Shared Ground - Building the common good for the environment

About

We are a Dutch think tank
which operates globally

Over the past few years, environmental and climate issues have become a battleground in the culture wars. As a result, sound policy is often overshadowed, leaving little room for thoughtful, substantive debate.

At Shared Ground, we recognize that political polarization is part of today’s reality. We don’t shy away from the left–right divide — in fact, we see it as necessary terrain for making a meaningful change. But care for the planet should not belong to any one political tradition, nor should it be reduced to a wedge issue in partisan struggles.

That’s why Shared Ground exists: we provide a platform for constructive debate and, ultimately, for reconciliation around how we protect our home.

What we do

we build on what we have in common
not what divides us

Our mission is to help depolarize climate, environmental and nature protection conversations and to support strategies that speak to the concerns of communities. Shared Ground designs solutions that better represent the people, develops strategies, and informs approaches that respond to people’s real needs — while caring for the planet we all share.

Shared Ground focuses on reconciliation around climate, environment and nature protection: building the common good rooted in care for the environment in the Netherlands and globally.

Research & insights

We are data driven - we want to understand first before building on these insights.

Policy development

We build and consult policy proposals - rooted in people's needs and political will.

Bringing people together

We organise events, seminars and gatherings to reflect and create a new quality.

While Shared Ground works across borders, we understand that every sound policy on the environment must be grounded in experience and local needs to succeed. This is crucial for a bottom-up approach to preserving the environment. That is why we rely on partners and friends with strong roots in their local and national communities to test ideas, take inspiration, and propose common-sense environmental policies that can be supported by communities across the board.