The story and vision of GreenDeal-NET
In his opening address during the final GreenDeal-NET conference, Professor Sebastian Oberthür reflected on GreenDeal-NET’s journey at the close of its Erasmus+ funding period as a Jean Monnet Network.
He outlined how the network has grown into a vibrant community advancing teaching, research, and policy engagement on EU climate and sustainability governance. Looking ahead, he stressed that the network will continue as a platform for collaboration and evidence-based debate on EU climate and sustainability governance. The sustainability transition is about more than reducing emissions; it requires systemic and radical change to build resilient societies and institutions in turbulent and disruptive times.
Watch it here on YouTube if you'd like to access the video transcript or jump chapters.
Key Highlights
- Network growth: 12 partner universities with an expansion to 35 associated institutions, and 90+ experts and PhD researchers.
- Educational outputs: MOOC on the European Green Deal, PhD training school, How Green is Your Deal? podcast and online lecture series.
- Research collaboration: four published special issues (with more under review), five state-of-the-art reviews, 17 research visits, over 20 academic panels, and a Horizon Europe project on climate and democracy.
- Policy engagement & dissemination: two major conferences, four policy-link workshops, a roundtable debate series, nearly 30 policy briefs, op-eds and blog posts, plus five editions of Research Highlights.
- Vision: GreenDeal-NET will continue beyond Erasmus+ as a platform for collaboration and evidence-based debate, supporting EU climate and sustainability governance in turbulent times and advancing systemic, justice-oriented transitions.
Watch all recordings from the GreenDeal-NET conference
Speaker: Sebastian Overthür
He is the Co-Director of the Research Centre for Environment, Economy and Energy, and Professor for Environment and Sustainable Development at the Brussels School of Governance (BSoG). He is also Professor of Environmental Policy and Law at the Centre for Climate Change, Energy and Environmental Law at the University of Eastern Finland.
He has extensive expertise on European and international environmental governance, policy and law, including climate governance, with an emphasis on institutional issues and perspectives.
GreenDeal-NET is here to stay beyond August 2025! We are committed to advancing research, informing policy, and fosteringmeaningful change. Join us! We welcome funding and collaboration opportunities. Contact us to be part of the Network!
