Climate change and sustainability

Why this theme — the scope

Climate change challenges, on a global scale and with their massive impact on ecosystems and societies, are a relatively new phenomenon for humanity. For the first time, people have to act upon a future from an all-inclusive perspective. It needs commitment to action and a never-wavering sense of urgency.

For years we knew that human actions are the primary source of global climate change and that climate change results from an accumulation of greenhouse gases. Severe weather effects, the destruction of ecosystems, and biodiversity loss are linked directly to human-induced climate change. Unfortunately, we have yet to translate this knowledge into sufficient, proportionate, sustainable action.

The nature of this severe threat has prompted many initiatives at the policy level since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) entered into force on 21 March 1994. The European Green Deal and Fit for 55 policy initiatives (2020) pave the way for a climate-neutral European Union in 2050. The Netherlands Climate Act (May 2019) targets 49% greenhouse-gas reduction by 2030 (vs 1990) and 95% by 2050. The Climate Plan, the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) and the National Climate Agreement provide the policy framework.

Despite these ambitions, COP 27 (November 2022) showed that what the world needs — accelerated action and intensified measures — still requires the world to act as one. Awareness has substantially increased and progress has been made, but more than technological solutions is needed. Planet Earth is a complex system in which humans, technology and nature interact in paradoxical patterns. Radical changes in how we collectively live, work and pursue progress are required alongside radical technological innovations.

"Our challenge — and opportunity — is nothing short of reinventing capitalism once again into a sustainable form of commerce that includes all humanity in its bounty and sustains the underlying natural capital upon which we all depend." — Stuart L. Hart (2010)

How we engage — our work

The role, responsibility and impact of the Economics and Business sector evolves around its two core activities: education and research. Yearly, 53,000 students (15.7% of all Dutch students) register for an Economics and Business educational programme, and thousands of professionals enrol in our lifelong-learning programmes and events.

These numbers highlight the enormous potential impact the sector can have on climate change through educating students and professionals. By disseminating research-based knowledge, the sector contributes to evidence-based decision-making, policymaking, and climate action in organisations and society. To advance, it requires a combined approach: making students aware of the complexity of climate challenges, equipping them with state-of-the-art scientific knowledge, and providing the tools to act.

Economics and Business research will increase its focus on studying which alternative ways of living, working and pursuing progress are feasible — and how these affect climate change. Such indicators provide evidence-based input for governmental, corporate and individual decision-making. As many stakeholders define what living, working and progress look like, the research questions cut through many levels of analysis (societal, organisational, individual). Researchers must adopt a multi-, inter- or transdisciplinary approach.

What to expect — our contribution and impact

Identifying premises

Transforming our education has a content and a delivery dimension. We must make explicit what is implicit now — the specific concepts, ideas and assumptions underlying our economic, social and organisational models. When change asks to carve out new ways, the first thing to do is firmly know where you stand and why.

For example, a dominant discourse on economic growth states that growth as we know it is compatible with environmental sustainability because of technological innovation — economic growth drives and pays for the transition to a zero-emission economy. A counter-discourse states precisely the opposite: the slower the economic growth rate, the easier it becomes to achieve required emission reductions. Both perspectives lead to very different policy and action agendas. Another example: is climate-change mitigation (reducing greenhouse-gas flow) or adaptation (reducing vulnerability of societies, communities and habitats) the underlying objective? Mitigation and adaptation can conflict depending on stakeholder perspective.

Students and professionals must understand the dynamics that arise when different assumptions are the starting point of research or reasoning. Their skills portfolio should include systems thinking, perspective taking, adopting a paradox mindset, and engaging in multi-stakeholder dialogue. In innovation or climate-change labs, students and professionals practice working multi-disciplinarily — co-creating with policymakers, business, NGOs and international scientific organisations on real-life climate problems.

Research for evidence-based decisions

The Economics and Business research agenda regarding climate change reflects our commitment to contribute. Our research enables evidence-based policy advice to accelerate ambitious initiatives by governments, NGOs and international scientific organisations. Our findings help businesses implement climate-conscious strategies and empower employees with the confidence to take supporting day-to-day actions.

Executing this agenda requires researchers to create and work in multi-, inter- or transdisciplinary settings — collaborating across disciplines and stakeholders, working from a challenge-based perspective at the interface of science, policy and society, and mastering a diversity of theories, methods and tools. In practice this means a move to team science, with groups of researchers studying various aspects of a joint problem. Team science needs substantial investments in time, competencies, training and an aligned recognition-and-rewards system.

Mindfully daring to see the future

Humankind has a long-standing history of dealing with environmental changes, but never before has this planet — our home — threatened our existence. We have used the natural world to our advantage without acting as stewards, endangering the self-regulating capacity of the ecosystem Earth and coming close to tipping points.

As wisdom arises from experience and the willingness to learn, the challenge we face also needs a how-can-we-make-it-work attitude to enhance the creative process in search of adaptive measures and courageous leadership. Rethink, reimage, reframe — our knowledge, experience, and skills will be both the anchor and the sails of this vessel sailing into new, unexplored areas. The Economics and Business sector has the knowledge, experience, and tools to contribute to this transition.