On the recommendation of Minister Jetten for Climate and Energy, the Council of Ministers has approved the appointment of nine new members of the Scientific Climate Council (WKR) as of 15 April 2023. Following the earlier appointment of WKR chairman Jan Willem Erisman as of 1 March 2023, the Council complete with this.
The Scientific Climate Council (WKR) is tasked with providing solicited and unsolicited advice to the government and parliament on climate policy. The recommendations of the WKR are scientifically substantiated and are mainly aimed at the long term. The WKR works independently and interdisciplinary. The first advice from the WKR, which will be issued before 1 February 2024, deals with dilemmas and directional choices that the Netherlands will face in the transition to climate neutrality in the coming years. This advice serves as input for the Climate Plan, which describes the outlines of climate policy for the coming years. The government will present the Climate Plan in the autumn of 2024.
Chairman Jan Willem Erisman:
In the composition of the Council, careful consideration was given to scientific qualifications, knowledge of and experience with climate issues and policy, and diversity in composition and scientific disciplines. I am pleased with this strong and diverse team with which we can provide government and parliament with broad, well-founded scientific advice in the coming years.
Board composition
- Jan Willem Erisman (previously appointed, chair) - professor of environment and sustainability, Leiden University
- Heleen de Coninck (deputy chair) - professor of socio-technical innovation and climate change, Eindhoven University of Technology, professor of system transition and climate change, Radboud University;
- Sanne Akerboom - assistant professor of regulation and governance of the energy transition, Utrecht University;
- Kornelis Blok - Professor of Energy System Analysis, Delft University of Technology;
- Marjolijn Haasnoot - senior researcher/advisor Deltares, associate professor of climate adaptation, Utrecht University;
- Machiel Mulder - Professor of Energy Economics, University of Groningen;
- Wouter Peters - professor of carbon cycle and atmospheric composition, Wageningen University and Research, University of Groningen;
- Wieke Pot - Assistant Professor of Public Administration, Wageningen University and Research;
- Linda Steg - Professor of Environmental Psychology, University of Groningen;
- Behnam Taebi - Professor of Energy and Climate Ethics, Delft University of Technology.
