Hi there! We’re Elise van Breda (she/her) and Joy (Dorant) van Breda (he/him) – the hearts and minds behind Somewhat Greener. You’re probably here to learn more about us and what drives our work, so let’s dive into the story that brought us to this moment.
Our journey
When we “swiped right” on each other on a popular dating app in 2015, neither of our profiles mentioned anything about ‘Earth system science’ or ‘social justice’, but we did find each other in our shared love for philosophy and a meaningful conversation. Since then, our evenings and walks have been filled with endless chatter (sorry, not sorry, to those who’ve met us in person!).
Early on, we knew we didn’t want to settle for the way things were. Instead, we challenged each other to take meaningful steps toward what we believed was a more “responsible lifestyle”. Our journey together has been one of constant learning, unlearning, and relearning, with each step focused on improving the world—a commitment that continues today. Over time, we became convinced that making the world better and safer is always worth it and that there is no other way to radically transform the world than to believe in it and use our collective transformative power to make that change. This mindset ultimately led to the creation of our passion project, Somewhat Greener, in early 2020.
Somewhat Greener
Somewhat Greener began as an Instagram space – a creative and activistic outlet where we used creativity, including artivism, to engage with a global community. This allowed us to connect with thought leaders, scientists, educators, and activists, all fighting for systemic change and a livable planet. We used our platform to build community, share knowledge, and learn from others who are pushing for social and environmental justice.
At the same time, we dove deeper into climate science and explored the complex challenges facing human and planetary systems. We followed scientific developments on climate change, biodiversity loss, and food systems, as well as their policy recommendations and global negotiations. Frustrated by the lack of urgency and political leadership in addressing the climate emergency and rapid loss of nature, we decided in 2022 to step up as planetary educators and get professionally involved.
Since then, we’ve crash-coursed on topics like social inequality, climate change mitigation, ecosystem restoration, Earth system boundaries, deep ecology and systems thinking. Through this process, we’ve learned how human activities effectively destabilise Earth’s systems, pushing them closer to a state incapable of supporting human societies as we know them. However, we also discovered that the systemic changes needed to address our time’s massive challenges could make life better for everyone!
Recognising that people are often reluctant to change, we’ve made it our mission to create the conditions that make positive societal transformation possible. By combining our backgrounds in communication science (Elise) and physics (Joy) with our passion for translating complex issues into compelling narratives, we aim to:
- Raise planetary awareness.
- Enhance the collective understanding of socio-ecological challenges.
- Promote stewardship of the planet’s biosphere.
- Bring the research we love to read into the hands of those who can put it into practical use.
Through a combination of science communication and creative expression, we aim to challenge existing paradigms, spark conversations, and inspire action on urgent ecological and social issues. If you’re curious about how we do that via outreach, we have added an Instagram highlight at the end of this page – remember to check out all of our content via our social media platform or Feed page! Please see the disclaimers on our Policy and Permissions page to learn more about how we approach our work – its values, intentions, and limitations.
Our work so far
Our efforts and passion have brought us unique opportunities and experiences we’re proud to share:
- We conducted a literature study on the global food system’s impact on the Planetary Boundaries and created country-specific food-system factsheets to support campaigners in engaging with policymakers.
- We participated as scientific advisors at the COP28 and SB60 UNFCCC climate conferences, advocating for the transition to a safe and just food system and raising awareness of the critical role of food systems in ensuring food security in the face of climate change.
- We delivered presentations at various universities on Earth system science and the urgent need for food system transformation.
- We trained activist shareholders to confront CEOs of major Dutch corporations to align their emission targets with the Paris Agreement.
- We delivered interactive workshops at universities, corporations and conferences to raise awareness of global interconnected challenges, provide insights on the state of the planet we call home, and discuss actions we can take to protect it.
We are now actively seeking opportunities to work at the intersection of science, policy, and action. Our goal is to influence decision-making processes and help shape the conversation around effective climate action and sustainable food system transformation. If our vision resonates with you, and you’re interested in collaborating or learning more about our work, we’d love to hear from you! Check out our projects page or get in touch to explore how we can work together to drive meaningful change.
Joy and Elise
