How to go fossil free? The journey of VU Amsterdam

17 September 2024 16:00 - 17:00 CET, online

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In April this year, VU Amsterdam hosted the final Fossil-Free Dialogue and celebrated the signing of the new fossil-free research framework. This session was the culmination of a comprehensive process that began with the landmark decision to no longer enter research partnerships with companies in the fossil fuel industry not complying with the Paris Agreement, after an extensive consultation process with the VU community. VU became the second university in the world to stop research collaborations with companies of the fossil fuel industry, unless certain criteria are met.

Cutting ties with the fossil fuel sector is a multifaceted and complex process. VU Amsterdam made the first transformative step in this journey by focusing on its research domain. This SDG Academy delves into the topic of fossil fuel severance as a university, following the journey of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and will open with a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of Dutch universities, delivered by Dr.–Ing. Aaron Pereira, co-founder at Solid Sustainability Research. Afterwards, the fossil free journey of VU Amsterdam will be discussed, with insights from key contributors to the process:

  • Dr. Mathieu Blondeel, Assistant Professor at IVM and Climate Expertise Centre expert
  • Prof. Marjan Hofkes, Professor at the School of Business and Economics of VU Amsterdam and chair of the Central Committee for Fossil-Free Research
  • Prof. Philipp Pattberg, Director of the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute (ASI) and Professor of transnational environmental governance and policy at the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) of VU Amsterdam

The session will close with an interactive Q&A segment, with input from the audience.

This event is open for anyone interested in the process of cutting ties with the fossil fuel sector, with a particular relevance for university staff, and sustainability officers.

Programme

16:00 Welcome by Prof. Philipp Pattberg

16:05 University landscape in the Netherlands by Dr.–Ing. Aaron Pereira

16:15 The journey of VU since the divestment decision by Dr. Mathieu Blondeel

16:25 The development of the VU Framework on Fossil Free Research by Prof. Marjan Hofkes

16:35 Q&A with inputs from the audience moderated by Paulina Raniecka, ASI Communications Coordinator