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Kitty van der Heijden

@KittyvdHeijden World Resources Institute

Kitty van der Heijden is director of WRI’s Europe Office. She brings a distinguished diplomatic career with notable accomplishments in sustainable development and humanitarian aid to the global research organization.

Kitty van der Heijden is director of WRI’s Europe Office. She brings a distinguished diplomatic career with notable accomplishments in sustainable development and humanitarian aid to the global research organization.

Kitty represents WRI’s vision and strategy in Europe, and is responsible for managing WRI’s liaison office, based in Brussels, where she facilitates engagement with European governments, businesses, and institutions. She works in close collaboration with WRI’s President and Executive Team, its Program and Center Directors, and its Country Directors in India, Brazil and China. Kitty leads WRI’s engagement in the post 2015 Development Agenda, and also embraces work on the international climate regime; the role of the private sector in development; global indicators on resource productivity and efficiency; and inequality. 

An economist by training (Erasmus University Rotterdam), with hands-on experience in sustainable development, her career has been guided by a motivation to ensure dignified living conditions for all of human society within planetary boundaries.

Prior to joining WRI, Kitty was the Ambassador for Sustainable Development and Director of the Department for Climate, Energy, Environment and Water in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. She was responsible for policy development on environmental global public goods and managing the sizeable aid budget of the Department. 

Drs. Kitty van der Heijden is the Director of WRI’s Europe Office. She brings a distinguished diplomatic career with notable accomplishments in sustainable development and humanitarian aid to the global research organization.

Kitty represents WRI’s vision and strategy in Europe, and is responsible for managing WRI’s liaison office, based in Brussels, where she facilitates engagement with European governments, businesses, and institutions. She works in close collaboration with WRI’s President and Executive Team, its Program and Center Directors, and its Country Directors in India, Brazil and China. Kitty leads WRI’s engagement in the post 2015 Development Agenda, and also embraces work on the international climate regime; the role of the private sector in development; global indicators on resource productivity and efficiency; and inequality.

An economist by training (Erasmus University Rotterdam), with hands-on experience in sustainable development, her career has been guided by a motivation to ensure dignified living conditions for all of human society within planetary boundaries. Prior to joining WRI, Kitty was the Ambassador for Sustainable Development and Director of the Department for Climate, Energy, Environment and Water in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. She was responsible for policy development on environmental global public goods and managing the sizeable aid budget of the Department.  She led the Netherlands delegation to the Rio+20 summit and was appointed the Netherlands representative on the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals. Prior to her secondment to th

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map of Europe

Europe's circular economy competitive advantage

December 7, 2018

By Kitty van der H...
Just look at the trajectory of the Finnish mobile company, Nokia.
  • Circular Economy
European Union climate change

European Union walks a tightrope to climate leadership

July 13, 2017

By Kitty van der H...
Will the rest of the West step up to fill the void left by the U.S. exit from the Paris Agreement?
  • Policy & Politics
uphill climb, sustainable development goals

Now, the hard part: Make the Sustainable Development Goals a reality

September 28, 2015

By Kitty van der H... and Manish Bapna
Consensus on sustainable development imperatives is great. Here are 4 ways to start with the real work.
  • Climate Conferences
  • Cities
Who's accountable for progress on the Sustainable Development Goals? featured image

Who's accountable for progress on the Sustainable Development Goals?

July 22, 2015

By Kitty van der H... and Sonya Suter
Cities, businesses, civil society and national governments are all on the hook to end poverty, as part of the U.N. climate talks.
  • Climate Conferences
  • Commitments & Goals

It Takes Persistence

Intel manufacturing

Intel, Apple tout circular, carbon-free manufacturing

ByHeather Clancy
Engie building

Engie, University of Iowa say 'I do' to 50-year, $1 billion+ partnership

BySarah Golden
Globe with shipping boxes on computer

CDP: Greening corporate supply chains could deliver a gigaton of carbon savings

ByCatherine Early
GreenBiz 20

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