The Institute at the first SDSN Netherlands Network Meeting
On 18th June, our project Manager Tannya Pico, and intern Connie Bickerton attended the very first meeting of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Netherlands, hosted at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The event created a space for knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and dissemination of existing research, bringing together universities, public institutions, NGOs, and private-sector representatives to accelerate integrated approaches to economic, social, and environmental challenges.
The meeting focused on raising awareness and engagement around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and on fostering a countrywide dialogue on solutions through stronger national and global partnerships and intergenerational collaboration among stakeholders. Discussions centered on four core SDG themes: Climate, Energy and Spatial Transitions; Education, Youth and Well-being; Governance, Peace and Global Responsibility; and Sustainable Finance and Innovation. Together with other network members, we mapped priorities and existing projects against the SDGs, drawing on our own project experience.
Photos: SDSN Netherlands
In relation to climate adaptation and spatial transitions, discussions centred around the resilience potential of circular and energy positive buildings, the value of nature-based solutions in combating heat stress and creating recreational space, and the role of cooperative governance models.
One of the key takeaways from the exchange concerned the disconnect between broader collaborative efforts and the many valuable elements of these transitions towards the SDGs already underway. This gap reoccurred, particularly in relation to measuring SDG impact. By identifying challenges that could benefit from cross collaboration, the event surfaced concrete opportunities for joint research projects.
We are grateful for the valuable knowledge exchange within this community committed to advancing the SDGs and for the practical insights shared on implementing and measuring SDGs in practice. We look forward to future discussions and hope the network sparks new collaborations for future research projects!