Scientists & academics engaging in civil disobedience to secure a livable future
Here we regularly publish articles by scientists affiliated with SR. In these articles, they shed light on climate change and its consequences from their personal expertise.
Moderate global warming creates a risk of climate impacts that are more severe than the most-likely impacts of high global warming. Summary of a News & Views article in Nature (25 March 2026) by Rachel Warren, 1 discussing a paper by Bevacqua et al. in the same issue. 2 The Paris Agreement targets a rise of less … Read more
Sometimes the fact that science is (also) political is quite obvious. For instance, the European Commission wants to incorporate research and innovation into its geopolitical mission as a ‘critical asset’ for greater economic competitiveness and more influence on the world stage. Researchers are also expected to assist politicians by ‘providing scientific evidence to underpin policy … Read more
The residents of Bonaire have won a court case against the Dutch state concerning climate change. According to the judge, they are not being adequately protected against the consequences of climate change. This ruling marks an important milestone for climate justice within the Kingdom and highlights the importance of addressing climate and biodiversity issues on … Read more
Like previous coalitions, the Jetten cabinet wants to focus on nuclear energy, but this is controversial and unsustainable. Uranium is finite, and expensive power stations require state guarantees. They have low emissions, but long-term nuclear waste storage is a problem. With a construction time of 15-20 years, they cannot contribute to decarbonisation quickly enough. Solar … Read more
A new study shows with 98% certainty that the rate of global warming is increasing. The 1.5 °C warming threshold could be reached in the coming years, in violation of the Paris Agreement. To prevent global warming of 3 °C, the use of fossil fuels must be phased out immediately. The research by Grant Foster … Read more
At the end of February, Milieudefensie published the latest Climate Crisis Index, on the first working day of the government of ‘Climate Pusher’ Jetten. It shows that many companies in the Netherlands are not taking measures to combat climate change. Of the 28 companies surveyed, not one has a good, or even reasonable, climate plan. … Read more
Chikungunya is an infectious disease that causes, among other things, severe and prolonged joint inflammation. For a long time, we considered chikungunya, malaria, dengue and Zika to be (sub)tropical diseases that posed little threat to Western Europe. But is that still true? Recent research sheds light on whether climate change is bringing these diseases our … Read more
The first warm days of the year are arriving earlier and earlier and are also getting warmer. That may be pleasant for people who are tired of the dreary winter. But it is also a result of climate change, with all its serious consequences. I, too, have enjoyed the beautiful spring weather these days, because … Read more
At the end of January, De Staat van ons Klimaat (The State of Our Climate), the KNMI’s annual report on the year 2025, was published. The report confirms the continuing trend of warming that began during the Industrial Revolution in the early 19th century. The consequences are serious: extreme weather, drought and flooding, and increased … Read more
Europe’s water reserves are under pressure. Satellite data show clear declines in water storage across large parts of southern and central Europe over the past two decades, while wetter trends dominate further north. These findings are worrying, policy-relevant and deserving of attention. Jan Verkade But when reporting on such results, precision matters. The recent Guardian … Read more