ESRAG Podcast - With Gert-Jan van Dommelen

ESRAG Podcast with Gert-Jan van Dommelen.

Introduction:

00:01 Intro Admiral & Felix and our guest Gert-Jan

Interesting news:

00:44 Felix about longest hug of a tree https://www.euronews.com/green/2025/02/10/i-found-peace-activist-hopes-48-hours-of-non-stop-tree-hugging-will-inspire-others-to-love#:~:text=A%20young%20Kenyan%20woman%20may,Kenya%20for%20almost%2048%20hours 

02:31 Admiral on coffee prices set to increase due to climate change and climate issues that farmers are facing

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/mar/15/price-of-instant-coffee-rises-by-up-to-40-in-a-year-for-some-brands-which 

04:14 Introduction guest Gert-Jan van Dommelen

In this episode, we have a special guest who has dedicated his Rotary journey to tackling one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges: plastic pollution. Gert-Jan van Dommelen is the co-founder of EndPlasticSoup, a global Rotary initiative committed to ending plastic waste. He’s also an experienced international program manager and consulting leader at IBM Benelux, past president of Rotary Club Huizen Gooimeer, and co-leader of ESRAG’s Plastic Solutions Taskforce. Gert-Jan, welcome to the podcast!

08:00 Background of Gert-Jan van Dommelen journey into Rotary.

10:10 The Birth of EndPlasticSoup – How did EndPlasticSoup start, and what were the biggest challenges in turning it into a global movement?

12:10 Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges. What are the biggest dangers people often overlook?

15:45 Dangers of plastic and plastic pollutants

19:33 How EndPlasticSoup Makes a Difference – How does EndPlasticSoup tackle plastic pollution, and what are some of the initiative’s biggest successes so far?

24:45 Collaboration & Advocacy – EndPlasticSoup works closely with ESRAG’s Plastic Solutions Taskforce and other organizations. What role do these partnerships play, and how can Rotary collaborate even more effectively?

33:15 Navigating Resistance to Climate Action – With global setbacks like the failure to sign the plastic treaty last year, how can we push for more action and keep momentum going?

36:21 Why does individual action still matter? Plastic pollution can feel overwhelming. How can Rotarians, Rotaractors, and individuals contribute effectively, and why do individual actions still matter?  If someone wants to make a difference starting tomorrow, what’s the most impactful thing they can do?

39:15 Last remarks of Gert-Jan van Dommelen. Make a change!

 

Good news & Positive ending

41:05 Felix: Hemp for the future.

https://tinyurl.com/4apwz4h6

43:30 Admiral: Beavers saved Czechia government a lot of money by building a dam.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/beaver-dam-czech-republic

More about ESRAG:

https://esrag.org/​​