional role in the climate transition: on the one hand, they are large organisations with a considerable carbon footprint; on the other, they can accelerate the climate transition through their research, innovation and education. Their sustainability plans are therefore crucial to securing a sustainable future. But these plans vary considerably in terms of their timeline, policy scope, staffing and progress reporting. There is also little collaboration between universities, even though working together would promote efficiency.
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Think green, act green. Manifesto for knowledge institutions
2025 | 7 pages
The Young Academy and the Green Young Academy call on knowledge institutions to explicitly expand their academic and social responsibility to include planetary responsibility. This manifesto asks knowledge institutions’ administrators to pledge concrete actions in the domains of education, research, operations, and governance.
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Read the press release 'Universities should be more ambitious in the climate transition'
How to sign the manifesto
Administrators | Knowledge institutions' administrators can formally sign the manifesto by sending an email to dja@knaw.nl.
Parts of knowledge institutions (such as study associations, action groups, faculties, green offices, etc.) can express their support for the manifesto by sending an email to dja@knaw.nl. Individual employees can do this as well. They can also repost our post on LinkedIn, or respond with #tagjerector @[Name of your rector or Board President].
Signatories
The manifesto has been signed by:
- Utrecht University
- Eindhoven University of Technology
- University of Twente
- Amsterdam UMC
- Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Society of Arts