The PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency we have eight departments working on environmental issues, and two offices that handle management support, communication, finances, human resources, facilities and services.

Department of Climate, Air and Energy

The Department of Climate, Air and Energy analyses the effects of climate change, air pollution and energy scarcity on society. Looking at every scale – national, European and global – it carries out assessments of policies, both proposed and already in place, on how to mitigate and adapt to climate change, combat air pollution and realise a sustainable energy supply. It also studies scientific, economic and governance aspects of societal developments. This work is often based on integral quantitative analyses using various calculation models and a systems approach.  

Contact
Head of department: Dr. Pieter Boot
Phone: +31 (0)30 274 3061
E-mail: pieter.boot@pbl.nl

Department of Sustainable Development

The Department of Sustainable Development aims to make the concept of ‘sustainable development’ manageable for policymakers and for society. It takes a broad view of sustainable development; what would be needed to achieve and maintain a good quality of life – both here and now, and elsewhere and in the future? To research these issues, this department continually works to develop and apply comparative frameworks and accompanying policy instrumentation. This also involves further development of methods and cost–benefit analyses, and system-dynamic and economic model calculations used in outlooks and in evaluations of policy. As the  socio-economic, physical and policy processes of sustainable development occur on various scales, this department focuses its research not only on the Netherlands and Europe, but also considers the global context.

Contact
Head of Department: Dr. Frank Dietz
Phone: +31 (0)30 274 3108
E-mail: Frank.Dietz@pbl.nl

Department of Spatial Planning and Quality of the Local Environment

This department focuses on spatial planning and the quality of the local environment within the Netherlands, especially considering area-specific policies. It pays particular attention to the connection between spatial developments and to their effects on various aspects of our environment. This concerns issues such as perception of environment, and the health and safety of its residents, social cohesion and economic vitality within neighbourhoods, energy efficiency within the built environment, and accessibility of nature and landscape. In addition, this department studies particularly provincial and government policies on integrated spatial development.

Contact
Head of Department: Dr. Ries van der Wouden
Phone: +31 (0)70 328 8716
E-mail: ries.vanderwouden@pbl.nl

Department of Urbanisation and Transport

The Department of Urbanisation and Transport concentrates on analyses, outlooks and policy evaluations of urbanisation processes and sustainable mobility. This department aims to contribute to solutions to problems around the national issues of housing, employment and mobility. This entails sustainable urbanisation, national and international accessibility, qualitative and quantitative housing, robust knowledge economy networks, and sustainable transport and mobility. The research within this department focuses particularly on analyses of spatial cohesion on various scales, using and managing demographic, spatial, economic and transport models. 

Contact
Head of Department: Dr. Dorien Manting
Phone: +31 (0)70 328 8782
E-mail: Dorien.Manting@pbl.nl

Department of Nature and Rural Areas

The Department of Nature and Rural Areas focuses on societal problems around nature, landscape and rural areas. Loss of biodiversity – the variety in species and ecosystems – is one of the global sustainability problems. The department studies and evaluates trends and solutions, connecting the various scales (from global to local and vice versa). In addition, it looks at the multi-functionality and cohesion within the cultural landscape and cultural heritage, and related questions of which landscape values need to be preserved and what could be done to develop landscape qualities?  The department explores the spatial dynamics in the ‘green’ and ‘blue’ space, and their consequences for the quality of rural areas.

Contact
Head of Department: Dr. Keimpe Wieringa
Phone: +31 (0)30 274 3836
E-mail: keimpe.wieringa@pbl.nl

Department of Water, Agriculture and Food

The Department of Water, Agriculture and Food covers the fields of water quality and quantity, water  safety, agriculture, food production, agricultural emissions, and developments surrounding food demand. Water and water management, in both the Netherlands and in Europe, are important in relation to agriculture, housing, nature development, recreation, and transport. Issues that play a role in this respect are the effects of climate change, the availability of fresh water, and the living conditions and safety around the deltas. The department looks at possibilities for the Netherlands, especially, to combine expansion and efficiency in food production with nature and landscape, which on a European scale, is also linked to European Agricultural Policy reform. On a global scale, the department studies world food supply and biofuel production, and how these issues relate to biodiversity, emissions and the use of space.

Contact
Head of Department: Dr. Guus de Hollander
Phone: +31 (0)30 274 4535
E-mail: guus.dehollander@pbl.nl

Department of Information, Data and Methodology

The Department of Information, Data and Methodology is responsible for the quality of PBL information, data and methods. It focuses on advice, knowledge management, management of information, scientific quality of information, introduction and development of methods and techniques, and manages the collective data and instruments and their availability. 

Contact
Head of Department: Dr. Anton van der Giessen 
Phone: +31 (0)30 274 3361
E-mail: anton.vandergiessen@pbl.nl

Office of Operational and Human Resource Management

The Office of Operational and Human Resource Management is responsible for human resource management, corporate finance, quality management and ICT. 

Contact
Head of Department: Drs. Stephan Geeraerts
Phone: +31 (0)70-328 87 46
E-mail: stephan.geeraerts@pbl.nl

Office of Communication and Management Support

The Office of Communication and Management Support is responsible for corporate communication, both internal and external, and for supporting PBL management. 

Contact
Head of Office: Mrs. drs. Jacqueline Timmerhuis
Phone: +31 (0)70 328 8770
E-mail: jacqueline.timmerhuis@pbl.nl