PERSBERICHT - Wetenschappers, experts en maatschappelijke organisaties roepen regering en Eurocommissaris op in actie te komen voor klimaat, natuur en vrede
Bussum, 8 september 2026
PERSBERICHT
(English Below)
WETENSCHAPPERS, EXPERTS EN MAATSCHAPPELIJKE ORGANISATIES ROEPEN REGERING EN EUROCOMMISSARIS OP IN ACTIE TE KOMEN VOOR KLIMAAT, NATUUR EN VREDE
Een brede coalitie van wetenschappers, experts en maatschappelijke organisaties roept Minister-President Rob Jetten en Eurocommissaris Wopke Hoekstra op om in actie te komen voor klimaat, natuur en vrede.
De klimaatcrisis werd in de zomer van 2026 ineens duidelijk en ernstig zichtbaar. Er was voor het eerst code rood in Nederland als gevolg van de hitte, en er waren 35.000 doden in Europa te betreuren als gevolg daarvan. Er woedden vele bosbranden in Europa en er was droogte.
De brede coalitie roept de regering en de Eurocommissaris onder andere op tot:
- Het vormen van nationale en internationale crisiscomités op het gebied van klimaat en natuur.
- Het voorbeeld van het Verenigd Koninkrijk en Spanje te volgen door aan te geven meer te gaan doen om het klimaatakkoord van Parijs te halen.
- Versneld afschaffen van de fossiele subsidies.
- Belastingen op fossiele brandstoffen voor internationale scheepvaart en luchtvaart in te voeren.
- 1% van het BNP uit te geven aan het beschermen van de natuur.
- Het VN-klimaatschadefonds aan te vullen en ruimhartig uit te keren aan landen die door de klimaatcrisis getroffen zijn.
- Te stoppen met alle oorlogen. Oorlogen zijn slecht voor mens en natuur. En omgekeerd draagt de opwarming van de aarde ook bij tot conflicten en voedseltekorten.
- Een belangrijke rol toe te kennen aan de Verenigde Naties.
- Wereldleiders dienen zich te verenigen voor vrede en samen de klimaatcrisis te bestrijden, voor de natuur te zorgen en aandacht te hebben voor de meest kwetsbaren. Ook dient wereldwijde honger bestreden te worden.
- Te werken aan: Een Wereld Waarin Alle Kinderen Kunnen Spelen.
May-May Meijer van vredesorganisatie Peace SOS is initiatiefnemer van de brief. Zij heeft daarbij onder andere hulp gehad van klimaatexpert Reinier van den Berg en Erik Meesters, ecoloog.
Hoogleraar Experimentele Natuurkunde Tjerk Oosterkamp, hoogleraar Quantumfysica Sander Otte en vredesactiviste Nina Koevoets werkten ook inhoudelijk mee aan de brief, evenals Gerard Meijer, emeritus hoogleraar die in 1999 benoemd werd tot Simon Stevin Meester.
De brief werd ook ondertekend door Philipp Pattberg, hoogleraar Global Sustainability Politics, die deze oproep tot actie van harte ondersteunt. Ook Paddy French, die eveneens benoemd is tot Simon Stevin Meester, en Huub Lelieveld, winnaar van de World Food Prize 2026, ondertekenden de brief.
De organisaties NVMP Artsen voor Vrede, Scientist Rebellion Netherlands, Platform Vrouwen & Duurzame Vrede en Vrouwen voor Vrede ondertekenden de brief eveneens.
Veel dank aan iedereen die geholpen heeft bij de brief, en ook alle ondertekenaars erg bedankt voor hun steun.
Betreft: Kom in actie voor klimaat, natuur en voor vrede (pdf)
Bussum,
8 September 2026
PRESS RELEASE
Scientists, experts and civil society organisations call on the Dutch government and European Commissioner to take action for climate, nature and peace
A broad coalition of scientists, experts and civil society organisations is calling on Prime Minister Rob Jetten and European Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra to take action for climate, nature and peace.
During the summer of 2026, the climate crisis suddenly became alarmingly visible. For the first time, a Code Red warning was issued in the Netherlands due to extreme heat, while 35,000 deaths across Europe were attributed to the heat. Numerous wildfires raged across Europe, and many areas were affected by drought.
The broad coalition is calling on the Dutch government and the European Commissioner to take the following actions, among others:
- Establish national and international crisis committees on climate and nature.
- Follow the example of the United Kingdom and Spain by committing to stronger action to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
- Accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies.
- Introduce taxes on fossil fuels used in international shipping and aviation.
- Allocate 1% of GDP to protecting nature.
- Increase funding for the UN Loss and Damage Fund and ensure generous support for countries affected by the climate crisis.
- Work to end all wars. Wars are harmful to people and nature. Conversely, global warming also contributes to conflict and food shortages.
- Give the United Nations a central role.
- World leaders should unite for peace and work together to combat the climate crisis, protect nature and support the most vulnerable. Global hunger must also be addressed.
- Work towards: “A World Where All Children Can Play.”
May-May Meijer of the peace organisation Peace SOS initiated the letter. In preparing it, she received support from, among others, climate expert Reinier van den Berg and ecologist Erik Meesters.
Professor of Experimental Physics Tjerk Oosterkamp, Professor of Quantum Physics Sander Otte and peace activist Nina Koevoets also contributed to the substance of the letter, as did Gerard Meijer, professor emeritus, who was appointed Simon Stevin Meester in 1999.
The letter was also signed by Philipp Pattberg, Professor of Global Sustainability Politics, who wholeheartedly supports this call to action. Paddy French, who was also appointed Simon Stevin Meester, and Huub Lelieveld, winner of the 2026 World Food Prize, also signed the letter.
The organisations NVMP – Physicians for Peace, Scientist Rebellion Netherlands, Platform Women & Sustainable Peace, and Women for Peace also signed the letter.
Many thanks to everyone who helped prepare the letter, and to all the signatories for their support.
Betreft: Kom in actie voor klimaat, natuur en voor vrede (pdf - Dutch)
Open Letter - A call for Peace in Ukraine and Russia
To:
President of the Russian Federation, His Excellency Vladimir V. Putin
President of the United States, His Excellency Mr. Donald J. Trump
President of Ukraine, His Excellency Mr. Volodymyr O. Zelensky
President of the European Commission, Her Excellency Ursula von der Leyen
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy, Her Excellency Kaja Kallas
Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency Friedrich Merz
Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, His Excellency Rob A. A. Jetten
Secretary General of North Atlantic Treaty Organization, His Excellency Mark Rutte
OSCE Chairman-in-Office, His Excellency Ignazio Cassis
SG of the United Nations, His Excellency António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres
Open letter
Re: A call for Peace in Ukraine and Russia
Bussum, The Netherlands, 15 June 2026
Your Excellencies,
At Peace SOS and the undersigned peace organizations, scientists and other supporters, we follow the news and stories from within Ukraine with a deep pain and concern about further escalation. We have less contact with people in Russia, but following the news, we assume that the people in Russia are also suffering severely. Pain has accumulated on all sides for many years.
What we do
Promote Peace
We advocate for nonviolent solutions through diplomacy, dialogue, and humanitarian aid.
Support Local Peace-builders
We work with grassroots and diaspora partners who know their communities best.
Raise Awareness
We write, speak, and engage with media to amplify peaceful alternatives.
Empower Women & Children
We strengthen voices often silenced, especially in conflict zones.
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In my previous opinion piece, I discussed how the heatwave in Europe at the end of June is estimated to have claimed 20,000 lives, according to a report in Dutch national newspaper De Volkskrant on 7 July. The article was written by Maarten Keulemans. He quotes...
Where are the national and international crisis committees on climate change and nature conservation?
According to the Dutch meteorological institute KNMI, the Netherlands experienced a heatwave from 18 June to 29 June of this year. From 24 June, a code orange heat warning was in place for part of the country, and on 26 and 27 June, a code red warning was issued. This...
Report from Gaza: “Bombings and death everywhere”
It’s been a while since I last wrote about Peace SOS Gaza, but that organization’s distributions of water and vegetables continue to take place. You can find the videos under ‘shorts’ on the Peace SOS YouTube channel. Unfortunately, the bombings continue too. This is...
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