Scientists & academics engaging in civil disobedience to secure a livable future
Arthur Oldeman The EU presented new emission targets (90% reduction compared to 1990 by 2040 and between 66% and 72% by 2035) on top of the already established 55% by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050. The EU claims to be committed to the 1.5 °C target in the Paris Agreement. However, a calculation based … Read more
There is little time left to prevent global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions from exceeding 1.5 °C (compared to the pre-industrial period). In other words, the amount of greenhouse gases we can still emit – the carbon reserve – is almost depleted. Meanwhile, in the United States, President Donald Trump is rapidly dismantling virtually … Read more
I have been involved in water quality studies for more than 30 years now, mostly concerning coastal areas but also inland waters. Over the years I have seen the focus of such studies change between heavy metals, nutrients and emerging contaminants such medicines, pesticides, (micro)plastics and PFAS. I have also seen the problems concerning climate … Read more
As a scientist, it is important to me to make an impact with my research. We always conduct research in collaboration with students, organisations, governments and companies. This helps all parties to work on new insights, sustainable and fair transitions, and to learn specific research skills to be able to do this. However, conducting practice-oriented … Read more
There are no places on Earth where we are guaranteed to be safe from the effects of climate change. This became apparent when the residents of Asheville (North Carolina, USA) were surprised at the end of September 2024 by Hurricane Helene, which caused devastation and claimed victims far from the coast. The artists’ town of … Read more
U.S. environmental policy shifted from historic bipartisan support—embodied by the EPA, Clean Air/Water Acts—to partisan opposition driven by conservative distrust of regulation. Recent rollbacks threaten decades‑long air, water, and climate gains, prompting a call for cross‑ideological cooperation because there truly is no “planet B.” An editorial by R. Kelman Wieder “There is no planet B” in the journal Biogeochemistry reflects on … Read more
Scientist Rebellion (SR) and Extinction Rebellion (XR) are sounding the alarm with a major protest at the Dutch Open Air Museum in Arnhem on Monday 6 May at 12:00. At exactly 12:00, during the air-raid siren, more than a hundred rebels will collapse as if dead amongst the public. With this public-friendly ‘climate alarm’, they … Read more