Active8-Planet project and Amsterdam Sustainability Institute are organizing lecture series highlighting each of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We are interviewing prominent and brand new scientist on their work in a specific SDG in 17 different sessions. We are challenging them to translate their academic research into practice and find the golden lining, upbeat and positive message to share with the world from their work. Check out some snippets below.
SDG Academy
There used to be an invisible wall between the negotiations and the activists
Xiaoran Li:
“There used to be an invisible wall between the negotiations and the activists.”
On November 23, the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute hosted a comprehensive debrief of the COP27 negotiations, as part of their esteemed SDG Academy lecture series. As the pivotal COP27 in Egypt had wrapped up its discussions, this event provided attendees with an opportunity to delve into the outcomes and understand the implications for the landmark Paris Agreement.
Not a lot of talk about the negative effects of phasing out of fossil fuel
Eszter Szedlacsek:
“Not a lot of talk about the negative effects of phasing out of fossil fuel.”
On November 23, the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute hosted a comprehensive debrief of the COP27 negotiations, as part of their esteemed SDG Academy lecture series. As the pivotal COP27 in Egypt had wrapped up its discussions, this event provided attendees with an opportunity to delve into the outcomes and understand the implications for the landmark Paris Agreement.
Smaller countries need strong support
Yves Olatoundji:
“Smaller countries need strong support.”
On January 19, the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute held an insightful debrief session on the outcomes of the COP15 negotiations, as part of their renowned SDG Academy lecture series. This event came in the wake of the historic adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which has set the stage for global action until 2030 aimed at halting and reversing nature loss.
Conservation is not enough
Ina Lehmann:
“Conservation is not enough.”
On January 19, the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute held an insightful debrief session on the outcomes of the COP15 negotiations, as part of their renowned SDG Academy lecture series. This event came in the wake of the historic adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which has set the stage for global action until 2030 aimed at halting and reversing nature loss.
The citizen should really play a part in this
Dr. Suzanne van Osch:
“The citizen should really play a part in this.”
SDG Academy | CITIES2030: towards resilient and sustainable food systems. Food systems are vital for public health but lack sustainable transformation attention. Cities2030 seeks local solutions, fostering co-creation among diverse partners—industry, universities, students, scientists—to address this challenge. Through locally organized labs, they aim to devise practical policy solutions. This SDG Academy event focuses on SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, exploring sustainable regulation and oversight for food systems. Watch the full discussion here.
We're forced as a government to step out of our comfort zone
Stephan Kooijman:
“We’re forced as a government to step out of our comfort zone.”
SDG Academy | CITIES2030: towards resilient and sustainable food systems. Food systems are vital for public health but lack sustainable transformation attention. Cities2030 seeks local solutions, fostering co-creation among diverse partners—industry, universities, students, scientists—to address this challenge. Through locally organized labs, they aim to devise practical policy solutions. This SDG Academy event focuses on SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, exploring sustainable regulation and oversight for food systems. Watch the full discussion here.
We should start as soon as possible
Prof. Elin Lerum Boasson – University of Oslo:
“We should start as soon as possible.”
SDG Academy | Who does what – the insights on the global climate policy from the IPCC report. As the IPCC report of Working Group III just got published, with focus on climate change mitigation, ASI organises this SDG Academy about the IPCC report with one of its lead authors Prof. Elin Lerum Boasson, from the University of Oslo, Norway. Watch the full discussion here.
One individual can make tremendous change
Prof. Elin Lerum Boasson – University of Oslo:
“One individual can make tremendous change.”
SDG Academy | Who does what – the insights on the global climate policy from the IPCC report. As the IPCC report of Working Group III just got published, with focus on climate change mitigation, ASI organises this SDG Academy about the IPCC report with one of its lead authors Prof. Elin Lerum Boasson, from the University of Oslo, Norway. Watch the full discussion here.
Are there any universal solutions?
Dr. Dave Huitema – professor of Environmental Policy at the IVM:
“Are there any universal solutions?”
SDG Academy | Who does what – the insights on the global climate policy from the IPCC report. As the IPCC report of Working Group III just got published, with focus on climate change mitigation, ASI organises this SDG Academy about the IPCC report with one of its lead authors Prof. Elin Lerum Boasson, from the University of Oslo, Norway. Watch the full discussion here.
The transition towards sustainability also needs good legal advice
Philipp Pattberg – Director of Amsterdam Sustainability Institute:
“The transition towards sustainability also needs good legal advice.”
SDG Academy | Circular economy – is our tax system ready? Essential to achieving SDG 12 – responsible consumption and production – is to create incentives for businesses to work in a circular manner. Circular business models move away from traditional concepts such as ownership and volume fees, meaning that instead of selling products to a user, they are leased and taken back afterwards. Watch the full discussion here.
Repurposing the tax system often leads to inequality
Jan Gooijer – Assistant Professor of Tax Law at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam:
“Repurposing the tax system often leads to inequality.”
SDG Academy | Circular economy – is our tax system ready? Essential to achieving SDG 12 – responsible consumption and production – is to create incentives for businesses to work in a circular manner. Circular business models move away from traditional concepts such as ownership and volume fees, meaning that instead of selling products to a user, they are leased and taken back afterwards. Watch the full discussion here.
Every step in a circular flow is taxed
Henriette Scholte – PhD Researcher Circular Economy and Taxation:
“Different from a linear flow, every step in a circular flow is taxed.”
SDG Academy | Circular economy – is our tax system ready? Essential to achieving SDG 12 – responsible consumption and production – is to create incentives for businesses to work in a circular manner. Circular business models move away from traditional concepts such as ownership and volume fees, meaning that instead of selling products to a user, they are leased and taken back afterwards. Watch the full discussion here.
It's all about people's experience
Montserrat Koloffon – PhD candidate at IVM/VU Amsterdam:
“Seeing in practice what I already knew in theory.”
Cornelia Fast – PhD candidate at IVM/VU Amsterdam:
“It’s humans working on this as well.”
SDG Academy presents “COP26: Where do we go from here.” Following the mixed results of COP26 in Glasgow, the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute hosts a debrief as part of its lecture series for those wanting a deeper understanding or missed the chance to unpack the outcomes. Find the full conversation here.
Carbon Responsibilities
Xiaoran Li – PhD candidate at IVM/VU Amsterdam:
“If it’s not certain, China will not raise it on the international stage.”
Stewart Motta – PhD candidate at IVM/VU Amsterdam:
“Everything needs to be reduced to carbon emissions.”
SDG Academy presents “COP26: Where do we go from here.” Following the mixed results of COP26 in Glasgow, the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute hosts a debrief as part of its lecture series for those wanting a deeper understanding or missed the chance to unpack the outcomes. Find the full conversation here.
Battling hope
Yuv Sungkur – Master student of Political Science at VU Amsterdam:
“A big issue that I have with COP 26 is the lack of the representation of the people from SIDS (Small Island Developing States).”
Philipp Pattberg – Director of Amsterdam Sustainability Institute:
“This COP has delivered sufficiently to not lose hope.”
SDG Academy presents “COP26: Where do we go from here.” Following the mixed results of COP26 in Glasgow, the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute hosts a debrief as part of its lecture series for those wanting a deeper understanding or missed the chance to unpack the outcomes. Find the full conversation here.
We have to use less energy
Philipp Pattberg – Director Amsterdam Sustainability Institute:
“Any of the broad projections that we have globally to the 1.5 degree future is with more energy efficiency and actually the same demands that we have today in 2050, which means – we have to use less energy.”
In this month’s SDG Academy we dive into SDG 7 – affordable and clean energy. We start at the VU’s own energy center, where Rooske Gaal, energy coordinator at the VU Amsterdam, shares the history and future of this local energy production plant. This is followed by a panel discussion on the energy transition with Rooske Gaal, Dan Petrovics, PhD student focussed on the energy transition, and Philipp Pattberg, director of the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute.
The VU is not a bubble
Dan Petrovics – Junior Researcher VU:
“The VU is not a bubble, it’s not an island. It’s situated in a city, it’s situated in a neighborhood. What we see, I think, going with decentralizing energy systems is that different elements have to start co-operating.
In this month’s SDG Academy we dive into SDG 7 – affordable and clean energy. We start at the VU’s own energy center, where Rooske Gaal, energy coordinator at the VU Amsterdam, shares the history and future of this local energy production plant. This is followed by a panel discussion on the energy transition with Rooske Gaal, Dan Petrovics, PhD student focussed on the energy transition, and Philipp Pattberg, director of the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute.
The solution is coming together
Rooske Gaal – Energy Coordinator CCE VU-VUmc:
“If we get our energy consumption smaller, the percentage we would get with our own solar would be bigger, so I think that the solution is coming together.”
In this month’s SDG Academy we dive into SDG 7 – affordable and clean energy. We start at the VU’s own energy center, where Rooske Gaal, energy coordinator at the VU Amsterdam, shares the history and future of this local energy production plant. This is followed by a panel discussion on the energy transition with Rooske Gaal, Dan Petrovics, PhD student focussed on the energy transition, and Philipp Pattberg, director of the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute.
What really frustrates young people
Tessa Dool – Board member Jonge Klimaatbeweging:
“Young people are becoming increasingly aware and want the changes to happen, but they’re just not happening yet.”
SDG Academy marks the kick off for our new lecture series that highlights each of the 17 SDGs (we have thus already covered SDG 13: Climate Action). Amsterdam Sustainability Institute is teaming up with Active8-Planet, an Erasmus+-funded programme that aims to research unconventional approaches towards learning in higher education that would empower students towards future-oriented sustainability actions and transform the university research and knowledge in planet-centred interventions.
We can still choose our future
Bart van den Hurk – Lead Author of the 6th IPCC Assessment Report (WG-I):
“We display multiple scenarios with multiple futures that lie ahead of us that we can still choose.”
The SDG Academy launches a new lecture series spotlighting all 17 SDGs (SDG 13: Climate Action covered). The Amsterdam Sustainability Institute collaborates with Active8-Planet, an Erasmus+-funded program exploring innovative higher education methods for empowering students in future-focused sustainability actions, aiming to transform university research towards planet-centered interventions.
Climate change is the basic condition
Prof. Philipp Pattberg – Director of Amsterdam Sustainability Institute:
“Climate change is the basic condition under which everything else will develop.”
The SDG Academy launches a new lecture series spotlighting all 17 SDGs (SDG 13: Climate Action covered). The Amsterdam Sustainability Institute collaborates with Active8-Planet, an Erasmus+-funded program exploring innovative higher education methods for empowering students in future-focused sustainability actions, aiming to transform university research towards planet-centered interventions.
Universities and leadership
Ivar Maas – Lead Sustainability at the VU:
“Universities should show leadership and show that it is possible to make those changes, and to lead by example.”
The SDG Academy launches a new lecture series spotlighting all 17 SDGs (SDG 13: Climate Action covered). The Amsterdam Sustainability Institute collaborates with Active8-Planet, an Erasmus+-funded program exploring innovative higher education methods for empowering students in future-focused sustainability actions, aiming to transform university research towards planet-centered interventions.