Statement on collaboration with the fossil fuel industry
A new universitycommittee will assess potential new collaborations with the fossil fuel industry and determine whether they comply with the Paris Agreement.
This is Leiden University's policy from 1 March 2025 when it comes to collaboration with the fossil industry.
Exceptions will only be made if a project clearly contributes to the energy transition. In this case, too, the necessity of collaborating with such a company will be assessed: a possible reason for collaboration could be, for example, because the company holds data that is essential for the research or knowledge that contributes in some other way to the energy transition.
The term ‘fossil fuel industry’ is defined here as companies that engage in the exploration, extraction and exploitation of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas. Shell and Exxon Mobil are examples of such companies.
Composition and working method of the committee
The 'cooperation with the fossil industry' committee consists of, among others, scientists with knowledge about climate change and the energy transition. After a year, the new working method will be evaluated and the committee will become part of an overarching working method, Sensitive Collaborations. Within this, considerations about collaborations can be approached from different themes. Ultimately, this should lead to a transparent route.
Paris climate goals
In 2016, the European Union, including the Netherlands, signed the Paris Agreement. The agreement aims to keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius, and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Agreements have been made at the European level to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. The EU member states have jointly agreed that they will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. The EU wants to be climate neutral by 2050. This means net zero greenhouse gas emissions by that time
More information
Read the news article New committee to assess fossil fuel collaboration