Bertje van Leeuwen on LinkedIn: Achtste SDG rapportage - Nederland op weg naar brede welvaart (2024)

Redefining the development cooperation budget as an investment in the Global South is crucial for addressing our shared global challenges and combating inequality. It is time to shift our perception and treatment of Africa from the Netherlands in order to work towards a more comprehensive solution. The relationship between the Netherlands and Africa should be seen as a partnership where both parties benefit.For far too long, the focus has been on transferring knowledge and know-how from the Netherlands to Africa, without adequately integrating it into existing structures, networks, capacities and institutions. We have not always fully recognised and valued Africans' experiences, perspectives, insights and knowledge, and thus their potential as equal and mutual partners. In contrast, the Netherlands has engaged in cooperation with numerous countries outside Africa, such as Europe, Asia, and Latin America, based on mutual transfer, sharing, and application of knowledge and know-how. While there have been successful examples of cooperation with Africa, a fundamental shift in mindset is required from the Netherlands to ensure sufficient budget allocation for co-investing in the people, communities, enterprises, and institutions of Africa.By fostering partnerships rooted in equality and reciprocity, the Netherlands and Africa can generate new knowledge and solutions that would not be possible without the convergence of these two worlds. Together, they can address global challenges not only in Africa but also in the Netherlands.To achieve this, transformative partnerships are essential, built on mutual trust and a willingness to learn and listen to each other without assuming we have all the answers in advance. However, the current traditional donor funding modalities ("who pays decides") and entrenched practices, including cultural biases and power imbalances, hinder the realization of these equal and reciprocal partnerships.Therefore, I propose the establishment of a shared learning agenda to shape these partnerships in practice. This agenda should consider the Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken's new African Strategy, which embraces the concepts of equality and reciprocity in the relationship with Africa. Only by challenging the status quo and embracing a new approach can we forge meaningful collaborations that benefit both the Netherlands and Africa.My Africa Strategy post:https://lnkd.in/eYaS24kFStieneke J.F. van der Graaf, LL.M. Pieter Grinwis ChristenUnie Evert Jan Slootweg CDA Steven van Weyenberg Alexander Hammelburg D66 Jan Klink VVD Tom van der Lee GroenLinks Joris Thijssen PvdA Mustafa Amhaouch Wopke Hoekstra Kitty van der Heijden Pascalle Grotenhuis Wampie Libon Rene van Hell Marc Gerritsen Jacob Waslander Tijmen Rooseboom Steven Collet Jurriaan Middelhoff Sigrid Kaag Sara Kinsbergen Liana Hoornweg Sjoukje Heimovaara Robert Ewald Wermuth Bert Vermaat

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Universities are encouraged by the government to actively seek external funding and research solutions to problems in society and business. All Dutch universities have sustainability policies and want to make a positive contribution to society and the world. Our research shows that they frequently collaborate with parties in the fossil industry, and also with companies supplying weapons, including those now deployed in Gaza, and on the EU's border externalisation policy, which often has deadly consequences for refugees trying to reach Europe. This opinion piece on ScienceGuide, written by Mark Akkerman and Linda Knoester, calls for transparency and clear policies for collaborations between universities and external parties, drawn up together with staff and students. #university #research #sustainability #ethicalcollaborationUniversiteiten van NederlandMinistry of Education, Culture and ScienceNWO (Dutch Research Council)Scientists For Future #S4FScientist Rebellion Netherlands

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#ClimateCrisis #SocialJustice #HumanRights 🙌 Something is wrong: It is the responsibility of nations leaders to safeguard their population from the negative impacts caused by fossil-fuel extraction. One way of NOT safeguarding us is subsidizing polluting fossil-fuel and related sectors and allowing them to continue their polluting activities.🙌 Something else is wrong:Pressing charges to peaceful climate activists who keep asking our government to stop subsiding those industries is wrong. #HumanRightsOfFutureGenerations #ClimateJustice #TheNetherlands

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Klimaatcrisis: VK geeft groen licht aan een van de grootste olie-projecten in Noordzee.Het besluit komt een week nadat premier Sunak aankondigde enkele klimaatmaatregelen van het VK te herzien. Opnieuw vrezen tegenstanders dat dit niet hand in hand gaat met de gestelde klimaatdoelen voor 2050.Logisch!Want zo kunnen Sunak en zijn Tory-scum volop de eigen zakken vullen over de rug van de werkende klasse ten koste van milieu en klimaat.- NW: Tories slammed as ‘political wing of fossil fuel industry’ as Sunak family firm signs $1.5bn BP deal before North Sea licences https://lnkd.in/eDCbRqbyGlobal Witness slammed Sunak as “serving no-one but big oil executives” and called the Tory Party the “political wing of the fossil fuel industry”- Guardian: Rishi Sunak faces fresh conflict of interest row over India trade talks https://lnkd.in/ex9PX9GxSunak faces a new conflict of interest row before a G20 summit in New Delhi next month over claims that his family could stand to benefit financially from a post-Brexit trade deal he's negotiating with India.MPs and trade experts say there are concerns at the highest levels of government over potential “trans-parency” issues relating to his wife Akshata Murty’s shareholding – worth almost £500m – in the massive Bengaluru-based international IT services and consul tancy company Infosys..

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Dit artikel en meer, in een Trends Kanaal Z dossier over offshore wind, in the VS and beyond...

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Our energy transition in Europe should not be realized at the cost of other people through violations of human rights and environmental damage. The transition needs to be realized based on just principles and practices. Which may turn out to be almost impossible? And therefore a shift in consumption behaviour is needed?

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🌊 The NWO (Dutch Research Council) has announced the funding of three pioneering projects under the EU Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, with a significant Dutch contribution, totaling 874,000 euros. Among these, I'm honored to be part of the "Data and Scenarios for a Sustainable Mediterranean Blue Economy (MEDSEAPLAN)" project as the coordinator at the University of Twente. 🚀🤝 The MEDSEAPLAN project, led by the World Ocean Council (Lisa Simone de Grunt), is set to revolutionize Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) over the next 36 months. Our multi-sectoral, multi-actor, and cross-border approach aims to bring about impactful change in sea basin-level MSP development, incorporating advanced data and industry insights. The focus is on creating a more robust, knowledge-based, and data-driven MSP for a sustainable Blue Economy in the Mediterranean Region.🌐 Our ambitious project aims to innovate the Aegean and the Mediterranean regions through the development and deployment of advanced buoys capable of:🌬️ Measuring wind speed for future wind farms.🛢️ Monitoring emissions from alternative fuels.⚡ Serving as charging and power stations for offshore applications, emphasizing hydrogen and electric alternatives.This project not only aligns with our commitment to sustainable marine and maritime innovations but also paves the way for a greener, more productive Blue Economy. It's a step forward in harmonizing economic growth with ecological preservation, contributing to green job creation and the sustainable use of our seas. 🌿🌟 I'm excited to supervise a talented postdoc over the next three years, working closely with consortium partners across Europe to bring this vision to life. I extend heartfelt thanks to all collaborators, partners, and stakeholders involved in making this project a reality. Together, we are charting the course for a futureproof and environmentally conscious maritime industry.Stay tuned for updates on our progress and the impactful innovations we aim to introduce to the Mediterranean and beyond. 🌟Let's make a sustainable impact together! Sabri AlkanWeroverElkon Elektrik San. ve Tic. A.Ş.REGBES Erdeniz ErolMert DoganliAli AlkanUğur Karadurmuş Levent Bilgili#SustainableBlueEconomy #Innovation #GreenTech #HorizonEurope #BlueEconomyEU #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy #MEDSEAPLAN

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People that specialize in money probably aren't the best people to be trusting with medicine, vaccines, climate challenges, etc. They do NOT have the proper expertise. Because they have money and want to fund these things (read between the lines on that last statement) - there is a high chance that we don't actually get the proper solutions. Especially if they have "influence" in politics (where sadly, we also don't always have the right experts making the decisions).Challenging problems require authentic experts that will not be influenced by either money or political power.This is not our modern day savior. Read between the lines as amply as you wish in my above statements.

What would you do when you are the boss of an organization, and you must make a decision that could greatly impact the employees? One option is to provide your employees with all the options, inform them about the consequences of each option and ask: 'what would you do - and why?'. At least, that's what the University of Technology of Delft (TU Delft) did. Question on the table: Is it desirable for the TU Delft to continu cooperation with the fossil industry, and if so, under what conditions? Happy to be a part of this! Results will follow in the beginning of next year.

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Good news! Four large infrastructure companies announced the launch of the Coalition "Sturen op Brede Welvaart", supported by Impact Economy Foundation & NGinfra, and includes Alliander, Stedin, Enexis Groep, Gasunie, and NGinfra. This coalition marks a significant stride in fostering collaboration between large infrastructure companies and taking the next step in realising an energy transition that contributes to broad prosperity (in Dutch: Brede Welvaart). Central to their commitment, is using impact information for transparent impact reporting and informed decision-making. With the help of Impact Institute, these companies have started measuring, reporting and managing impact. We facilitated the first steps in their impact journeys, helped set-up impact reports and collaborated on impact cases.We look forward to helping these and other organisations with our expertise, advisory and implementation capabilities. #bredewelvaart #impacteconomy #csrd

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