Statement about the announced climate protest
Following the announced climate protest during the Career Expo on Tuesday and Wednesday.
As the Executive Board of TU/e, we would like to address the climate protest that has been announced to take place on our campus during the Career Expo, on March 5 and 6. Firstly, we welcome and appreciate the engagement of our students and community members in raising awareness of the urgent need for action on climate change. The right to protest is a fundamental right and TU/e therefore allows such manifestations ample scope.
At Eindhoven University of Technology we are fully committed to sustainability. The energy transition plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change and in transitioning towards a more sustainable future. We are committed to advancing research, education and innovation in this field, and we are constantly taking new steps to increase our contribution. We are proud of our staff and faculty who work hard to achieve a more sustainable and inclusive society.
The energy transition is the largest societal challenge ever, and it can only be addressed by joining forces as much as possible. Therefore, we cannot afford to exclude strong R&D parties that can help accelerate the sustainable solutions needed, including fossil fuel companies. We decided in 2022 that new TU/e cooperations with such companies will only concern projects that contribute to renewable energy and sustainability.
While we acknowledge the concerns raised by some regarding collaboration with the fossil fuel industry, we firmly believe that engagement with these parties can facilitate and accelerate the necessary change. These parties are therefore welcome at the Career Expo.
Debate, discussion and freedom of expression are core elements of academia. TU/e therefore gives ample scope to manifestations, with the proviso that safety is ensured for all, as was recently reconfirmed in the new TU/e policy principles for manifestations. These principles were discussed with and agreed by the University Council, which is the democratically elected representation of the TU/e community. We count on the understanding of the organizers, the participants and visitors of the Career Expo for the announced protest. The right to protest is a vital fundamental right for which we should all provide scope. At the same time, we also expect everyone on our campus to treat each other with respect and empathy.
Questions were raised by a protest group about independent journalism at TU/e. It is important to note that TU/e strongly supports independent journalism and critical reporting.
Finally, we wish the organizers of the Career Expo, the hundreds of participants and the thousands of visitors, a successful and pleasurable event.
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