• Climate-proof cities with blue-green roofs

  In this project the researchers seek to explore innovative solutions for blue-green infrastructures and spaces. In recent years, these have increasingly received attention in order to realize climate-proof and water-resilient adaptation in urban environments. Part of the innovations include the design and development of modular ‘blue-green roof’ systems, extending traditional roofs and integrating a growing medium for vegetation and plants. There are quite a few societal and technical challenges to overcome in order to accelerate the adoption of such nature-based infrastructures. In April 2023 a successful network event was held for all relevant stakeholders: construction professionals, policy makers, civil society and research institutes and home owners. The project will continue in 2023/2024 and the researchers want to develop a full scale demonstrator of a blue-green roof construction to be showcased in public spaces in Amsterdam and Enschede.

  Research title

  ‘Towards climate-proof cities with innovative blue-green infrastructures’

  Researchers involved

  Nicolien van der Grijp, 
  Toon Haer,
  Sean Vrielink, 
  Armagan Karahanoğlu, 
  Rúben De Freitas Gouveia, 
  Peter Chemweno

  Publication

  Building the blue-green way

  Information

  Sean Vrielink, k.vink@utwente.nl

• Reducing Scope 3 Emissions of Fossil Fuel Companies

  Companies and organisations, including large fossil fuel companies, are increasingly being held accountable for reducing their emissions. This includes Scope 3 Emissions, all indirect emissions that take place within a company's value chain. These Scope 3 Emissions are difficult to measure, define and account for. It is also unclear what the responsibilities of different stakeholders are. This raises new questions about regulation and voluntary action by companies. In this project, an interdisciplinary team from the VU and the UT identified the important trends, a network of stakeholders for further research and several key research questions. For example, does a carbon take-back obligation stand in the way of fossil fuel phase-out? And at what level should carbon take-back be organised? How can end users be held accountable for their indirect emissions? And how can citizens be made aware of their personal use of fossil fuels and their environmental impact? Based on workshops with stakeholders, the researchers drew up an agenda for future research that can be found in the final report.

  Research title

  ‘Reducing Scope 3 Emissions of Fossil Fuel Companies; Challenges, Opportunities & Research Gaps’

  Researchers involved

  Stephan Slingerland,
  Lisa Sanderink, 
  Michiel Heldeweg, 
  Daniel Petrovics, 
  Nicolien van der Grijp

  Publication

  Reducing Scope 3 Emissions of Fossil Fuel Companies

  Information

  Stephan Slingerland, s.slingerland@vu.nl