Press release

Press release

Directorate for Climate and Energy opens Climate Exam 2025

Between 15 and 30 May, thousands of candidates across more than 120 locations throughout the Netherlands will take the Climate Exam.

The Hague and Rotterdam, 15 May 2025. The exam period has begun, but not just in schools. For the second year in a row, candidates across the Netherlands are taking the Climate Exam. The National Climate Exam kicked off at two locations: this morning, it was opened by Director-General of Climate and Energy, Michel Heijdra, at Invitez, the Hospitality Experience Centre of ROC Mondriaan in The Hague. In the afternoon, Director of Climate and Energy Niels Kastelein launched the exam at the Sociëteit aan de Maas in Rotterdam, where more than 30 CEOs from various companies in the port participated.

Hunger for knowledge

The climate exam is an initiative of Darel Education and is made possible by the provinces of Zeeland, North Holland, South Holland, Utrecht, and various (knowledge) partners. The aim is to increase knowledge about climate change and the solutions. You don't have to study hard (but you can), as creating is already a success. Joost Brinkman, initiator and ambassador for the European Climate Pact: “You cannot fail this exam. You can only learn from it, and we are never too old for that. Knowing better means doing better, and in the end, that is what it's all about: that we work together on the countless available solutions.”

Where the exam was held in 11 locations last year, this year there are as many as 123 venues where people can take the Climate Exam. A huge growth that shows the increasing demand for climate facts and solutions. The organisation aims to grow the Climate Exam each year and, with the help of the European Climate Pact, to introduce the Climate Exam in other countries as well.

Official opening by directors Climate and Energy Michel Heijdra and Niels Kastelein

Director-General Michel Heijdra and Director Niels Kastelein, Climate and Energy at the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth, not only opened the exam but also created it. They emphasise the power of knowledge: "In a world where fact-free policy is becoming increasingly common, it is wonderful that there is an initiative like the Climate Exam to bring participants face to face with the facts and offer solutions on how to effectively deal with existing climate change and to limit further change as much as possible."

Climate Examination Committee

To safeguard that knowledge and to further enhance the quality of the exam, the Climate Examination has established an Examination Committee this year. A group of nine scientists and experts from institutions such as the KNMI, Radboud University Nijmegen, TU Eindhoven, Milieu Centraal, and Wageningen University & Research has critically evaluated and supplemented the exam. Marjolijn Haasnoot, Professor of Climate Adaptation at Utrecht University: “Knowledge about climate adaptation is becoming increasingly important in this era where we are already witnessing the effects of climate change. We can all play a role in this, as adaptation takes place at government, business, and citizen levels. By contributing to the Climate Examination, I hope to make a difference.”

Join in too?

You can register via the website of the Climate Exam and also take the online version here: www.klimaatexamen.nl.

More information

Press contact: Joost Brinkman / 06 12 60 30 53 / joost.brinkman@darel.nl

About

The Climate Exam has been established by Darel Education and is supported by the provinces of Zeeland, North Holland, South Holland, and Utrecht, as well as the insurer Univé. Knowledge partners: Utrecht University, Radboud University Nijmegen, TU Eindhoven, University of Groningen, Amsterdam University College, Wageningen University & Research, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, KNMI, Milieu Centraal. Made possible by: Young Climate Movement, Energy Management Netherlands, European Climate Pact, and all participating locations (www.klimaatexamen.nl/locaties) 

Climate Examination Committee

Roderik van de Wal, Professor of Sea Level Change and Coastal Impacts, Utrecht University

  • Heleen de Coninck, Professor of System Transitions and Climate Change, Radboud University Nijmegen, TU Eindhoven

  • Bart Verheggen, Climate Expert at KNMI and Lecturer at Amsterdam University College

  • Joyce Bosman, Senior Researcher in Climate and Energy Transition, Milieu Centraal

  • Tim van Hattum, Head of Climate Programme, Wageningen University & Research

  • Marjolijn Haasnoot, Professor of Climate Adaptation, Utrecht University

  • Felix van Vugt, Lecturer and Community Organizer of Sustainable Action, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences

  • Ellen van der Werff, Associate Professor of Environmental Psychology, University of Groningen

  • Tim Bleeker, Climate Lawyer and Expert in Environmental Liability Law

Darel Education is a non-profit initiative to create social support for the energy transition. Darel Education offers secondary schools and vocational education institutions a fully organized Energy Transition Masterclass for a modest fee, during which students gain insight into the history of energy, the challenges of the energy transition, the dilemmas, and of course the solutions that lead to a zero-emission energy supply. 

The European Climate Pact is a movement of people committed to a more sustainable Europe. The pact was launched by the European Commission and aims to become climate-neutral by 2050. Everyone can participate in the Pact. Whether you are at the beginning of your climate engagement or have been active for years, there is always a way to contribute.

More information: https://klimaatverbond.nl/project/european-climate-pact/ and https://climate-pact.europa.eu/