New AERO network is on a mission to decarbonise business schools in Europe
By David Veredas
Professor of Financial Markets
On the initiative of Vlerick Business School, eight stand-alone top FT-ranked business schools across Europe have joined forces to work together on improving their decarbonisation efforts. They have committed to exchanging ideas, setting common goals and collaborating on projects for reducing their CO2 emissions. This network is the first of its kind, as existing business school initiatives related to sustainability focus on research and/or education. AERO, which means ‘air’ in Esperanto, is the acronym for Alliance for Environmental Responsibility in Business Schools.
Professor David Veredas, Associate Dean of Sustainability at Vlerick Business School, is the originator and current chairman of the network. “Business schools are increasingly focusing on sustainability topics through research and through the programmes they are offering. But it is equally important to be critical of our own ecological footprint as a school. Since creating and implementing a decarbonisation roadmap is a challenge shared by many business schools, I initiated this small European network. In an atmosphere of trust and openness, we seek synergies and share best practices. We’ll also take on a role as advocates of decarbonisation via position papers.”
The AERO network counts eight member schools:
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Kick-off meeting to determine future topics and projects
Representatives of the member schools met in person for the first time at our Brussels campus in February 2025. Attendees were encouraged to come by train, as being accessible via sustainable means of transportation was an obvious condition to join the network. The goal of the meeting was to choose future topics and projects. Topics included methods for scope 3 emissions of business schools, developing the right mindset across internal and external stakeholders, and the role of carbon credits in reaching carbon neutrality.