Climate change and biodiversity loss are deeply interconnected challenges that require joint forces. That is why there is a Climate and Biodiversity Programme within Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Universities.
This brings together experts from different disciplines and sectors to explore new avenues for co-creation, collaboration and innovative solutions for the future.
On 27 November 2025, the LDE Climate and Biodiversity Programme organised a networking event at the PLNT Innovation Center in Leiden, bringing together researchers from Leiden-Delft-Erasmus universities, industry experts, NGOs and policymakers.
The goal: to foster collaboration across disciplines and sectors, and build bridges for more co-creative approaches in addressing the intertwined challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.
It is very clear that climate and biodiversity are not separate themes, but one interconnected system.'
In his opening speech, Prof. Jan Willem Erisman of Leiden University reiterated the recent WKR signal "Forests and soils in dire straits", that forests and soils absorb less CO2. Erisman emphasized the importance of combining climate and biodiversity policies and that this meeting goes much further than just bringing together a few disciplines:
'It is very clear that climate and biodiversity are not separate themes, but one interconnected system. Change in one directly affects the other, and that is exactly why it is so valuable when experts learn to understand each other's way of thinking.'
Different disciplines, ages and experiences
His words resonated during this afternoon dedicated to transdisciplinary collaboration. This was reflected in the diverse group of speakers, both early-career researchers and senior experts. This also emphasises that progress requires not only interdisciplinarity, but also intergenerational exchange of knowledge.
The program revolved around three sessions:
- A discussion on future-proof biodiverse cities, to exchange ideas and explore possible collaborations in Leiden, Delft, The Hague, Rotterdam
- A matchmaking session on the climate and biodiversity seed fund that was recently launched. Exchanging research and teaching ideas and building new connections.
- A practical session on the Knowledge in Action Grant, presented by the Dutch Climate Research Initiative (KIN)
Dr. Caroline Bulstra, researcher in Planetary Health at the Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management, described the meeting as: 'Inspiring to see what is happening outside your own university and where new opportunities arise.
External experts also participated in the meeting. Bruna San Roman, co-founder of De BosBoerderij, an initiative for regenerative agriculture: 'In a very short time, I had ten to twenty conversations. A few of them had real potential to grow into collaborations.'
Learning from nature for sustainable development.'
The event ended with an inspiring keynote by prof.dr. Louise Vet, entitled Learning from nature for sustainable development.
Vet encouraged participants to think in systems, build resilience through biodiversity, move from linear to circular models, see the sun as a primary energy source, following the logic of nature itself.
While outlining the current state of climate and biodiversity, she also offered hope and highlighted the power of co-creation and knowledge exchange across disciplines.
Are you interested in participating in the next event or building a transdisciplinary consortium with support from the LDE Climate & Biodiversity Program? Please contact programme coordinator Suzanne van den Bosch of the Institute of Environmental Sciences at Leiden University: s.j.m.van.den.bosch@cml.leidenuniv.nl.
Download the white paper Climate and Biodiversity from the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Universities or read the online interviews in English.
