Frank Dietz
“I find problems interesting; I like to show that there are multiple perspectives and that things can be done differently.”
Frank Dietz is an economist who researches nature and environmental issues and provides scientifically based solutions.
If there is anything characteristic of Frank Dietz’s career, is that his concern does not end at age 67 – social problems challenge him and he thrives on debate.
“I thrive when there is a problem to be solved”
For decades, Frank has been analyzing nature and environmental issues, but it could just as easily have been other social problems, such as those in healthcare or the housing market. What he finds particularly repulsive is ‘trying to justify what is wrong’. As far as he is concerned, knowledge is an important key to change.
“I always found it most interesting to work from an underdog position, as the challenger. You have to be three times better equipped than your ‘opponent’; the one who defends the status quo from his established position. “
While studying economics at Tilburg University, the pollution of soil, water and air sparked his interest. It gradually became clear to him that economics can be very helpful in first understanding the origins of environmental problems and then developing solutions to them. Encouraged by his first teacher Prof Hans van den Doel (University of Amsterdam), he further developed this idea and graduated on this thesis.
After graduating, Frank worked at various universities until 2000, teaching public sector economics and conducting research on the causes of and solutions to various environmental issues. In 2000, he received his doctorate from his second tutor Prof Dik Wolfson (Erasmus University Rotterdam) on the thesis Fertilizer losses and economic policy.
In 2000, Frank joined the Directorate-General for Environmental Management then Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning, and the Environment as a strategist in environment & economics. In 2005, he became deputy director of the Interdepartmental Energy Transition Programmer Directorate (based at the Ministry of Economic Affairs), where he and others laid the foundations for the energy transition. Since 2002, Frank has been an advisory member of the SER in various temporary committees and of the Sustainable Development Standing Committee and remained there until 2023.
With various policy experiences under his belt, Frank moved to the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency in 2007; the first 12 years as head of the Sustainable Development sector and then as head of the Circular Economy theme. The core of the work there was advising politicians and policymakers based on the best available scientific knowledge in their decisions that directly or indirectly affect the living environment. This included not only climate policy and policies aimed at slowing the decline of biodiversity, but also tax legislation encouraging the use of electric cars, for example, and policies that try to encourage consumers to make more sustainable choices.
During many years of researching and advising on (the solution of) nature and environmental issues, Frank published over a hundred scientific articles, book chapters and books on this subject.
After an eventful career and with an undiminished drive to work on solving social issues, Frank Dietz also uses his knowledge and experience as a speaker. He can be booked as presenter, keynote speaker, chairman, panel member or workshop leader.
Frank Dietz is an economist who researches nature and environmental issues and provides scientifically based solutions. If there is anything characteristic of Frank Dietz’s career, is that his concern does not end at age 67 – social problems challenge him and he thrives on debate. “I thrive when there is a problem to be solved” For decades, Frank has been analyzing nature and environmental issues, but View more…
"Why don't people do what they say they want?"
"Make sure people take an interest in the new, improved situation."
More connection between science, behavior and policies
Frank agrees that science is an important building block to solve today’s societal issues. Policy aims to bring solutions closer. But policy always means making choices. The urgent advice to politicians and policymakers is to clearly explain why specific choices were made, and what knowledge was used to do that. Frank argues for a stronger connection between policy and science.
But there is something else that Frank believes could be better in public policy: understanding and taking human behavior into account. Why do people often not do what they say they want? One reason is that it takes effort to change habits (‘I am used to going to work by car’). Another reason may be the tension between short-term needs and long-term ones (‘next week I’m going to lose weight’).
“Why do people who are concerned about environment and climate in their daily lives still go on air travel to Bali? If we better understand where these inconsistencies in thinking and doing come from, politicians and policymakers can better respond to them.”
Frank says it is important that we also learn to look at a problem from multiple perspectives. For some, Dutch food production is a success story, because there is enough food at a reasonable price. For another, the downside of this production success is the deterioration of nature due to pesticides and nitrogen pollution; yet another sees mainly animal welfare problems. In his lectures, Frank always shows different perspectives. He also always shows the interrelations we have to take into account if we want to bring solutions closer.
“It is easy to flatten farmers’ protests into denial of the nitrogen problem. But when you show how farmers have been trapped by banks and supermarkets, among others, you get a better understanding of their reality. Nitrogen policy can only work if this is addressed too.”
His credo is: “Make sure people get a stake in the new and improved situation, instead of just putting more and more pressure on their current existence with higher costs or stricter rules.
A good sign, Frank thinks, is that he no longer feels himself to be a voice in the desert. People are putting solar panels on their roofs and companies are trying to reduce their footprint. Yet he also warns against false solutions.
“Many think a circular economy is a good idea, thinking of recycling materials. This is not nonsense, but at the same time it is insufficient. The danger is that attention is diverted from the real problem, which is that we are still extracting too many new raw materials from the earth. We need to make much better use of the raw materials already present in our society, for example by repairing products more often and reusing them (or parts of them). Why do we do that with cars and not with washing machines?”
Book Frank as a speaker, chairman or workshop leader?
Create a lasting impact on all attendees together with Frank Dietz. Get in touch to book him as a speaker, receive his availability and a tailor-made proposal.
1. Direct
Frank makes no bones about it and knows how to respond directly to the ‘level’ or views of his audience. He says he likes to confuse those who are rock solid, convinced they are right, only to show them a new perspective.
2. Scientific
For his lectures, Frank Dietz draws on scientific research and, of course, his own publications. As befits the ‘underdog’, he comes well equipped with a backpack full of knowledge and experience.
3. Energetic
Frank shares his vision on stage with unbridled energy and passion, but above all with humor.
4. Visionary
People who know Frank Dietz well, have worked with him or attended one of his lectures, describe him as a “visionary with a high strategic and analytical level”.
5. Accessible
Frank knows how to reduce complicated issues to their essence. He does this based on real-life examples, visualizations and powerful metaphors.
1. Direct
Frank makes no bones about it and knows how to respond directly to the ‘level’ or views of his audience. He says he likes to confuse those who are rock solid, convinced they are right, only to show them a new perspective.
2. Scientific
For his lectures, Frank Dietz draws on scientific research and, of course, his own publications. As befits the ‘underdog’, he comes well equipped with a backpack full of knowledge and experience.
3. Energetic
Frank shares his vision on stage with unbridled energy and passion, but above all with humor.
4. Visionary
People who know Frank Dietz well, have worked with him or attended one of his lectures, describe him as a “visionary with a high strategic and analytical level”.
5. Accessible
Frank knows how to reduce complicated issues to their essence. He does this based on real-life examples, visualizations and powerful metaphors.
What is Frank talking about?
Would you like to book Frank Dietz as a (keynote) speaker or chairman for a conference, lecture or event? Below you will find a selection of different keynotes. Custom program? Ask for the possibilities.
Sustainability & Prosperity
Sustainability and broad prosperity are common, big words. But what do we mean by them? On closer inspection, there is a lot of confusion about this. Using concrete examples, we explore a meaningful and manageable content of the concepts of sustainability and broad prosperity and come to the surprising conclusion that these concepts coincide. This turns out not to be a play on words but provides illuminating insights into how we in society choose goals and then try to achieve them.
Circular economy
Many of nature and environmental problems can be traced at their core to wasteful handling of raw materials. This leads to the emission of pollutants to air, water, and soil, resulting in undesirable effects such as plastic soup in oceans, ecosystem degradation, large mountains of waste, accelerated climate change and biodiversity loss. A circular economy is not only a means of reducing environmental pressures, but also limits supply risks of crucial raw materials and semi-finished products.
Evaluating government policies
Is the government doing the right things? And is the government doing its tasks well enough? Important questions that have raised many doubts in recent years. Through the analysis of concrete examples, we look for factors that explain government failure. Meanwhile, we also pay attention to what goes well and not as well outside government, because there are market failures too. Indeed, that market failure is the classic explanation of the phenomenon of government. But how do we deal with market and government failures in the current era?
Towards a sustainable food supply
The current food supply has several problems. These include the nitrogen problem, risks to human health, concerns about animal welfare, damage to nature elsewhere in the world caused by our livestock farming here, the (income) position of farmers in the Netherlands and concerns about the livability of the countryside. People tend to view and solve these problems separately. Then the connections between the various problems associated with the food supply are overlooked. It is precisely by facing up to these interrelationships that it is possible to indicate in concrete terms what a sustainable food supply looks like. And such a sustainable food supply is surprisingly attractive! But then why don’t we do it? What is holding us back?
Frank as chairman of the day
With humor, Frank keeps speakers within their time, stimulates panelists to make focused contributions to the discussion, keeps participants in the room engaged, and structures the discussion.
Sustainability & Prosperity
Sustainability and broad prosperity are common, big words. But what do we mean by them? On closer inspection, there is a lot of confusion about this. Using concrete examples, we explore a meaningful and manageable content of the concepts of sustainability and broad prosperity and come to the surprising conclusion that these concepts coincide. This turns out not to be a play on words but provides illuminating insights into how we in society choose goals and then try to achieve them.
Circular economy
Many of nature and environmental problems can be traced at their core to wasteful handling of raw materials. This leads to the emission of pollutants to air, water, and soil, resulting in undesirable effects such as plastic soup in oceans, ecosystem degradation, large mountains of waste, accelerated climate change and biodiversity loss. A circular economy is not only a means of reducing environmental pressures, but also limits supply risks of crucial raw materials and semi-finished products.
Evaluating government policies
Is the government doing the right things? And is the government doing its tasks well enough? Important questions that have raised many doubts in recent years. Through the analysis of concrete examples, we look for factors that explain government failure. Meanwhile, we also pay attention to what goes well and not as well outside government, because there are market failures too. Indeed, that market failure is the classic explanation of the phenomenon of government. But how do we deal with market and government failures in the current era?
Towards a sustainable food supply
The current food supply has several problems. These include the nitrogen problem, risks to human health, concerns about animal welfare, damage to nature elsewhere in the world caused by our livestock farming here, the (income) position of farmers in the Netherlands and concerns about the livability of the countryside. People tend to view and solve these problems separately. Then the connections between the various problems associated with the food supply are overlooked. It is precisely by facing up to these interrelationships that it is possible to indicate in concrete terms what a sustainable food supply looks like. And such a sustainable food supply is surprisingly attractive! But then why don’t we do it? What is holding us back?
Frank as chairman of the day
With humor, Frank keeps speakers within their time, stimulates panelists to make focused contributions to the discussion, keeps participants in the room engaged, and structures the discussion.
Four questions for:
Frank Dietz
For Good: what does that mean to you?
“Arranging daily life in such a way that we respect the long-term carrying capacity of nature and the environment. Within that, there is enough space to meet a lot of people’s needs and have a good life. But strangely enough, we have been acting for a long time as if there are no limits to the sustaining capacity of planet earth.”
Walk the Talk: what is your added value?
“I try to use my knowledge and skills for a better world, by showing how we can treat the environment and nature better. Among other things, by drawing lessons from what went right and what went wrong in the past. But I also try to develop alternatives to the stalled elderly care system.”
Do you have any role models or inspirations of your own?
“For my profession as an economist, I learned a lot from my teachers Dik Wolfson and the late Hans van den Doel. They helped me master the strong thinking framework of welfare theory. I still enjoy that daily. In music, I have many inspirations, ranging from J.S. Bach to prog rock stars like Tony Banks and Roine Stolt.”
What makes you happy?
“First, that my partner, children and friends are doing well. That cannot be taken for granted, which is why it is so precious. Secondly, I am happy when I feel I have contributed a little to knowledge and insights to make the world a little more livable. Thirdly if I manage to make and piece of music that gives pleasure not only to me, but also to others.”
For Good: what does that mean to you?
“Arranging daily life in such a way that we respect the long-term carrying capacity of nature and the environment. Within that, there is enough space to meet a lot of people’s needs and have a good life. But strangely enough, we have been acting for a long time as if there are no limits to the sustaining capacity of planet earth.”
Walk the Talk: what is your added value?
“I try to use my knowledge and skills for a better world, by showing how we can treat the environment and nature better. Among other things, by drawing lessons from what went right and what went wrong in the past. But I also try to develop alternatives to the stalled elderly care system.”
Do you have any role models or inspirations of your own?
“For my profession as an economist, I learned a lot from my teachers Dik Wolfson and the late Hans van den Doel. They helped me master the strong thinking framework of welfare theory. I still enjoy that daily. In music, I have many inspirations, ranging from J.S. Bach to prog rock stars like Tony Banks and Roine Stolt.”
What makes you happy?
“First, that my partner, children and friends are doing well. That cannot be taken for granted, which is why it is so precious. Secondly, I am happy when I feel I have contributed a little to knowledge and insights to make the world a little more livable. Thirdly if I manage to make and piece of music that gives pleasure not only to me, but also to others.”
Take-Make-Waste Economy
TET Event Speakers for Good 2024
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Circular Economy
TET Event Speakers for Good 2024
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What does the government do?
TET Event Speakers for Good 2024
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Meeting Circulaire Economie Provincie Zuid Holland
2019
A selection of companies that Frank Dietz already had impactful collaborations with….
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Frank Dietz leaves an indelible impression at the Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management. Inspiring and super substantive.
Ministerie van Infrastructuur & Waterstaat -
Frank Dietz leaves an indelible impression at the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Inspiring and super substantive.
Ministerie van Economische Zaken -
Frank Dietz leaves an indelible impression at Plastic Eurpope The Netherlands. Inspiring and super substantive for all participants.
Plastics Europe Nederland -
Frank Dietz leaves an indelible impression at CSR Netherlands. Inspiring and super substantive.
MVO Nederland -
Frank Dietz leaves an indispensable impression at Springtij Forum. Inspiring and super substantive.
Springtij Forum -
Frank Dietz delivers an impressive and inspiring Circular Economy meeting of the Province of South Holland.
Provincie Zuid Holland -
“Frank has told a comprehensive and complete story. Especially the context in which he put facts that were already known gave important new insights. Actually, we needed more time, also to go deeper into questions. But unfortunately we didn’t have that time.
It was nice that he put time into preparing and previewing his narrative.” –Ruth de Waal, Project Manager at Raising the Future
Aquaport University (Raising the Future) -
SATL Lelystad.SATL Lelystad
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SPIE Nederland.SPIE Nederland
