Dutch research 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.
More collaboration and ambition needed
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The Young Academy and Green Young Academy make a number of recommendations in their report Thirteen shades of green. First, universities and UMCs should be more ambitious in their sustainability plans; they have a moral obligation and a duty to society to be frontrunners. Another important recommendation is to standardise sustainability plans: public knowledge institutions should use the same terminology and standardise their reporting. In addition, transparency is essential – progress and results should be reported centrally and audited independently. Embedding sustainable development in activities and operations requires continuity and autonomy, for example by ensuring that sustainability coordinators account for a stable percentage of overall FTEs. Finally, collaboration is crucial: ‘quick wins’ can be made by adopting best practices from other institutions.
Specific steps
The first step universities and UMCs can take is to sign the Think green, act green manifesto, in which The Young Academy and Green Young Academy call on the governing boards of Dutch knowledge institutions to commit to the following:
- Educational programmes – embed sustainability in the curriculum
- Prepare students for their role in driving the climate transition.
Research – encourage socially relevant science
- Reduce internal competition, phase out partnerships with pollution-producing industries, undertake more critical research.
- Operational processes – en route to climate-neutral public knowledge institutions
- Reduce carbon offsetting, fast-track reduction of carbon emissions and make reporting transparent and quantifiable.
- Governance – embed sustainability in decision-making
- Recognise and reward employee sustainability efforts, stabilise the position of sustainability coordinators.
First to sign
Utrecht University, Eindhoven University of Technology, the University of Twente, Amsterdam UMC, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Society of Arts have already signed the Think green, act green manifesto. We call on all Dutch public knowledge institutions to follow their lead. Signatures may be submitted by emailing dja@knaw.nl. The Young Academy will produce a follow-up report in a few years’ time charting the progress made by the universities and UMCs.
Download the report and manifesto
About the Green Young Academy
The Green Young Academy is a national partnership for climate action and initiatives within Dutch academia. It brings together knowledge and expertise from The Young Academy and all the local Young Academies in the Netherlands, has direct links to local university leaders, and can thus boost the impact of climate initiatives.