What if we do more for water?
At the University of Amsterdam, we embrace water as an impact issue.
But what if we do more? Through interdisciplinary research and collaboration with our network,
we use the collective power of city of Amsterdam and the UvA to protect our rivers, lakes and
oceans, detect pollution and industrial misuse and support safe water for all.
Why Water?
Our Strategic Focus
The water crisis is looming. We see cities struggling with water shortages, with salt water, with water pollution with extreme rainfall and with heat stress, everywhere around the world. This has major impacts on humanity, ecosystems and economies if action is not taken soon.
Action brings hope! We want to mobilise the collective power of the city of Amsterdam and the University of Amsterdam to co-create solutions through interdisciplinary research focused on collective action!
Water Quality and Chemical Pollution
Microplastics, forever chemicals, and pharmaceutical residues are polluting our water, posing a significant threat to ecosystems and human health. Interdisciplinary research, data collaboration, and legal action are essential to protect water quality, achieve zero-pollution goals, and combat emerging pollutants. Our mission is to restore aquatic systems, develop innovative methods for faster pollution detection, enhance risk assessment processes, and create effective treatment technologies. We aim to implement de-pollution strategies in partnership with water authorities and river commons, while leveraging international legal instruments to hold polluters accountable. Together, we work toward a sustainable and clean water future.
- Unmaking Water Pollution/ Revitalising aquatic ecosystems
Finance & Climate
Rising sea levels, floods, and extreme weather events are reshaping our future. Financial institutions, insurance companies, and international economic systems play a critical and transformative role in fostering climate adaptation and resilience. Their influence extends to securing water resources, advancing the sustainable energy transition, and enabling large-scale nature-based solutions. Our focus is to explore innovative financial mechanisms and promote sustainable practices to build resilience and equity in the face of climate change.
Water Justice
Between two and three billion people worldwide experience water shortages. These shortages will worsen in the coming decades, especially in cities, if international cooperation in this area is not boosted. Human interference is destabilizing the hydrological cycle, pushing us beyond the safe and just Earth System Boundaries (ESBs) for water. Restoring these boundaries is one of the greatest challenges of the modern era. Water justice demands equitable solutions to ensure water quality, meet basic needs for safe drinking water (SDG 6) and food (SDG 2), and promote fair allocation among users. It also requires addressing water-related conflicts, fostering inclusive societies, and advancing just water stewardship from local to global levels.
Our research
