Do great minds think alike?
Three experts (from TU, government and industry) enter into debate
on a question. This time:
Tekst John Ekkelboom
Should engineers be activists on climate change?
Van Baal “Of course. Engineers hold the key to resolving the climate crisis.”
Braat “Engineers and other academics should be more activist. However, I do see a turnaround slowly emerging.”
Farajzadeh “In the collective fight against climate change, engineers should be on the frontline and be involved in decision-making earlier.”
Are you environment- and climate-conscious?
Braat “Yes, but the problem remains that for many people, it is impossible to have an environmentally conscious lifestyle in the current system. Joining an action group is more effective.”
Van Baal “I am environment-conscious but that’s just a drop in the ocean. It’s the top politicians and businesses that can make a difference.”
Farajzadeh “We bought an old house with an F energy label and after taking energy-saving measures, we now have an A label.”
Have you ever participated in environmental/climate campaigns?
Braat “I am a Reclame Fossielvrij and Extinction Rebellion activist. During the recent main A12 blockade, I provided the livestream on Instagram.”
Farajzadeh “I recently took part in beach clean-up activities, specifically targeting plastic waste. That made me feel good.”
Van Baal “I go to oil companies’ shareholder meetings. The purpose of Follow This is to try to get them to change course.”
What do you think of the new generation of activists who glue themselves to road surfaces or smear paintings in museums?
“You should take action in the way that is best for you. Any peaceful tactic is welcome. Going to an oil company’s shareholder meeting in a suit is best for me. I have respect for those activists because they are willing to go to jail for their ideals. We are dealing with an industry that doesn’t want to change. It must be made clear to the politicians and businesses by all sides that time is running out.”
“The majority of people realise that climate change is a major threat to our existence. Everyone reacts to it differently. Personally, I am not a fan of such actions. As an associate professor, I myself try to raise awareness among the new generation of engineers and am working on technologies for accelerating the energy transition. To make the transition smoother, we need to elect politicians who dare to take braver steps towards a green future.”
“A lot of people object to something precious being smeared. But those activists aren’t causing any damage – the paintings are behind glass. The fact that the fossil fuel industry is insidiously destroying something else precious – i.e. our planet – receives far less criticism. And that is why those actions are smart. Even in the case of talkshows, one activist glued himself to a table to protest against not enough climate scientists being given airtime on such shows. The following week, those scientists suddenly appeared.”
‘Engineers are activists by nature. The majority want to make the world a better place. They understand technology and can solve technical problems’
Swedish activist and climate scientist Andreas Malm even advocates sabotage in order to achieve the climate target.
“I know that Malm advocates it in his book How to blow up a pipeline. I personally don’t support sabotage at all. As far as I am concerned, it’s going too far. I’m not sure but I’m afraid it will be counterproductive. In the past, peaceful protest has also proved to be more effective.”
“I welcome the fact that the young generation are critical of the current state of affairs regarding the environment and climate. We should support them in this. I totally disapprove of violence.
Radicalism leads to polarisation and the blame game. In my opinion, that is not the right way to reach an adequate solution.”
“I can imagine taking action if it were violence against property belonging to oil companies, for example. These companies commit violence against humanity too. Naturally, no-one should be injured and no environmental damage should be caused.
In the Netherlands, we’ve hardly seen any actions of this type yet, but they have been shifting for years. Violence against property was not shunned in other historical movements like the one for women’s rights either.”
What can engineers do to help with the climate problem?
“My PhD supervisor taught me that figures are an engineer’s most effective tool. That means quantifying our arguments so that we can compare different ideas with each other. Engineers can also work on innovative methods for reducing the impact of climate change and the costs of the energy transition. For instance, our research group is trying to improve the capture and storage of CO2.”
“Engineers can contribute towards technical innovation but it’s not just about technology. Rich people can afford solar panels, heat pumps and electric cars. For the majority of people in the world, this is not an option and such innovations actually cause more environmental damage. Take mines for extracting raw materials. The current capitalist system, based on the exploitation of people and our planet, can never be truly sustainable. We have to get rid of that system.”
“Engineers are activists by nature.
The majority want to make the world a better place. They understand technology and can solve technical problems. If we look at the energy transition, we know that potentially enough solar and wind energy can be produced to power the whole world. The big challenge lies in storing and distributing the electricity. Engineers can play an amazing role in that. They are part of the solution.”
‘You should be able to expect a university to carry out research in the public interest, not in the interest of a harmful industry’
Is it wise for an engineer to deliberately not join a company that has a significant environmental footprint?
“Anyone graduating from TU now will know more about climate change than the average employee and the people at the top. They will be more familiar with the latest technology. I recommend that they then do join companies that will listen to them and have a clear goal to drastically reduce emissions by 2030. The oil companies do not meet either of these conditions at all yet.”
“It’s an individual choice that will depend on personality and a person’s goals. Personally, I like working in a place that stirs my curiosity, motivates me and where I can exert some influence.
If I can use my knowledge and experience to help a company become more sustainable and take responsibility, then I am happy to do
so from within.”
“On the one hand, I respect people who think that they can change policy from within. On the other hand, I don’t think it works in the fossil fuel industry. People like that often end up resigning. Companies like Shell are very good at pretending to be greener than they really are, both to the outside world and to their current and future employees. But it has now been discovered from internal communications within oil companies that they have no intention of changing things. So wouldn’t it be better to work for a company that does want to and can change?”
Is TU Delft making an adequate contribution to the fight against climate change?
“TU Delft is one of the best universities in the world and has top scientists in climate-related fields. Students follow an up-to-date curriculum here. To my mind, graduates are the most important product of a university. In addition, TU Delft is taking important steps at campus level to reduce CO2 emissions. A good example is the plan to tap into a geothermal heat source on the university campus.”
“I became an engineer here in the 1990s without knowing anything about the climate. In my opinion, the climate is now very much on the agenda.
Andy van den Dobbelsteen, professor of Climate Design & Sustainability, and Ad van Wijk, professor of Future Energy Systems, are leading climate pioneers. If I was a Delft student now, I would love to study under them.”
“I see that TU has set ambitious goals for its campus. However, what I find worrying is the involvement of fossil fuel companies in professorships and research funds. You should be able to expect a university to carry out research in the public interest, not in the interest of a harmful industry. In the case of the tobacco industry, we can no longer imagine such collaboration. TU Delft is now helping to clean up the image of companies that cause immeasurable damage to health by polluting the Niger delta, for example, and continuing to drill for fossil fuel. The disruptive consequences of these activities are truly profound.”
© Sam Rentmeester