Background

Guus Velders was born in Netherlands, in 1964.

Education

In 1987 Guus Velders received an MSc in applied physics and in 1992 a PhD in quantum chemistry at the University of Twente, The Netherlands.

Career

From 1992 to 1993 Guus worked at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) and from 1993 to 2005 and since 2011 at RIVM. In 1999 he worked at the Aeronomy Laboratory (NOAA, USA) and from 2006 to 2010 at the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (MNP, PBL).

Velders worked mainly on scenarios and modeling of the ozone layer. Later he focused on air quality at the European and national level. As project leader of the large-scale concentration and deposition maps for the Netherlands (GCN/GDN), he was responsible for the air quality data for local models since 2006. This data became part of the National Air Quality Collaboration Programme (NSL) and the Programme Approach Nitrogen (PAS).

Since 1997 Velders has been involved as author in the quadrennial assessment reports of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) concerning the state of the ozone layer in support of the Montreal Protocol. In 2005 he was lead author of a chapter of an IPCC report on safeguarding the ozone layer and the global climate system.

As of 2006 he has worked with colleagues from the US investigated the role of the Montreal Protocol on climate change. This research has demonstrated that the Montreal Protocol, for the protection of the ozone layer, has had a greater contribution to reducing global warming than the Kyoto climate agreement. Since 2009, this research focused on the role of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) on climate. These gases are used as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances for refrigeration systems, air conditioners and foams. Velders' research showed that if the demand for HFCs would continue to grow globally, their contribution to the greenhouse effect and thus to climate change would become significant by 2050. This work, and follow-up investigations, have contributed to the foundation of the global climate agreement of Kigali (Rwanda) of October 2016, in which all countries of the world agreed to significantly reduce the use of HFCs in the coming decades. Calculations show that with implementing this agreement, the contribution of HFCs to climate change is limited to about 0.05 degrees Celsius by 2100, compared to 0.3-0.5 degrees Celsius without the agreement.

Achievements

• 

  Guus Velders, the Professor of 'Air Quality and Climate Interactions' at Utrecht University, is an atmospheric scientist who had essential roles in many of the world’s most important policy deals to reduce dangerous pollutants and fight global warming. As world-leading expert in the field of extremely potent greenhouse gases called hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), he was one of the key figures who provided the scientific basis for the success of the 2016 Paris climate accord and important amendments to earlier climate deals such as the 1987 Montréal protocol. His long-standing dedication to the cause of climate change put him on Nature’s top 10 scientists in 2016 and Time’s 100 most influential people in 2017.
  
  Guus Velders is one of the most renowned researchers in his field. For his contribution to the global climate agreement of Kigali he was selected by Nature as one of the ten people in the world who mattered in 2016. In his position as special professor at Utrecht University he will study the interactions between air quality and climate change from the point of view of the physical and chemical processes as well as the policy options and sustainable solutions.
  
  Jenner Medal was awarded to Dr. G.J.M. Velders for his outstanding achievements for RIVM. Guus Velders has eminently and in a very special way contributed to mitigating global climate change.

Works

• book

  • Publications Dr. G. (Guus )Velders - RIVM

Views

Quotations: “Human activities contribute to climate change. The effects of climate change and climate mitigation actions will have a profound impact on society in the coming decades . Understanding the interactions between climate change, air quality and other subjects is of paramount importance. It is my ambition to provide scientific insights for political decision-making.”

"People around the world increasingly understand that climate change is the defining issue of our time and that we need to act now to protect our planet for future generations. That understanding is informed, in large part, due to the work of scientists like Guus. We need more scientists, activists and policymakers to join him in making the cause of climate change their life's mission. The future will thank you."

“The effects of climate change and climate mitigation actions will have a profound impact on society in the coming decades. Understanding the interactions between climate change, air quality and other subjects is of paramount importance. It is my ambition to understand the interactions and provide scientific insights for political decision-making.”

Personality

Quotes from others about the person

• Nature Magazine wrote about him: "Cooling Agent. An atmospheric chemist laid the foundation for an international climate agreement."

Connections

colleague:

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio is an American actor and film producer.

He co-produced the documentary Before the Flood.

References

• Time Magazine (May 1, 2017/May 8, 2017) The 100 Most Influential People Riz Ahmed Cover