Publication

Academic collaborations and public health: Lessons from Dutch universities’ tobacco industry partnerships for fossil fuel ties

Researchers from Leiden University and Solid Sustainability Research have published a new study in PLOS Climate on the links between Dutch universities and the tobacco industry. Through this work, they aim to contribute to ongoing discussions about ties to the fossil fuel sector.

Author

Linda Knoester, Aaron Pereira, Lynn Vanheule, Andrea Reyes Elizondo, Andrew Littlejohn, Anne E. Urai

Date

27 May 2026

Links

PLOS Climate

Tobacco and fossil fuels are both leading commercial determinants of health and both industries actively obstruct health and environmental policy, yet academic collaboration with these industries is treated differently. While the WHO and many academics recognise an “irreconcilable conflict” between the tobacco industry and public health interests, many universities justify fossil fuel collaborations if linked to the energy transition. This essay draws lessons from the history of tobacco industry collaborations in the Netherlands to inform current debates on fossil fuel ties in academia. The researchers examine the evolving policies and attitudes toward tobacco in the Netherlands, the industry’s historical and ongoing influence on academia, and parallels with fossil fuel strategies such as casting doubt on health risks, leveraging industry-funded research, shifting blame, and emphasising consumer responsibility and economic importance. Finally, the researchers discuss how the academic world—universities, research funders, journals, and medical professionals—should critically assess their engagement with tobacco and fossil fuel industries.