'There is no planet B'

In this interview, coalition leaders Mark van der Meijde and Sander Veraverbeke share their vision on sustainability and their collective mission for the future.

‘There is no planet B’

Coalition leaders Mark van der Meijde (UT) and Sander Veraverbeke (VU) from Responsible Societies discuss the importance of connecting, taking responsibility, breathing and the educational journey from Amsterdam to Twente.

"We don’t often introduce ourselves as coalition leaders of Responsible Societies. Philosophically, it’s something we ‘breathe’ rather than ‘sell’. We both joined because it aligns perfectly with the work we’ve been doing for years and the big challenges facing society. We’ve been working on topics like climate change and sustainability, aiming for a better future for our planet. There is no planet B.

Specific expertise

We’re six months in and there’s great synergy between us, and with our coordinators Peter Chemweno and Nicole van Maanen. We all bring specific expertise in earth, climate, technology and policy. There’s a lot of enthousiasm and positive energy within our impact coalition, allowing us to approach our projects broadly and effectively.

A safe living environment

Our choices are about taking responsibility. We must ensure we use natural resources sustainably to create a safe environment. This includes energy, the energy transition, CO2, climate change, urban climates, natural disasters and the societal impact of all of this. We aim to paint the full picture, emphasising that we have a lot in our control – if we take responsibility for it.

Great projects

The seed funding from the calls is a good way to start projects that could grow into larger research projects at NWO or the European Commission. We’ve made sure to focus on topics that we truly believe are important, and it’s paying off. In the last call round, four excellent projects were awarded, covering the full scope of our coalition.

Science and activism

We’re working in an area with a lot happening, especially regarding collaboration with the fossil fuel industry. What is and isn’t possible? VU Amsterdam has taken a firm stand that such collaboration is not possible unless companies align with the Paris Agreement. This links to the current debate about the boundary between science and activism. We believe each scientist must take their own responsibility, even in their media presence. Sometimes we must bring facts that may not be pleasant, but are true.

Building community

One of our roles is to bring people together, excite and motivate them to propose ideas. This is going well, but it remains a challenge to further develop our community, as well as that of the three coalitions. The seed funding helps, as does the increased collaboration across coalitions. It’s important for us to increase both internal and external visibility.

External parties

That visibility is also crucial for working with more external parties in the future. Some projects already involve external partners, but we aim to expand this. This requires preparation and decisions on our part. Who are our future partners and what do we expect from them? We need to find the added value of collaborating with business, government, NGOs and civil society. Our colleagues at Secure Societies are further along in this area, and we can learn a lot from them.

Making a difference

We are an impact coalition, and the exact nature of that impact remains an interesting question. But our starting point is clear: there is no planet B. Impact is about both scientific and societal influence. As scientists, we aim to develop innovative research in a careful and sustainable way, leading to new insights and solutions for society. It’s not just about advancing knowledge, but ensuring it’s applied in practice to make a real difference. A good example is our project on green roofs in cities.

Joint education programs

A key step for our coalition’s future is developing joint education. We’re taking the reverse route that Mechanical Engineering and Creative Technology have done. We want to bring courses from Amsterdam to Twente, which is a priority for us. Discussions are underway, but we need more time. Due to changing conditions, we’re not yet where we want to be. It’s an exciting development, and we’re confident we’ll succeed."