{"id":48567,"date":"2026-07-16T13:03:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T11:03:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/?p=48567"},"modified":"2026-07-16T13:12:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T11:12:00","slug":"sustainable-transition-resilience-leadership-transition2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/en\/inspiration\/sustainable-transition-resilience-leadership-transition2026\/","title":{"rendered":"After a day with temperatures reaching 39\u00b0C, one thing is clear: the transition can&#8217;t wait any longer."},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"48567\" class=\"elementor elementor-48567 elementor-48566\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-top elementor-element elementor-element-241eb3b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"241eb3b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db95f3a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"db95f3a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc46c21 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"fc46c21\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e368593 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e368593\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/LotteKortbeek-1v-300x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-41541\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/LotteKortbeek-1v-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/LotteKortbeek-1v-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/LotteKortbeek-1v-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/LotteKortbeek-1v-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/LotteKortbeek-1v-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/LotteKortbeek-1v-2048x2048.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0fb7189 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0fb7189\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-22136cb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"22136cb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Lotte Kortbeek<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fa6704f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fa6704f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Consultant<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5463a81 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5463a81\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Lotte specializes in business development, strategic planning, and building impactful partnerships within the energy transition. She helps organizations turn complex challenges into practical solutions that create lasting value.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fdcd5f9 elementor-align-justify elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"fdcd5f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"mailto:lotte@nlmtd.com\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Get in touch<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2eb218e elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"2eb218e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db8ac1a elementor-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"db8ac1a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-9725cf6\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time>July 16, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d86631e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d86631e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Share this article<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d951530 elementor-widget elementor-widget-reycore-social-sharing\" data-id=\"d951530\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"reycore-social-sharing.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"rey-element rey-elSharing\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<ul class=\"rey-postSocialShare --minimal\">\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"rey-shareItem--facebook-f\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/en\/inspiration\/sustainable-transition-resilience-leadership-transition2026\/\" data-share-props='{\"name\":\"facebook-share\",\"size\":\"width=580,height=296\"}' data-tooltip-text=\"Share on Facebook\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" id=\"rey-icon-facebook-f-6a5967fcd49b1\" class=\"rey-icon rey-icon-facebook-f \" viewbox=\"0 0 320 512\"><path d=\"M279.14 288l14.22-92.66h-88.91v-60.13c0-25.35 12.42-50.06 52.24-50.06h40.42V6.26S260.43 0 225.36 0c-73.22 0-121.08 44.38-121.08 124.72v70.62H22.89V288h81.39v224h100.17V288z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/a><\/li><li class=\"rey-shareItem--twitter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=After+a+day+with+temperatures+reaching+39%C2%B0C%2C+one+thing+is+clear%3A+the+transition+can%E2%80%99t+wait+any+longer.&url=https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/en\/inspiration\/sustainable-transition-resilience-leadership-transition2026\/\" data-share-props='{\"name\":\"twitter-share\",\"size\":\"width=550,height=235\"}' data-tooltip-text=\"Share on X (Twitter)\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Share on X (Twitter)\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" id=\"rey-icon-twitter-6a5967fcd49c4\" class=\"rey-icon rey-icon-twitter \" viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\"><path d=\"M2,0 C0.895,0 0,0.895 0,2 L0,20 C0,21.105 0.895,22 2,22 L20,22 C21.105,22 22,21.105 22,20 L22,2 C22,0.895 21.105,0 20,0 L2,0 Z M4.6484375,5 L9.259766,5 L11.951172,8.847656 L15.28125,5 L16.732422,5 L12.603516,9.78125 L17.654297,17 L13.042969,17 L10.056641,12.730469 L6.369141,17 L4.8945312,17 L9.400391,11.794922 L4.6484375,5 Z M6.878906,6.183594 L13.632812,15.810547 L15.421875,15.810547 L8.666016,6.183594 L6.878906,6.183594 Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/a><\/li><li class=\"rey-shareItem--linkedin\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/en\/inspiration\/sustainable-transition-resilience-leadership-transition2026\/&title=After+a+day+with+temperatures+reaching+39%C2%B0C%2C+one+thing+is+clear%3A+the+transition+can%E2%80%99t+wait+any+longer.\" data-share-props='{\"name\":\"linkedin-share\",\"size\":\"width=930,height=720\"}' data-tooltip-text=\"Share on LinkedIn\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Share on LinkedIn\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" id=\"rey-icon-linkedin-6a5967fcd49d1\" class=\"rey-icon rey-icon-linkedin \" viewbox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/a><\/li><li class=\"rey-shareItem--pinterest-p\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/en\/inspiration\/sustainable-transition-resilience-leadership-transition2026\/&description=After+a+day+with+temperatures+reaching+39%C2%B0C%2C+one+thing+is+clear%3A+the+transition+can%E2%80%99t+wait+any+longer.\" data-share-props='{\"name\":\"pinterest-share\",\"size\":\"width=490,height=530\"}' data-tooltip-text=\"Share on Pinterest\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Share on Pinterest\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" id=\"rey-icon-pinterest-p-6a5967fcd49dd\" class=\"rey-icon rey-icon-pinterest-p \" viewbox=\"0 0 384 512\"><path d=\"M204 6.5C101.4 6.5 0 74.9 0 185.6 0 256 39.6 296 63.6 296c9.9 0 15.6-27.6 15.6-35.4 0-9.3-23.7-29.1-23.7-67.8 0-80.4 61.2-137.4 140.4-137.4 68.1 0 118.5 38.7 118.5 109.8 0 53.1-21.3 152.7-90.3 152.7-24.9 0-46.2-18-46.2-43.8 0-37.8 26.4-74.4 26.4-113.4 0-66.2-93.9-54.2-93.9 25.8 0 16.8 2.1 35.4 9.6 50.7-13.8 59.4-42 147.9-42 209.1 0 18.9 2.7 37.5 4.5 56.4 3.4 3.8 1.7 3.4 6.9 1.5 50.4-69 48.6-82.5 71.4-172.8 12.3 23.4 44.1 36 69.3 36 106.2 0 153.9-103.5 153.9-196.8C384 71.3 298.2 6.5 204 6.5z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/a><\/li><li class=\"rey-shareItem--mail\"><a href=\"mailto:?body=https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/en\/inspiration\/sustainable-transition-resilience-leadership-transition2026\/\"  data-tooltip-text=\"Mail\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Mail\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" id=\"rey-icon-envelope-6a5967fcd49f1\" class=\"rey-icon rey-icon-envelope \" viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\"><path d=\"M28,5H4C1.791,5,0,6.792,0,9v13c0,2.209,1.791,4,4,4h24c2.209,0,4-1.791,4-4V9  C32,6.792,30.209,5,28,5z M2,10.25l6.999,5.25L2,20.75V10.25z M30,22c0,1.104-0.898,2-2,2H4c-1.103,0-2-0.896-2-2l7.832-5.875  l4.368,3.277c0.533,0.398,1.166,0.6,1.8,0.6c0.633,0,1.266-0.201,1.799-0.6l4.369-3.277L30,22L30,22z M30,20.75l-7-5.25l7-5.25  V20.75z M17.199,18.602c-0.349,0.262-0.763,0.4-1.199,0.4c-0.436,0-0.851-0.139-1.2-0.4L10.665,15.5l-0.833-0.625L2,9.001V9  c0-1.103,0.897-2,2-2h24c1.102,0,2,0.897,2,2L17.199,18.602z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/a><\/li>\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<!-- .rey-postSocialShare -->\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-867082f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"867082f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b13120 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4b13120\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A must-read for anyone who, after temperatures soared to 39\u00b0C in the Netherlands last week, found themselves wondering: Is this really the right direction?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-53cc008 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"53cc008\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">During <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Transition2026<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> More than 300 executives, entrepreneurs, scientists, and change agents gathered. Not to convince each other once again that the world is changing, but to discuss how we can accelerate that change. <\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Yes, it was about climate. But just as often, it was about security, natural resources, affordability, leadership, trust, and the question of how to get people moving in a world that\u2019s becoming increasingly unpredictable. <\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Perhaps that was the most important conclusion of the day: the sustainable transition has long since ceased to be a niche concern for people who \u201cbelieve in sustainability.\u201d It now touches on everything: our economy, our strategic autonomy, our leadership style, and ultimately, ourselves. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-204952c e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"204952c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cebf6f1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cebf6f1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Transistion2026_Tristan-Fopma_LR-42-rq5jy6vh0cj76hf92355fn7k31g9juzgfleoih3a0y.jpg\" title=\"Transistion2026_Tristan Fopma_LR-42\" alt=\"Transistion2026_Tristan Fopma_LR-42\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-88735da elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"88735da\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Transistion2026_Tristan-Fopma_LR-14-rq5ju56hl0zreah4fljwhfqet96m4fmz1aqsqwyg7g.jpg\" title=\"Transistion2026_Tristan Fopma_LR-14\" alt=\"Transistion2026_Tristan Fopma_LR-14\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a73804 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6a73804\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Transistion2026_Tristan-Fopma_LR-25-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-48581\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Transistion2026_Tristan-Fopma_LR-25-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Transistion2026_Tristan-Fopma_LR-25-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Transistion2026_Tristan-Fopma_LR-25-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Transistion2026_Tristan-Fopma_LR-25-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Transistion2026_Tristan-Fopma_LR-25-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1afd007 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1afd007\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Different Language, Same Goals  <\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2946b69 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2946b69\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #484f56; font-size: 1.125rem;\">Tom Middendorp set that tone from the outset. The former Commander of the Armed Forces did not view sustainability as an isolated issue, but as part of a much broader shift. His message was as clear as it was unsettling: the past eighty years of stability, peace, and prosperity were the exception rather than the rule. \u201cWe are moving from an era of abundance to one of scarcity, from cooperation to division, and from predictability to disruption.\u201d<\/span><\/p><div><div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\">According to Middendorp, this demands a different approach. It is no longer enough to optimize for efficiency and cost. We must build resilience. \u201cBecause,\u201d he warned, \u201csystems designed solely for efficiency become vulnerable as soon as the world turns turbulent. The cost of failing to build resilience is many times greater than the cost of investing in it.\u201d<\/div><div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\"><br \/>In doing so, he offered a new perspective on the transition. Investing in renewable energy is not only good for the climate, but also strengthens energy independence, geopolitical stability, and economic opportunity. Or, as he put it: \u201cThe mission of this generation is not only to preserve prosperity, but also to build resilience for the generations that follow.\u201d<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f1c8290 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f1c8290\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Circularity as a Strategic Necessity  <\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba6c037 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ba6c037\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #484f56; font-size: 1.125rem;\">That same shift was evident in the discussion on circularity with Klaske Kruk (Director, NVCE) and Harald Tepper (Director of Sustainable Business, Philips). Here too, the message was clear: circularity is no longer a nice to have, but a strategic necessity. Raw materials have become instruments of power. China recognized this early, the United States is moving quickly, and Europe can no longer afford to take a wait and see approach. \u201cPerhaps we should talk less about a sustainability manager and more about a materials and energy strategist.\u201d<\/span><\/p><div><div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\">That remark from Tepper stayed with me because it perfectly captured a recurring theme throughout Transition2026: the language of the transition is changing. Anyone seeking to accelerate circularity must talk not only about moral responsibility, but also about risk, margins, supply security, and business continuity. Not because climate has become less important, but because arguments resonate only when they connect with the realities faced by executives, procurement professionals, CFOs, and entrepreneurs.<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f29c198 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f29c198\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Economics Behind the Transition  <\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4218833 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4218833\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #484f56; font-size: 1.125rem;\">Sandra Phlippen, Chief Sustainability Officer at ABN AMRO, made the economic case even more tangible. She explored why the ESG momentum of recent years has cooled. Her answer was surprisingly pragmatic: it was not only politics or policy that slowed progress, but primarily interest rates. \u201cSustainable investments are highly sensitive to interest rates. They require significant upfront capital, while fossil fuel systems are already deeply embedded in the market.\u201d<\/span><\/p><div><div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\">Yet her message was far from gloomy. On the contrary. She illustrated how oil price shocks are accelerating the shift to electric transportation, how China is scaling clean technologies at an unprecedented pace, and how countries with a higher share of renewable energy are less vulnerable to fluctuations in gas prices. Spain and Italy offered a clear example: the smaller the role of natural gas in the electricity mix, the less exposed electricity prices are to geopolitical shocks. \u201cA bank won\u2019t save the planet, but a bank can help finance the transition.\u201d<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1434e2f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1434e2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Leadership in a Challenging Work Environment  <\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c4e7df elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4c4e7df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #484f56; font-size: 1.125rem;\">Cindy Kroon, CEO of Vattenfall Netherlands, also resisted offering simple answers. \u201cWind, solar, heat, storage, carbon capture and storage, we\u2019ll probably need all of it,\u201d she said. That is precisely why, in her view, it is so important to tell a better story about the transition. Not just the how, but especially the why. \u201cWhat I focus on most is telling the story: where we need to go, why it is necessary, and what it will bring us.\u201d<\/span><\/p><div><div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\">Kroon also highlighted the tension many organizations are facing today. The ambition is there, but reality remains challenging. \u201cCustomers are willing, companies are willing, and the technology is often already available, but affordability, infrastructure, policy, and trust will determine whether this acceleration actually succeeds.\u201d<\/div><div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\"><br \/>While Sandra Phlippen had shown how heavily the transition depends on capital, interest rates, and affordability, Quirine de Weerd, former CSO at Lidl and now Director of Sustainable Agriculture and Nature at RVO, brought that economic reality back to the practical challenges of implementation.<\/div><div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\"><br \/>At Lidl, she began without a clearly defined sustainability strategy. Rather than starting with the largest or most controversial issues, she focused on food waste: a concrete, relatable challenge that was difficult to oppose internally. \u201cEverything was sustainability, and nothing was sustainability. So we had to make choices: what are we going to focus on, and what are we not?\u201d<\/div><div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\"><br \/>Her lesson was as practical as it was powerful: \u201cMake sure the basics are in order, then create room for strategy, and always work within your sphere of influence. Change requires vision, but also legitimacy, small wins, and people who are simply willing to take action.\u201d<\/div><div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\"><br \/>And perhaps most importantly: \u201cDon\u2019t let anything or anyone stop you.\u201d<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74f5505 e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"74f5505\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-022877c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"022877c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Transistion2026_Tristan-Fopma_LR-115-rq5k0kesa9saqd58xdi4itdsy1iwpz4xx388szflos.jpg\" title=\"Transistion2026_Tristan Fopma_LR-115\" alt=\"Transistion2026_Tristan Fopma_LR-115\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98bcf2b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"98bcf2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Transistion2026_Tristan-Fopma_LR-20-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-48578\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Transistion2026_Tristan-Fopma_LR-20-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Transistion2026_Tristan-Fopma_LR-20-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Transistion2026_Tristan-Fopma_LR-20-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Transistion2026_Tristan-Fopma_LR-20-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Transistion2026_Tristan-Fopma_LR-20-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7419032 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7419032\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Transistion2026_Tristan-Fopma_LR-36-e1783601213792-rq5k3zjn5kgurx057lcbt6jvykvr0nzv8a8h1whvnm.jpg\" title=\"Transistion2026_Tristan Fopma_LR-36\" alt=\"Transistion2026_Tristan Fopma_LR-36\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-14b6562 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"14b6562\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Hope Lies Beneath the Surface<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98ef7b2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"98ef7b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #484f56; font-size: 1.125rem;\">At the end of the day, Jan Rotmans brought everything together. His message was hopeful, personal, and urgent all at once. He spoke about geopolitical shifts, economic tipping points, democratic pressures, and ecological limits. Yet his greatest source of hope did not lie in policy or technology. It lay in the undercurrent. \u201cEverything we want to see at scale already exists on a small scale. And everything that is big today once started small.\u201d<\/span><\/p><div><div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\">That undercurrent was palpable throughout the day. It emerged in stories about local energy solutions, circular supply chains, electric aviation, innovative plastics, cultivated meat, reusable packaging, and energy storage in hospitals. Many of these initiatives are still small in scale, but that is precisely where the future takes shape: a future that may one day become the norm.<\/div><div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\"><br \/>Rotmans also brought the discussion back to a personal level. After all, the transition is not only about systems, markets, and technology. It is also about fear, courage, purpose, and whether we ourselves are willing to change. \u201cKnowledge is necessary, but not sufficient. People only take action when they are moved.\u201d<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e4f20b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e4f20b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Taking Action Without Complete Certainty<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fa2c8fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fa2c8fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #484f56; font-size: 1.125rem;\">That made Transition2026 more than just a conference about sustainability. It was a day about coming of age in a time of disruption. About the need to connect sustainability with the economy, security, and everyday life. And about a style of leadership that does not try to control everything, but instead offers direction, creates space, and invites others to join the journey.<\/span><\/p><div><div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\">If you had to capture the day in a single feeling, it might be this: the transition is complex, sometimes frustrating, and far from guaranteed. But it is also very much alive. In boardrooms, at banks, in supermarkets, at energy companies, in startups, within government agencies, and among all those people who refuse to wait for someone else to take the first step.<\/div><div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\"><br \/>Perhaps that was the most important message of Transition2026: you do not need complete certainty to get started. The transition does not require a perfect roadmap. It requires people and organizations willing to build, experiment, learn, and persevere. And anyone who stepped out of Felix Meritis after this warm and eventful day knew one thing for sure: this conversation is far from over. On to Transition2027, where the question will no longer be whether we keep building, but how quickly we can move forward.<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lotte Kortbeek Consultant Lotte specializes in business development, strategic planning, and building impactful partnerships within the energy transition. She helps organizations turn complex challenges into practical solutions that create lasting value. Get in touch Share this article A must-read for anyone who, after temperatures soared to 39\u00b0C in the Netherlands last week, found themselves wondering: [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":104,"featured_media":48581,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[455,370,407,926,541,602,614],"class_list":["post-48567","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspiration","tag-circularity","tag-duurzaamheid-en","tag-leadership","tag-resilience","tag-sustainability-en","tag-transitie-en","tag-transition"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48567","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/104"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48567"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48567\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48669,"href":"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48567\/revisions\/48669"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48581"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48567"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48567"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}