SERGE DE GHELDERE WINS THE FIRST ALUMNI ENGINEERS KU LEUVEN AWARD

ALUMNUS IN FOCUS

On 6 May 2021, the Alumni Awards were presented to a master of Engineering Science and a master of Engineering Technology, who have distinguished themselves nationally and internationally, within or outside their field of study. Winner Serge de Gheldere could in principle qualify for either of the two awards. He preferred to refer to his training as a master in Engineering Technology, where the foundations for his successful career as an entrepreneur and as the figurehead of the climate issue were laid.

Serge is a three-time engineer (Group T University College, KU Leuven, and TU Delft) and a committed entrepreneur. His study, work and ambitions are completely devoted to the climate issue and the development of technologically and economically feasible solutions for companies, governments, and regions. He is considered an authority in this field and a role model for young engineers.

Serge de Gheldere

© Filip Van Loock

Futureproofed

As an engineer, Serge designed an online platform that uses an SDG framework to help cities and towns develop, implement, and monitor a climate plan. Futureproofed Cities helps cities to proceed to the implementation phase as soon as possible to reach the climate targets. All cities, large and small, frontrunners and doubters can join. By now, 136 cities are making use of it, with 2675 climate mitigation measures, accounting for 2.6 billion euros in investments, a reduction of 1 million tons of CO² emissions per year and annual savings of 375 million euros.

As an entrepreneur, Serge founded Futureproofed in 1999 with the goal to support companies, organisations, and governments in the transition towards a sustainable and profitable business model. Futureproofed is convinced that accelerating towards a non-fossil, sustainable future is one of the biggest opportunities for companies. The step towards a non-fossil fuel future helps to save costs, reduce risks, develop new products and services, and strengthen the company’s image.

Futureproofed has already carried out assignments for hundreds of companies, cities, and organisations, including DEME, Nike, Colruyt, the European Parliament, Leuven, Antwerp, Hasselt, etc.

Climate activist

Serge’s career as a climate ambassador began in 2006, when he was selected as the ‘Climate Ambassador’ of the then US Vice President Al Gore. With his presentation ‘The Inconvenient Truth’ Serge gave hundreds of lectures at home and abroad, including Stanford, Yale, Tsinghua University (Beijing), India, Dubai, Togo, and many EU countries. Serge is still a much sought-after speaker at conferences, seminars and in the media. His latest achievement is the establishment of vzw Klimaatzaak, a pressure group that wants to urge four Belgian governments through legal means to comply with the climate agreements. The organisation aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 42% to 48% by 2025 and by 65% by 2030, to reach zero emissions by 2050. More than 68,000 Belgians have already signed up to this initiative. After six years of litigation, the process of the century has finally begun.

Serge was also involved in the birth of the ambitious ‘Leuven Klimaatneutraal 2030’ project, which has since been renamed ‘Leuven 2030’. He is vice-chairman of the executive committee and a director. In Leuven 2030, more than 600 partners, authorities, the academic world, businesses, and citizens are working together to develop a roadmap and carry out strategic experiments in the field of climate neutrality. This project has helped to make Leuven the European Capital of Innovation this year. Leuven 2030 proves that even a small town can have a big impact in the global climate debate. It is no wonder that the city has awarded Serge the honorary title of ‘Hero of Leuven’.

Yves Persoons