Dutch Climate Research Initiative to speed up the transition of urban neighborhoods

By Team IO

The Dutch Climate Research Initiative (KIN) has launched its first work program to accelerate climate transitions in urban neighborhoods. Founded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and the Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), the program takes an inclusive and collaborative approach to research and innovation in the domain.

As the impacts of climate change become increasingly visible, there is an urgent need for innovative approaches to tackle the climate crisis. Innovative approaches to research and funding are also part of the strategy.

Circular buildings: the technology is there, but now we need the revenue model

Is the large housing district on the outskirts of the city no longer needed after 20 years? Then the houses are moved to another place. Also, roads are easily rolled up and out again. Are there too many office buildings? Then, we easily transform the properties into student or elderly homes. The built environment will become much more flexible in the future, outlines Daan Schraven, associate professor at TU Delft in the field of new economics in the built environment. 

Developing the neighborhoods of tomorrow

Following the KIN way of working, the work program started at a concrete and urgent transition in the Netherlands: making urban neighborhoods sustainable. Then, last fall, researchers and stakeholders sat down together to develop a joint work program in a so-called Crutzen workshop. In implementation, the program 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 program has come about together with all local stakeholders. It follows a radically new research method that fits the urgency we need to set climate transitions in motion.”

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