Lecture | Tuesday Talk
Getting within planetary boundaries
- Date
- Tuesday 10 November 2026
- Time
- Address
-
Gorlaeus Building
Einsteinweg 55
2333 CC Leiden - Room
- CM.1.26
Humanity is pushing the limits of the Earth’s systems. Of the nine planetary boundaries that define a safe operating space for humanity, seven are currently crossed — and we continue to push further beyond them. Moving back towards a safer and more sustainable future is still possible — but it will require profound changes in how we produce food, use natural resources and shape our economy.
Join us for this Tuesday Talk, where Professor Jan Willem Erisman will explore what it takes to move back within safe planetary boundaries. Using the nitrogen crisis in the Netherlands as a case study, he will examine the complexity of the food transition and the role science can play in helping policymakers navigate these challenges.
From global challenges to local solutions
Planetary boundaries may seem like a global and abstract concept, but their consequences are felt at local and national levels. The Dutch nitrogen crisis offers a powerful example of how environmental, economic, and societal interests intersect, and the challenges of finding effective solutions. Through this lens, Erisman will reflect on the role of science in understanding complex sustainability issues and supporting decision-making in times of uncertainty.
Join this Tuesday Talk
Everyone who is interested in this edition's topic is welcome. Please let us know if you are attending.
Register (not yet possible to register)Programme
The programme of the Tuesday Talk is:
| 15.45 hrs | Take a seat |
| 16.00 hrs | Tuesday Talk |
| 17.00 hrs | Drinks |
About the speaker
Jan Willem Erisman is Professor of Environment and Sustainability at Leiden University’s Centre for Environmental Sciences (CML) and chair of the Scientific Climate Council of the Netherlands (WKR). He is widely known for his work on nitrogen and its connections with agriculture, climate, biodiversity and the environment. With a background in chemical engineering, he takes an interdisciplinary approach to environmental challenges, focusing on how scientific knowledge can contribute to practical solutions for a sustainable society.
About the Tuesday Talks
The Tuesday Talks are Leiden Science’s monthly dose of research inspiration from our staff, for our staff and all others curious minds. Every second Tuesday of the month from 16:00 hrs till 17:00 hrs, drinks and meet up afterwards till 18.00 hrs.