Road to Drawdown – Nijmegen

The municipality of Nijmegen, Radboud University, Re-Volt Advisory and Drawdown Europe Research Association (DERA) have determined that a program is needed to realize the most effective interventions in and around Nijmegen. Three main points of the program are:

1. More effective use of sustainability interventions.

2. Active participation and mobilization of target groups through a participatory process.

3. Better scientific underpinning by calculating environmental & social impact (via the Drawdown model) and social, societal, political opportunities and barriers (Transformative change).

In the Nijmegen to Drawdown + (NtoD+) trajectory” the central question is “why are (and will be) available, effective and cost-effective climate solutions not already applied on a large scale?”

The main focus is on climate, biodiversity and circular economy. The Drawdown framework of climate solutions forms the basis for research interventions. A too one-sided approach to climate goals can lead to the process competing with other sustainability goals. In the NtoD+ trajectory we focus on reducing and capturing greenhouse gases, but we link this to multiple holistic sustainability indicators, including enhancing biodiversity and circular economy indicators. We take into account other frameworks (such as SDGs & Donut Economy), but also other climate objectives (such as the Paris Accords).

The program supports assessing which interventions are most relevant in the Nijmegen context, and identifies which structures and mechanisms determine the implementation of those climate solutions and form action coalitions to realize the temporary interventions.

The “Nijmegen to Drawdown + process” requires the involvement of a wide range of actors, because the implementation of climate solutions has a broad socio-economic impact. The process is therefore scientifically substantiated, both quantitatively and qualitatively, from an environmental technical angle and from a social angle. In addition to the wide range of actors and the scientific substantiation, the openness of the process is also of great importance. This process is intended for and throughout Nijmegen and surroundings. The steps taken must be visible and understandable to all involved. This requires transparency and open, connecting communication.