Dossier
Climate
Climate action is an important aspect for TU Delft, and needs to be expressed in its education and research. It should also be reflected in its own purchasing policy and its energy consumption. At the same time, protesters are putting it under pressure to do more and to take action such as ending ties with the fossil fuel industry. Read all about it in this dossier.
Around ten protesters staged a noise protest at the Delft Career Days on Tuesday afternoon. They were protesting against the presence of fossil fuel companies and companies linked to the military industry. However, the music was so loud that the activists could hardly talk to passing students.
The shipping industry needs to be less polluting and even become emission free. How can this be achieved at a time where everyone orders everything from Temu? By falling back on the wind. Researchers are testing the aerodynamics of a cargo ship in a wind tunnel to determine the best place to position rotor sails.
Quantum professor and climate activist Sander Otte attended a conference where defence research was a major topic of discussion. He advocates caution, because amid all the geopolitical and military tensions, we must not lose sight of the backdrop against which these developments are taking place: the ever-escalating climate and ecological crisis.
Dozens of ties link the fossil fuel industry to Dutch universities, action researchers warn in a new report. These include the fossil fuel companies at the Delft Career Days.
The Sustainability Core Team will cease to exist and the tasks will be taken over by the Climate Action Programme. Is TU Delft putting its green plans in the freezer? No, says Andy van den Dobbelsteen, the departing Sustainability Coordinator. “We have created systems that will not disappear just like that.”
The ideas at the festival held by the Climate Action Programme on Thursday were primarily about solutions. Keywords were motivation and inspiration. But should the tone not be more concerned?
An initially peaceful demonstration at the Delft Career Days on Tuesday ended up as a blockade of the main entrance to the Aula. Ten people were arrested for breaching the peace and one is suspected of assault. The protesters were protesting against the presence of fossil fuel and weapons companies.
Make sure that a new Vice Rector has no ties to the fossil fuel industry, writes master student Jen Jacobs. “It is clear that whoever takes decisions on collaboration with fossil fuel companies should not be associated with that industry.”
In the last few months, TU Delft students and employees have shared their views on collaboration with the fossil fuel industry in various initiatives. These have now been collected in a report. The main recommendations? Ensure transparency and set clear conditions on partnerships.
The climate crisis is so important that sustainability must be included in every single decision, writes Otto Kaaij, our new student columnist. While he believes that TU Delft is making good progress, it is not there yet and an advertising hoarding is the crazy proof of this.
For the last time, a researcher from the GSE Department earns a doctoral degree for research into oil production. It was a long journey to this point, says the Department Chair. “If we would continue oil-based research, we would uphold the status quo. But don’t say we should not work with the fossil fuel industry at all.”
Withdraw from the Future-proof Aviation for the Netherlands manifesto. This call is made by TU Delft alumnus Boris Schellekens in a petition to TU Delft, the University of Twente, and TU Eindhoven. He believes that they are ‘letting themselves be taken advantage of by the aviation lobby’. TU Delft views this differently. “This manifesto is a compromise. And we need it as nothing will happen otherwise.”
Large coal-fired power plants want to switch to wood pellets because coal will be banned in 2030. The Dutch Parliament debated this issue this month. But how sustainable is large-scale biomass burning really?
TU Delft climate philosophers James Hutton and Anna Melnyk help students deal with the many climate dilemmas they face during and outside their studies. How can they handle all the pessimism surrounding climate change? “Letting despair take over is not an option.”
Climate activists occupied a hall in the Mechanical Engineering faculty this Monday morning. They stayed until they had to go. Delta was there all day and covered the occupation in this live blog.
The student Board of the annual career market Delft Career Days is giving more space to sustainability. To some oil, gas and chemical giants, the door will remain closed.
TU Delft is struggling with partnerships with fossil fuel companies. What decisions would staff and students make? An online consultation lets them ‘work out their dilemmas’.
No application rounds, no competing for money… A new unit of research funding body NWO will use a different approach – and 20 million euros – to encourage climate research.
The COP28 UN climate conference started on 30 November 2023 in Dubai, a country built on oil. Delta asks two TU Delft experts about their hopes and expectations.
If it were up to TU Delft students and employees, GroenLinks/PvdA would be the biggest political party. Climate and housing were the most important themes in Delta’s survey.
Scientists in white lab coats joined the climate march, in which around 85 thousand people participated, last Sunday. “I have to do more than just carry out research.”
Past cabinets have implemented few effective climate policies and this must change soon, write twelve prominent Dutch climate scientists in a letter.
A majority in the House of Representatives backed a motion to phase out fossil fuel subsidies. Climate activists say this is the result of the weeks-long blockade of the A12.
The KNMI presented new Dutch climate scenarios on Monday. TU Delft climate scientist Herman Russchenberg and KNMI researcher Sybren Drijfhout: “Extremes determine livability.”
The last time Wim Uijttewaal stood on the blocked A12 as a citizen he got splashed by a water cannon. He does not want this to happen again on Saturday. Because of his toga.
The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences wants more funding for planetary health: interdisciplinary research into the effects of climate change on public health.
Climate activists blindfold Delft statues Extinction Rebellion Delft climate activists have again blindfolded statues in their city on Sunday 11 June to draw attention to the climate crisis. Among the eight statues were Willem de Zwijger at Prinsenhof and the busts of J.C. van Marken & Agneta van Marken in Agnetapark. They were…
As part of a global week of action that started on Sunday 7 May, Scientist Rebellion will visit the Delft campus. End Fossil will also campaign this week.
Activists blindfold Hugo de Groot “The city of Delft, home to one of the world’s most honoured scientific institutes, should do everything in its power to hold our leaders to account.” This is what Extinction Rebellion Delft writes in a press release accompanying its action on Sunday 16 April: blindfolding the statues…
Action group End Fossil is going to occupy educational institutions worldwide in May. There are also plans in Delft. TU Delft calls it ‘regrettable’.
