The KIN network is bursting with people who are working hard all year round to make the Netherlands climate-proof for the future. This summer, we are pressing pause for a moment and letting 10 of them tell their stories.
Go to the interview with:
Katja Out - Juristen voor een Duurzame Wereld (JDW)
Katja Out works as a corporate lawyer at an insurance company and is chair of the board of Jurists for a Sustainable World (JDW), an initiative that mobilises lawyers to actively contribute to a sustainable and just society.
What motivates you?
“I was looking for more meaning and impact and saw the opportunity to achieve this at JDW because it challenges lawyers, precisely because it challenges them to not just keep their expertise on paper, but to use it for real social change. JDW connects legal professionals through climate tables, knowledge sessions, a biennial conference and a growing online knowledge base. In this way, we are building a network that uses legal knowledge to support and accelerate the major transitions of our time.”
What challenges do you see?
The power of legal knowledge goes beyond paper. The JDW network demonstrates this. The perspectives are diverse, ranging from corporate lawyers and attorneys to government lawyers and NGOs. This is precisely what creates room for innovative solutions. I believe that inspiring colleagues should ultimately become unnecessary: ESG values should be self-evident in every legal consideration.
We’re not there yet, but we’re heading in the right direction. This requires a strong network that focuses on knowledge, collaboration and content. The network grant that JDW has received through KIN will help us to continue organising (physical) events. But the network also plays a central role online: the website is really becoming a platform that lawyers can use as a starting point.”
What object symbolises your climate mission and that of JDW?
‘The green branch in the hand of Lady Justice fits in with our view: lawyers should not only pursue justice, but also care for people, nature and future generations. It connects the pursuit of justice with the pursuit of a sustainable, liveable world.’
Katja Out - Juristen voor een Duurzame Wereld (JDW)
Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can really get moving. That is exactly what Tessa Koenderink-Kramer experienced and now wants to achieve with KlimaatGesprekken (Climate Conversations).
Who are you and what do you do?
“I am director of training and organisations at the Climate Conversations Foundation. Together with my colleagues, we train climate coaches and guide organisations and companies in how they can stimulate sustainable behavioural change. We help people discover how they can get moving at home and at work and how they can get others on board. My own journey began with a search for answers to why people flee. That’s when I discovered the enormous role of climate change, quit my job and decided that I wanted to make a difference myself and help others do the same.”
What would you like to accelerate in your work?
‘I want us to become more effective as an organisation. By professionalising, we can reach even more people and strengthen their sustainability skills. People often think that behaviour is something that comes “on top”, but human behaviour accounts for about 60% of the challenge. If we focus more on that, we can really make a difference.’
What helps you do that?
‘It starts with emotion. Many organisations want to jump straight to solutions, but we first need to really touch people so that they become intrinsically motivated. We do that with our methodology, which is used in various countries. You don’t have to do everything at once: start small, choose something that suits you. That way, the step isn’t overwhelming and you get moving in a sustainable way.’
What object symbolises your mission?
‘The bee. Bees represent social connection and cooperation, which is exactly what KlimaatGesprekken is all about. A small bee plays a big role in the ecosystem. In the same way, I believe that every person has their own important role to play in the climate transition. My mission is to make people curious about that role and to get them moving.’
Carolyn Caporusso - WWF-NL Dutch Caribbean Program
Climate resilience isn’t just about protecting nature, it’s about protecting people too. And action is needed now, beyond reports and plans.
Who are you and what do you do?
“I’m a Program Advisor for the WWF-NL Dutch Caribbean Program. We work to strengthen the resilience of coastal ecosystems to climate change — from tackling marine litter and wastewater to supporting restoration of mangroves and coral reefs. We also advocate for policy changes and support local organizations in the Dutch Caribbean and the wider region. Our approach combines advocacy, funding, community partnerships and education. It’s all about building bridges: between nature and society, between global strategies and local action.”
What do you want to accelerate in your work?
“I want to speed up the understanding that everything is connected. When we work on Bonaire, we don’t just look at nature in isolation; we consider socio-economic challenges too. Sustainable development and nature conservation must go hand in hand. We need to build real synergy if we want lasting change — not only for ecosystems, but for the communities who rely on them.”
What would help you move forward?
“There are no quick fixes, and that’s part of the challenge. We have fantastic strategies and strong ambitions, but we need to move beyond paperwork and start acting. To do that, we need more capacity. Not just funding, but development of local expertise with equitable wages and career opportunities in conservation. It’s easy for external experts to suggest solutions, but true change means empowering local communities to lead and own these efforts.”
Which object symbolizes your mission?
“My hand fan. I carry it everywhere in Bonaire’s heat. It’s a simple, low-tech way to stay comfortable without using extra energy. It reminds me of our need to look at history and find traditional, efficient solutions that respect our environment. It symbolizes care: for ourselves, for each other, and for our shared climate. We need to take responsibility for how we keep ourselves and our ecosystems cool and resilient.”
Tim van Hattum - Wageningen Environmental Research, Green Climate Solutions (Wageningen University & Research)
How do you get people moving and keep hope alive when you are building climate transitions? What is missing and what is the next step? A plea for enthusiasm with perspective and a clear narrative.
Who are you and what do you do?
“I am head of the climate programme at Wageningen Environmental Research, Green Climate Solutions, part of Wageningen University & Research. With our team, we investigate the impact of climate change on cities, agriculture, nature and society. We develop knowledge about solutions, especially nature-based solutions, that help with mitigation and adaptation. In addition, I provide advice, developed a vision for the Netherlands in 2120 together with a whole team, and wrote the book Only Planet, a hopeful climate guide for the 21st century.”
What would you like to accelerate in your work?
“We have already demonstrated countless pilots: nature-based solutions really work. They store CO₂, improve biodiversity, ensure cleaner water and healthier cities. But they only become truly effective when we scale up. That is complex, because each area requires customisation and cross-sector cooperation. It helps if we don’t overwhelm people with urgency, but inspire them with perspective. The “silent majority” is definitely concerned, but needs a clear narrative. We need to use better fact-based storytelling and make it clear what these solutions mean in concrete steps towards 2030 and 2040.”
What would help in this regard?
“Collaboration in broad consortia, such as within KIN, can accelerate this. Scientists are often strong on facts, but we need to learn to make the story appealing and understandable. That’s why I’m now also taking a course in storytelling.”
What object symbolises your mission?
“My running shoes! I regularly run climate marathons, which symbolise how I view the transition: as a long route with peaks, valleys and a broom wagon breathing down your neck. It requires stamina and perseverance. Sometimes it’s tough, but the clear goal and that euphoric “runner’s high” make it worthwhile. That’s how I view the climate challenges too.”
Kornelia Dimitrova - Foundation We Are
How do we create space for unexpected collaborations? And what happens when designers and scientists dare to step into the unknown together?
Who are you and what do you do?
“I’m a spatial designer, researcher and director of Foundation We Are. We create spaces and programs where designers work directly with societal experts (from climate scientists to human rights defenders) to explore what collaboration can really mean. Our mission is to help make transitions more just, democratic and inclusive. We don’t create linear or pre-defined solutions; we create programs where we design, experiment and learn with our community of collaborators. Our approaches and insights are designed to be adaptable and scalable, resonating both in hyper-local and in international contexts.”
What do you want to accelerate in your work?
“I want to give people the space to figure out what climate action and responsibility they want to take professionally, whether designers, scientists, or policymakers. Too often, people feel burdened by predefined outcomes or fixed roles. In projects like ‘Collaborations for Future’, we created open-ended collaborations where 20 designers and climate scientist could truly experiment, reflect and reposition themselves. The ‘Impossible Projects’ we’re doing now with KIN take this even further: we’re mapping what limits us in current research systems and exploring how we can unlock new ways of working together. We need more spaces to explore, to fail, to learn. That’s where real shifts start.”
What would help you move forward?
“We need to structure these programs over longer periods, like multi-year cycles that build impact gradually. Support from ministries or policy partners would help connect these experiments directly to decision-making. Ultimately, it’s about creating an infrastructure that supports real, cross-disciplinary action.”
Which object symbolizes your mission?
“A sailboat! Sailing embodies teamwork, adaptability, and deep knowledge of your tools and environment. You can’t force the wind, but you can adjust your sails and ropes; knowing when to tighten and when to loosen. I grew up sailing on the Black Sea; it taught me to navigate forces beyond my control while staying connected to nature. It reminds me that progress isn’t always linear. Sometimes you tack against the wind, but you can still move forward, gracefully and together.”