Co-Chair: Linda Knoester, Solid Sustainability Research
Co-Chair: Harriet Bergman, University of Antwerp
Description
Our mission is to address the urgent need for greater understanding of climate obstruction in the Netherlands. Conversations with NGOs, journalists, policymakers, and academics have underscored the critical demand for this knowledge and the connection of fragmented initiatives, especially as organized climate sceptics and certain members of the House of Representatives intensify efforts to spread misinformation and delay the transition.
By strengthening the Dutch climate obstruction research community and facilitating strategic knowledge sharing, we can expand the knowledge base and empower NGOs and policymakers to counter climate obstruction effectively. When people understand the diverse forms of obstruction, identify the actors behind it and their interests, and recognize its systemic nature, these efforts are delegitimized and the actors discredited. This awareness galvanizes support for policies and practices that not only advance climate action but also strengthen democracy, transparency, and social equity.
Since our launch in June 2024, we’ve focused on facilitating knowledge exchange between researchers, investigative journalists, and other experts working to understand climate obstruction in the Netherlands. Key milestones were:
- Expanding our network – now 75 participants, including academics, journalists, and action-oriented researchers.
- A successful inaugural conference – bringing together 45 participants and fostering new conversations between diverse research communities.
- Raising awareness – media interviews, podcasts, and academic discussions have helped introduce and understand the concept of climate obstruction in the Netherlands.
- Collaborating with ‘Climate Research Initiative Netherlands’ – as part of the working group ‘What opposing forces are hindering the climate transition?’, we aim to bridge scientific research with real-world experiences.
Looking ahead, our ambitions for 2025 and 2026 are:
- Strengthening the climate obstruction research community
- Disseminating Dutch climate obstruction research to a broad audience
- Equipping key stakeholders, including journalists and politicians, with climate obstruction knowledge