First programme of the Dutch Climate Research Initiative will accelerate climate transitions in urban neighborhoods

The Dutch Climate Research Initiative (KIN), founded by NWO and KNAW, has launched its first work programme to accelerate climate transitions in urban neighborhoods. The programme takes an inclusive and collaborative approach to research and innovation.

The impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly visible and thus there is an urgent need for innovative approaches to address this challenge. This includes innovative approaches to research and funding. That is why the work programmes in the KIN are mission-driven, transdisciplinary and is created in co-creation rather than competition. The launch of this first work programme follows this approach to research and marks an important milestone for the KIN.

Following the KIN way of working, the work programme started at a concrete and urgent transition in the Netherlands: making urban neighborhoods sustainable. Then last fall, researchers and stakeholders sat down together to come up with a joint work program in a so-called Crutzen workshop. In implementation, the programme will involve and support local parties such as housing corporations, civil servants, local entrepreneurs, sustainability professionals and citizens in developing sustainable solutions for a just climate transition.

Jan de Boer, portfolio holder for KIN on the NWO Executive Board, says: “It is fantastic that this work programme has come about together with all local stakeholders. It follows a radically new way of doing research that fits the urgency with which we need to set climate transitions in motion.'

More programmes in the coming years

In the coming years, KIN will develop more programmes in this way, using other tools as well, such as those that are more small-scale and/or connective. The underlying theme will be the same in all programmes, namely that the activities bring a climate-neutral, climate-resilient and climate-just society closer.

For more information visit the https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/first-program-of-the-dutch-climate-research-initiative-will-accelerate-climate-transitions-in-urban-neighborhoods.