Climate Action

There is no doubt that the anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are changing our living environment. Climate change is in our hands. We need to both work on limiting it as much as we can (mitigation), but we will also have to learn to adapt to new circumstances. TU Delft will harness its innovative powers to support the world-wide transition to non-fossil resources, and adaptation of the living environment to the consequences of global warming.

The problem is complex and urgent – but we have no other choice than to be optimistic and use all of our capacity to face the challenge, through our education programs and our research.

For more information, see:

In the Climate Action research programme, we start from four themes we consider to be paramount for future Climate Action:

The TU Delft vision on Climate Action is deeply founded in preceding decades of university wide climate action research. The goal of the Climate action research programme is to build on current strengths and identify the areas where there is a need to strengthen our capacities to keep up our (inter)national reputation as climate action university.

Climate Action News

01 December 2022

Most nitrogen deposition from aviation comes from high altitude

Most nitrogen deposition from aviation comes from high altitude

Aircraft emit nitrogen oxides and other emissions during both the LTO-phase (taxiing, take-off and landing) and when flying at high altitudes. These emissions return to the ground, resulting in nitrogen deposited over land and water bodies. Using an atmospheric model, researchers at TU Delft have quantified - for the first time - that in 2019 aviation was responsible for just under 1.2% of total global nitrogen deposition from all sources.

30 November 2022

Research from TU Delft in the Rijksmuseum

Research from TU Delft in the Rijksmuseum

A smart alternative to the traditional sandbag and an experiment with clay to learn more about strengthening dikes. These are two examples of TU Delft research that is currently being exhibited as art at the Rijksmuseum.

21 November 2022

Refreeze the Arctic Foundation supports climate research at TU Delft

Refreeze the Arctic Foundation supports climate research at TU Delft

On 21 November 2022, Delft University Fund signed a multi-year grant agreement with the Refreeze the Arctic Foundation. This will enable the development of innovative methods at TU Delft to modify clouds to combat global warming.

17 November 2022

Earthshot Prize 2023

Earthshot Prize 2023

The search for the winners of The Earthshot Prize 2022 has begun and TU Delft is proud to be an official Nominator. Launched in 2020, the Earthshot Prize is one of the most prestigious global environment prize in history, aiming to find new solutions to the world’s biggest environmental problems.

17 November 2022

Earthshot Prize 2024

Earthshot Prize 2024

The search for the winners of the Earthshot Prize 2024 has begun, and TU Delft is proud to be the only Dutch University to serve as an Official Nominator. Launched in 2020, The Earthshot Prize is a global environmental prize and platform for impact, dedicated to finding and growing solutions that will repair our planet this decade. One of TU Delft’s 2022 nominees – the Great Bubble Barrier – was selected as a finalist.


Climate Action News

04 July 2022

Jan Kwakkel in diverse media over versnelde zeespiegelstijging

Jan Kwakkel in diverse media over versnelde zeespiegelstijging

De zeespiegel langs de Nederlandse kust stijgt steeds sneller, schrijven wetenschappers Riccardo Riva, Mark Bakker (CiTG), Jos Timmermans en Jan Kwakkel (TBM) in een nieuwe studie. Daarmee is voor het eerst aangetoond dat de zeespiegelstijging langs de Nederlandse kust versnelt. In Nieuwsuur vertelt Riva: 'Sinds begin jaren 90 stijgt de zeespiegel 1 millimeter sneller dan daarvoor.

28 June 2022

7.4 million euros for research into products from wastewater

7.4 million euros for research into products from wastewater

Showering, cleaning, flushing toilets, and industrial production are all processes that use a great deal of water. But what happens to the waste in the water, to everything that is flushed away and disappears into the sewer system together with the water?

28 June 2022

TU Delft researchers: sea level rise along Dutch coastline accelerating

TU Delft researchers: sea level rise along Dutch coastline accelerating

De zeespiegelstijging langs de Nederlandse kust is aan het versnellen. Dat melden wetenschappers van de TU Delft in een nieuwe studie. Uit een uitgebreide analyse van de metingen van acht getijdestations langs de Nederlandse kust (onder meer die van Maassluis, Delfzijl en Vlissingen) blijkt dat de gemiddelde zeespiegelstijging – sinds midden jaren negentig – 2.7 ± 0.4* millimeter per jaar is. In vergelijking tot de zeventig jaar daarvoor is dat een significante stijging van 1.0 ± 0.5 mm/jaar.

24 June 2022

TU Delft students impress in competition with sustainable solution for tenement flats

TU Delft students impress in competition with sustainable solution for tenement flats

Symbiotic Urban Movement (SUM) is the name of the TU Delft student team that won third prize at the Solar Decathlon Europe 21/22 on Friday 24 June. Their solution: an innovative plan to transform all of the Netherlands’ 847,000 tenement flats.

21 June 2022

New TU Delft cavitation tunnel should enhance vessel efficiency and reduce disturbance

New TU Delft cavitation tunnel should enhance vessel efficiency and reduce disturbance

This week the new cavitation tunnel will be opened at TU Delft. The research in this facility, officially called the Multi Phase Flow Tunnel (MPFT), largely focuses on two topics: the problem of cavitation in vessel propellers, on the one hand, and the potential of air lubrication in vessels, on the other.