S.B.D. (Steve) Clemens

I’ve always been a petrolhead, since childhood. And then it expanded to technology in general, to encompass social sciences even later. As an adult I ‘grew up’ to develop more interest in sustainability and renewable energy, hence my switch from economics to environmental economics.

At my alma mater UBI in BrusseIs I was lucky to be asked to create a green MBA program. It ran successfully until the school got sold to a Chinese consortium. I feel fortunate that a couple of years later I was again able to teach environmental economics and renewables entrepreneurship at Windesheim’s Honours College.

Today I start at the CBBD lectoraat at Fontys. Fontys’ motto is For Society, which makes for a pleasant match.

Of course, the cross-border focus is very particular. With nearly none of today’s societal challenges being local or even national, this approach proves ever more relevant. From loss of biodiversity, over mass migration to food security, it all derives from the GOAT issue climate change. And this demands attention from all possible angles, as it is clear by now - it all started at the first UN Climate Conference of 1992 - that societies around the world are shy to transition to sustainable systems fast enough. Among the vectors of climate change, energy takes a central role: how can we reduce the energy-intensity of our wealthy lifestyles, and also the carbon-intensity of that energy? Moreover, I believe the reluctance of societies to act according to the known unknowns of climate change can partially be explained by the enormity of the socio-cultural change it entails.

That is why I’m truly happy to be part of the CBBD team, working on the energy transition’s cross-border issues and opportunities, as well as supporting the development of future-ready educational formats such as hybrid learning in Living Labs environments.

As a new-born ampere-head and speed windsurfer/wingfoiler you can always contact me to talk about sustainable fun :-)

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