Coherence and Collaboration Reflections on governing sustainable development as a wicked problem

After more than four decades of research, teaching and academic leadership, Prof. Peter Driessen will deliver his Valedictory Lecture on 9 April 2026.

During his time at Utrecht University, Prof. Driessen has made a lasting contribution to the field of environmental governance. His research on climate adaptation, flood risk governance and science–policy interactions has helped deepen our understanding of how sustainable development can be governed in practice, particularly when dealing with complex and “wicked” societal challenges.

In this farewell lecture, “Coherence and Collaboration: Reflections on governing sustainable development as a wicked problem,” Prof. Driessen reflects on the main insights that have shaped his work and the broader field over the past four decades.