Utilizing science for societal challenges
The signing of the agreement will take place during the UN SDSN Leadership Council meeting in New York, where VU Amsterdam's Chair of the Executive Board, Margrethe Jonkman, represents the university. As of today, VU Amsterdam officially assumes the role of coordinator for the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Netherlands.
Margrethe Jonkman: “VU Amsterdam is proud to take the lead in SDSN Netherlands. This role aligns perfectly with our mission to use science for societal progress. Together with our partners, we are working on innovative, transdisciplinary solutions to address the major challenges of our time.”
SDSN Netherlands
SDSN Netherlands is the national branch of the global SDSN network, which operates under the leadership of the United Nations. It was established to accelerate sustainable development by bringing together the knowledge of universities, research centres, UN agencies, multilateral financial institutions (MFIs), civil society organisations, and businesses. The network focuses on tackling urgent global challenges, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Agenda 2030, and the Paris Climate Agreement.
Sustainability mission
This step fits seamlessly with the values and strategy of VU Amsterdam, which also signed a groundbreaking fossil-free research framework in April 2024. With this, VU Amsterdam became the second university in the world to cease collaborations with fossil fuel companies that do not comply with the criteria of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Summit for Future Generations
During her speech in New York, Margrethe Jonkman also announced the annual Summit for Future Generations. This summit, organised to mark Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary and VU Amsterdam’s 145th anniversary, will be presented during the university's DejaVU festival. In collaboration with SDSN Netherlands and the global SDSN network, the summit will provide a platform to discuss local and global issues with the aim of finding solutions for a better future for the next generations.