The planetary boundaries concept defines the environmental limits within which humanity can safely operate, that is, the Earth System processes that set safe boundaries for human activities.

Of the original nine proposed boundaries, as of April 2022, we have crossed six. NOT GOOD NEWS. Crossing these boundaries increases the risk of generating large-scale abrupt or irreversible environmental changes.

The theme for this year's big Sustainability Day event will tackle these boundaries, and what it means that we've crossed them. It will take place Tuesday, 9 May 2023, from 14.00-18.00, and will include an opening talk by Prof.dr.ing. Jan Willem Erisman, among others. Location: Academy Building, Leiden. After 18.00 all attendees (and anyone else!) are invited to join the LUGO team and its volunteers for free drinks and snacks at the Faculty Club Brasserie/Bar.

Can't make it to the event in person? The keynote by Prof.dr.ing. Jan Willem Erisman and the climate and justice talk by Dr. Shivant Jhagroe will be live streamed! The live stream will appear on this webpage on the day: LUGO Sustainability Day - Leiden University (universiteitleiden.nl)

*Staff and students are invited to participate!!

Official Programme

*Remember to register! Especially for the events with a maximum number of available places for participants (first-come, first-serve)!*

Theme: The Planetary Boundaries.

Runs: 14.00-18.00.

14.00-14.45: 

• Opening by Prof.mr. Annetje Ottow (President of the Leiden University Executive Board). Location: Telders room, Academy building. (Available also online, see cursive above).

• Keynote by Prof.dr.ing. Jan Willem Erisman (professor at CML, Chair of the Dutch Scientific Climate Council) on the 9 planetary boundaries. Location: Telders room, Academy building. (Available also online, see cursive above).

14.45: Symposium opens (closes at 17.45). Location: Faculty Club Restaurant. (If you're waiting inbetween activities, why not take a look?).

14.45: Case study on ecosystem restoration: Loess Plateau (closes at 17.45).  (Biosphere integrity boundary). Location: Faculty Club Restaurant. (If you're waiting inbetween activities, why not take a look?).

• New addition to the programme: Alongside the case study and the symposium (same room, same walkable times) will be a stand from Liveable Planet (the Leiden University group of #interdisciplinary scientisits working together in researching sustainability). They'll be about to answer questions, but also to give advice on becoming involved in sustainability topics as part of your research career!

15.00-15.30: 

• Climate and justice talk with Dr. Shivant Jhagroe. (Covered: climate change boundary). Location: Telders room, Academy building. (Available also online, see cursive above).
• Moderated discussion on the ethics of pollutants with Dr. Wouter Kalf. (Covered: Novel entities boundary). Location: Faculty Club (De Bilderdijkkamer / The Bilderdijk Room).
  • If interested, remember to register! Maximum amount of participants is 14.

15.00-16.00: NitroGenius game: optimal policy solution game, with Berent Baris. (Covered: Biogeochemical flows boundary). Location: Faculty Club (De Blauwe Kamer / The Blue Room).

• If interested, remember to register! Maximum amount of participants is 12. Required: bring a laptop to this event.

15.35-16.45. Workshop: Land use change trade-off modelling with Dr.ir. Nynke Schulp. (Covered: Land system change boundary). Location: Faculty Club (De Bilderdijkkamer / The Bilderdijk Room).

• REGISTRATION CLOSED! Maximum amount of participants is 14. Required: bring a laptop to this event.

15.40-17.00: Montreal protocol negotiation simulation. Activity lead: the Young Diplomat. (Covered: Stratospheric ozone depletion boundary). Location: Faculty Club (De Grachtenkamer / The Canal Room).

• If interested, remember to register! Maximum amount of participants is 18.

16.00-16.30 and 16.30-17.00: Screening of Acid Test documentary. (Covered: Ocean acidification boundary). Location: Telders room, Academy building.

16.15-17.00: Visualisation challenge: Looking to space – Aerosol particle impact (collective collage-making, guided). (Covered: Atmospheric aerosol loading boundary). Location: Faculty Club (De Blauwe Kamer / The Blue Room).

• If interested, remember to register! Maximum amount of participants is 12.

16.45-17.30: Poetry workshop by LUGO. Theme: bodies of water. (Covered: Freshwater use boundary). Location: Faculty Club (De Bilderdijkkamer / The Bilderdijk Room). 

• REGISTRATION CLOSED! Maximum amount of participants is 10.

17.30-18.00: Closing and award ceremony for ‘Beyond the Safe Space: Spring Podcast Competition’. Location: Telders room, Academy building.

After 18.00 all attendees (and anyone else!) are invited to join the LUGO team and its volunteers for free drinks and snacks at the Faculty Club Brasserie/Bar.