Detlef van Vuuren

Detlef van Vuuren

Detlef van Vuuren (Dutch) is Professor of Integrated Assessment of Global Environmental Change at Utrecht University and Programme Leader of the IMAGE group at PBL (Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency).

Detlef van Vuuren’s research focuses on global sustainability issues. With his team, he develops models with which future climate and environmental changes can be explored by means of scenarios. These models take into account the interaction between climate, environment and socio-economic development. He has published more than 540 articles in refereed journals, including high-profile journals like Nature and Science. 

He has contributed extensively to IPCC assessments and played a central role in the development of the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) and Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). In 2026, Carbon Brief indicated that Detlef van Vuuren is the most cited author in IPCC reports. He also contributes to other international environmental assessments such as the Global Environmental Outlook and is a principal investigator in several international research programmes.

His work has been recognised with the Spinoza Prize, the highest award in science in the Netherlands. He is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is also a member of the board of the Integrated Assessment Modelling Consortium (IAMC).

Download Detlef van Vuuren's Declaration of Interests form here.