Amsterdam in 2020 (English)

8/8/2019 Amsterdam in 2020 (English)

1/17

Am

ste

rda

m

in2

02

0

Sustainable Opportunities,

Sustainable Future


2/17

Foreword 4

Amsterdam in 2020 6

Trends and developments 10

Opportunities and challenges 14

Contents

Sustainable Opportunities, Sustainable Future

Amsterdamin 2020

Contents 3Amsterdamin2020

SustainableOpportunities,SustainableFuture


3/17

The Municipality is working hard to make Amsterdam a clean, healthy, accessible

and liveable city. Greater attention is being paid to the quality of life, innovation is

becoming increasingly important, and the city has an ambitious climate programme.

Sustainable development is not simply about protecting the environment. Among other things, it also means

taking into account processes of production and consumption, urban and environmental planning, and the

social domain. The citys unique qualities and its ample supply of knowledge and experience offer an

opportunity for Amsterdam to become the rst Dutch city to take a truly integrated approach to sustainable

development, that ts with the development of the whole Metropolitan Area.

The foundations for Amsterdams sustainable development have been laid. Sustainability is all about the long

term. The longer the time frame, the greater the uncertainty; uncertainty that depends, above all, on

developments in technology and knowledge about the robustness of our way of life. Due to such uncertainty,

sustainability policy must be, in part, an exploration that is guided by knowledge and a sense of being

responsible for what will happen elsewhere and later.

This document offers a number of starting points for this exploration. It is linked to other city policy

developments and documents, inspired by a view of the future, and drawing on its vision and expertise.

Job Cohen

Mayor of Amsterdam

Foreword

Foreword Sustainable Opportunities, Sustainable FutureAmsterdam

in 2020

554

Amsterdamin2020


beeld

KatrienMulder


4/17

Amsterdamin2020

The City of Amsterdam is working for its future. The Municipality has a vision of

sustainable progress, with sustainable construction and sustainable energy. As a

result, in 2020, Amsterdam will be one of the most sustainable cities in the world.

By 2020, Amsterdam will have become a liveable, accessible, diverse, welcoming

and creative city. A city whose qualities will be cherished and utilised for the benet

of all. The citys rich history will blend seamlessly into its hyper-modern infrastructure,

while its street scene will be dominated by pedestrians and cyclists alike.

Amsterdam in 2020

7

A compact city with human dimensionsPeople make up the sustainable power that lies behind Amsterdam: if someone feels at home in a city, they

will treat it with care and feel responsible for it. This is how a clean, economically healthy, safe and diverse city

comes into being; a city where people live, reside, work, play, go out, exercise, and, above all, feel good. In

2020, Amsterdam will be known at the regional, national and international levels as a sustainable, innovative

and creative city. It will have preserved its unique character, as both a compact city with a human dimension,

and as the internationally oriented, economically competitive centre of the Metropolitan Area.

Life in Amsterdam will be both good and affordable. Considering its small size, the city will contain many

pleasant quiet and green spaces. Air, soil and water quality will be good. Amsterdams residents will live in

the awareness that sustainability is something that can be taken for granted. The citys waste production will

be minimal, and processing will ensure that the waste that can be recycled is brought back into the production

chain. The percentage of residents who own an electrical car will be high in national terms. Silent electrical

boats will travel the canals. The citys stench and noise pollutio n levels will have been greatly reduced. A great

deal of goods transport will be electrically powered, both by road and by water. Homes, ofces, commercial

and public buildings will be visibly energy efcient and will produce their own energy (including solar energy),

and wind turbines and wind energy parks will surround the city.

A laboratory or sustainable developmentThe city will serve as a source of inspiration for a wide range of sustainable start-up businesses, as a l ocus

for sustainable activity, and as a launch pad for innovative products. In this biotope, sustainability will be an

interesting and lucrative theme for commerce, the fashion world, the advertising industry and the nancial

sector. In this way, in 2020, the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area will comprise an important laboratory for

sustainable development. Knowledge will be developed and shared by an international innovative network

of sustainable cities, enabling Amsterdam to focus above all on mobility, sustainable energy, and sustainable

nance and banking. The city will also use an innovation-promoting tender policy to stimulate the developmentof new sustainable and creative products, including those for the building sector and for roads and works.

In order to achieve this, the Municipality of Amsterdam will have developed the necessary initiatives in timely

fashion, in the spirit of the citys motto: valiant, resolute and merciful. It will have met challenges and taken

opportunities, put sustainable development at the centre of its long-term vision, and set a good example to

others.

In 2020, Amsterdam will have become the beating heart of a competitive metropolitan region that offers

an attractive way of life; it will be a city for people, the environment, society, and economic growth. A truly

sustainable city of which all its stakeholders can be proud, whether they are residents, administrators,

entrepreneurs or visitors.

6

Amsterdamin2020



5/17

Amsterdamin2020

8

A good place or every resident

Made-to-measure mobility: a low-trafc zone within the Ring A10

The bicycle as the citys key mode o transport

The right unctional mix, meeting appropriate environmental standards

Sustainable, innovative and creative activity as the citys calling card

A ocus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Sustainable hospitality

Amsterdam boosts sustainable products and services

Oering leadership: a climate-neutral municipality

Energy efciency and climate-neutral buildings

A scale leap towards sustainable energy

Electrical transport

In 2020, Amsterdam willbe distinguished by theollowing key qualities:

9

Amsterdamin2020

SustainableOpp

ortunities,SustainableFuture


6/17

Trend

s&ontwikkelingen

Trends

anddevelopments

Trends anddevelopments

11

An integrated approachThe price of fossil fuels i s rising, due to the fact that stocks are nite and increasingly difcult to extract.

Energy delivery is also becoming more uncertain. Moreover, increasing energy consumption is one of the

causes of global climate change. Becoming more energy-efcient is also crucial in order to keep the cost of

living affordable in a city in which energy costs are rising much faster than the basic rent. Economic

developments, climate and air-quality problems, the scarcity of raw materials and food supply problems are

not isolated issues, and the urgent need for an integrated approach is also perceived at the international level.

Such a situation calls for intensive cooperation between businesses, citizens and experts, and within the

government itself. Measures can often be found that cut more than one way: for example, many measures can

both reduce trafc levels and make trafc l ess polluting, and also create a better climate, tackle bottlenecks for

air quality and noise pollution, and improve accessibility and opportunities for provision and supply.

Environmentally-aware and healthy liestylesPeople are becoming more aware o f the need for eco-friendly and healthy lifestyles. As a result, social

support is growing for sustainable policy measures, such as reecting CO2

emissions in pricing. The travel

industry, for instance, reports increasing demand for sustainable and green destinations, as well as for

sustainable travel and stay facilities.

Moreover, consumers and entrepreneurs are attaching increasing value to the sustainable development

of a responsible food system, with more organic and locally produced products, and more efcient food

transportation.

The increasing importance o EuropeEurope plays a critical role in sustainable development. More and more environmental regulation is coming

from Europe (for example, relating to air and noise pollution), and this is having a signicant inuence on

Amsterdams sustainable development. The European Union has also made a lot of research funding available

for strengthening innovation.

A national spearhead or sustainable developmentThe Dutch government has voiced its ambition to link Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to innovation,

thereby integrating sustainability into the daily activities of citizens and businesses. In order to achieve social

goals relating to sustainable development, it is important for businesses to adopt a daring, strategic approach

that focuses on far-reaching innovations. The key is to li nk economic development with new, smart

technologies, in a way that adds to the quality of life for current and future generations.

The interlinking of key international problems, the resulting change in mentality,

the growing inuence of the European Union, the urgent global need to tackle

climate change, intensifying cooperation and sharing of knowledge in order to

deal with these problems, and a changing role for government as a result. All of

these important developments will shape Amsterdams sustainable opportunities

in the coming years.

10

Amsterdamin2020

SustainableOpp


ImageEdwinvanEis


7/17

13

ventures, including the ICLEI, an international cooperative network of local governmental authorities that focuses

on sustainability; Eurocities, a network of about 130 large European cities, which shares knowl edge about sustainable

societies that promote a good quality of life for their citizens; the Clinton Climate Initiative; and Connected Urban

Development. By means of active lobbying and participation in international networks, Amsterdam receives sufcient

annual funding for strengthening sustainable consumption and production, bo th in the city and in the surrounding area.

Amsterdam also hosts international sustainability congresses, such as the Triple Bottom Line Investing and Global

Reporting Initiative. The city is ranked in the top ve for the European Green Capital Award.

In addition, there is intensive national-level cooperation and sharing of knowledge on the development and

application of new sustainable concepts for urban development, involving other cities and regions, the G4

municipalities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht), and other important environmental services.

Cooperation is also being encouraged within the city, such as during the Week van de Vooruitgang (the Dutch

version of European Mobility Week), Car-Free Sunday, and during Sustainable Amsterdam, which features joint events

held by businesses, educational institutions and the Municipality, and an awareness-raising campaign to heighten the

visibility of sustainable development in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam has a strong knowledge infrastructure, including authoritative research institutions, two universities,

and a number of vocational training programmes. The City of Amsterdam is increasingly sharing its own expertise.

The University of Amsterdam is considering integrating sustainability into its training programmes, for instance,

while sustainable development might also become an integral part of the education provided by colleges of higher

vocational education and regional training centres. The Municipality can utilise the knowledge and researchopportunities provided by this sector to make the local and regional economies even more sustainable.

The governments changing roleWith a new government in place, transparency and broad cooperation are playing a more central role. The authorities

are increasingly focusing on creating favourable environments, rather than setting conditions, and more cooperation

with citizens and businesses is being sought at both the local and the national levels. The City of Amsterdam wants to

lessen the burden on the business community, and is working to reduce bureaucracy and to develop clear, consistently

enforced rules. Within Amsterdams progressive approach to environmental maintenance, prevention takes precedence,

while repression is the last resort. The City of Amsterdams own annual report and its sustainability report are

increasingly functioning as the citys calling card; in addition to fullling an evaluative role with an international impact,

these reports boost existing efforts to achieve targets. This promotes liveability, safety, and trust in the government.

Sustainable purchasing is a key issue for the government. Every year, the combined governmental authorities

(state, provincial, local, and the district water boards) spend more than 40 billion euros on the purchasing of

goods, works and services. Sustainable governmental purchasing can give a signicant boost to the market for

sustainable goods, services and works. The authorities have set themselves clear targets in this respect: in 2010,

100 per cent of government purchasing will be sustainable, while local authorities are striving to reach targets of

75 per cent in 2010 and 100 per cent in 2015.

The strategic importance o raw materialsAs raw materials become scarcer, their strategic importance is growing. Cradle-2-Cradle (C2C) offers a solution

to this problem, in the form of a limitless circular system that prevents waste. Above all, C2C is about smart

manufacturing and construction.

A city at the heart o the metropolitan areaAmsterdam wants to further develop as the heart of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. In addition to this,

Amsterdam aims to become a sustainable top city.

Energy transition is crucialIt is expected that the global agreements made at the international climate conference in Copenhagen in

December 2009 will support Amsterdams climate targets, and will perhaps even lead to an intensifying and

acceleration of existing plans or projects. The Municipality aims to have reduced its CO2

emissions by 40 per

cent in 2025 (compared with 1990 levels). In achieving this reduction, an important role will be played by energy

transition, shifting from traditional energy sources to sustainable o nes, sustainable energy generation, and theefcient use of fossil fuels.

The Dutch energy supply is becoming increasingly decentralised, above all as a result of the use of sustainable

energy sources such as thermal storage and wind and solar energy. Smaller players (such as windmill associations)

are focusing on local and regional generation. These developments demand much more exibility from the

network, both at the national level and in Amsterdam. Small-scale, decentralised energy generation will likewise

lead to less dependence on infrastructure organisations, giving the citizen more control as a result.

More cooperation and knowledge sharingCooperation is intensifying at the national and international levels, and existing knowledge about sustainable

development is being shared. The Municipality of Amsterdam is participating in various international cooperative

Trend

s&ontwikkelingen

Trends

anddevelopments

1312

Amsterdamin2020

SustainableOpp



8/17

Opportun

itiesandchallenges

15

Sustainable development does not happen automatically. The need to provide a good quality of life for

Amsterdams current residents and for future generations presents the City of Amsterdam with a numberof challenges:

the quality o lie

a sustainable economy and stimulating innovation

energy transition

Cooperation and setting a good exampleThe city authorities will need to show leadership and spirit, as the Municipalitys actions will have a crucial

impact on the speed and manner with which opportunities are realised. By taking a considered, intensive

and structured approach, the Municipality will ensure that sustainable development becomes more than just

an attractive phrase, but rather becomes its policy l eitmotif, its core business, a basis for cooperation, and an

international calling card for Amsterdam.

In Amsterdam, there are many opportunities for sustainable development of the

city: opportunities for the City itself, and also for its residents, entrepreneurs, and

visitors. The time is ripe for the many pilot studies that have been undertaken in the

city to be elevated to the level of daily practice. The city carries sufcient weight

to stimulate businesses to innovate and produce in sustainable ways. Sustainability

must move from niche to mainstream.

14

Opportunities andchallenges

Amsterdamin2020

SustainableOpp



9/17

17

Sustainable development means having a vital city with a good quality of life, both

for the citys current residents and for future generations; a safe city that has clean air,sufcient green space, and clean soil and water; a city that remains accessible and

affordable, and in which noise pollution stays within the limits. Quality of life lies at

the heart of a sustainable Amsterdam.

A good place or every residentNinety-four per cent of Amsterdams residents enjoy living in the city. Amsterdam wants to build more climate-neutral

homes in order to meet housing needs in the Amsterdam region, while post-war neighbourhoods wi ll be renovated. To

a greater extent than previously, the aim will be to create compact, mixed environments, in whi ch spaces for living will

be mixed with those for work and services. The buildings in which people work will have healthy climates. Large green

projects in and around the city w ill add to the citys liveability, air quality and attractiveness.

Made-to-measure mobility: opting or low trafc levels within the Ring A10Despite having more small and hybrid vehicles, it is still expected that polluting car use and car ownership will grow

in the region (to a lesser extent within the Ring A10 than beyond). In the Air Quality Action Plan, a number of measureshave already been taken to improve air quality. The search is on to limit the cars impact on the city so as to preserve

liveability and accessibility, for example by restricting trafc in the city. Other alternatives include improving public

transport and cycling facilities, providing more park and ri de facilities, and boosting car-share schemes.

In addition to extending and improving the public transport network in both the city and the surrounding area,

attention will be paid to increasing comfort and ease of use.

The Personal Travel Assistant (PTA), which is a unique individual online navigation system, offers travel advice based

on timetables and the GPS positions of passengers and public transport vehicles, and responds to queries about

departure times, disembarking locations, connections, travel times, and alternative travel plans. The PTA gives

passengers more control and certainty over the course of their journeys, improving the quality of public transport

service provision, and thereby increasing the competitiveness of public transport relative to that of the car.

Opportun

itiesandchallenges

1716

Bikes have overtaken cars

The City of Amsterdam has made great efforts to promote greener means of transport, and

successfully. The citizens now prefer bicycles over cars.

With roughly 750,000 residents, Amsterdam is the biggest city of Holland and part of the great

metropolitan area Randstad. The Dutch are fond of biking, and Amsterdam has always been a popular

city for cycling. And now bikes have overtaken cars! Studies show that in the period 2005 to 2007residents used their bicycle an average of 0.87 times a day and their car 0.84 times. Approximately

three out of four of Amsterdam residents own a bicycle, and bicycles are the most commonly used

means of transport.

The city provides the framework

Over the last thirty years, the municipal authority of Amsterdam has worked hard on encouraging

bicycle use by providing cycle paths and lanes; bicycle and pedestrian friendly roads and an extensive

network of parking facilities for bicycles. The main bicycle routes through the city are part of the

Hoofdnet Fiets bicycle network. A complex network of bicycle routes through the entire city, which

ensures all of Amsterdam is safely and comfortably accessible by bicycle.

Amsterdamin2020



10/17

19

The bicycle as Amsterdams dominant mode o transportAmsterdam is already the worlds premier cycling city: around 350,000 people cycle on a daily basis, and the

bicycle is the citys most-used means of transport. Cycling is an important element of the healthy and

sustainable lifestyle advocated by Amsterdams residents. A realistic, internationally-appealing ambition for

2014 is for Amsterdam to be known and valued as the most bicycle-friendly city in the world, by optimising the

provision of cycling facilities in the city. This will also provide an opportunity to promote the city and its unique,

sustainable cycling infrastructure on the global stage.

The right mixAmsterdam is a compact city, with every square metre being used for some purpose or other. During the

coming years, Amsterdam will become more compressed and densely built. Between 2010 and 2030, some

150,000 homes will be built in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area, of which 60,000 will be built in Almere,

50-70,000 will be built in Amsterdam, and 20,000 in Haarlemmermeer. This already compact city will thus

certainly become even more compact in future, but it will also remain liveable and accessible. As a guiding

principle, Amsterdam will comply with established norms for water, soil and air pollution, and for exposure to

noise, stench, radiation, and hazardous substances. Such conditions add an extra sustainable quality to the city,

and with a timely, integrated approach will also contribute to Amsterdams spatial planning processes.

Sustainability will play an important role in these new areas. Among other things, the broad vision will cover

energy efciency, eco-friendly construction, air quality, noise levels, and external safety. Sustainability will thusgo hand-in-hand with quality: the use of high-quality materials and facilities will not only serve to protect the

environment in the long-term, but will also contribute to a good living environment in the short-term.

Considering the citys many competing functions, creative solutions will need to be found: above all, for

land-use for sustainable energy products such as thermal storage and district heating and cooling. The solution

can be found both above ground level, through taking to the air (green and energy-efcient roofs (solar

panels and small wind turbines) and windmills), and below ground level, through the greatest possible

utilisation of existing mains pipes and sewerage systems.

The presence of a garden in a city is a rare and valuable commodity. In a number of places, soil quality does

not yet comply with all norms for use as ornamental gardens. A catch-up in quality standards is thus needed in

Roos turn green

Green roofs have a positive impact on the watersystem, the urban environment, the internalenvironment in buildings, air quality, biodiversity and amenity. Vegetation on the roof means less heat

in summer and less cold in the winter. Vegetation on the at roofs of shops and businesses in city

blocks provides a substantial increase on the living environment.

A green roof consists of at least three layers: a repeated root layer, a layer of substrate (ground) and

low vegetation (plants). There are different types of green roofs and every roof is not suitable for all

types of green roofs. Much depends on the sunlight, the strength of the roof and the roof pitch.

Amsterdam and several City districts encourage the creation of green roofs. In 2008 citizens started

the Network Green Roofs. Purpose of the Network is to speed up the construction of green roofs in

new and existing situations. Amsterdam now has more than 30 green roofs.

Opportun

itiesandchallenges

1918

Amsterdamin2020



11/17

Opportun

itiesandchallenges

21

Further stimulating the integrated sustainability approach will have a

positive effect on Amsterdams image as a sustainable business location,and thereby on employment and prosperity. Concentrating knowledge

and creativity in the city will create opportunities, such as for integrated

chain management. In smart manufacturing and building, attention is

paid to the entire production and consumption chain. In this way, business

processes, techniques and products in the chain are optimally tuned to

one another, and redeveloped as necessary.

Sustainable, innovative and creative industry as the citys calling cardAmsterdam is already known worldwide as a sustainable city. Forty-four per cent of Dutch companies li sted

in the Dow Jones World Sustainability Index have a head ofce in Amsterdam (including ABN AMRO, Akzo

Nobel, Fortis, Heineken, ING, Philips Electronics, and Wolters Kluwer). In addition, o ne of the cradle-to-cradle

approachs founders will shortly open a new ofce here, whi ch is good for the citys sustainable image. In

2009, Amsterdam was ranked as the sixth most popular European business location, after London, Paris,Frankfurt, Barcelona, and Brussels. The title sustainable city makes Amsterdam more attractive as a business

location, thereby increasing the value of the citys land.

Amsterdam sits at a key juncture in the global ICT infrastructure, and therefore has a large ICT sector.

Improving the energy efciency of the citys data centres does not merely make a positive contribution to

reducing CO2

emissions. At the same time, it also has a positive impact on data centres business costs.

Green IT goes further than making the ICT sector more efcient; it also widens its scope. ICT makes

processes smarter, and as such plays an important role in transforming mobility patterns, tting sustainable

sources of energy into existing energy systems, and making our homes and ofces more efcient.

this area, mainly in the oldest part of the city and in (former) commercial locations. Amsterdam is striving to achieve

area-appropriate soil quality that is in line with use.

The development of a new national, area-appropriate policy on groundwater quality and use for thermal storage, andon the use of subsoil for construction and infrastructure (expected mid-2010), provides Amsterdam with an opportunity

to legally establish the use of space for rainwater drainage and water storage. In this way, water storage facilities,

which are usually in private hands, will retain their function for the foreseeable future.

Amsterdam has a variety of green spaces, both within the city and in the surrounding area. Parks, sports elds,

allotments, public gardens and large green spaces are at most a 15-minute cycle ride away from residential areas.

Green space is important for air quality, climate control, and above all, for recreation. The number and uti lity of green

spaces plays an important role in determining peoples decisions about where to live. For this reason, green space also

has an important economic dimension.

Preserving green spaces makes the city and the region more attractive, and is important for educating people about

nature and the environment, for information, and for social goals such as health, participation, education and the local

economy. Despite the citys compact size, many peaceful spaces can be found in and around Amsterdam. Preserving

quiet zones and extending these restful oases as far as possible will make for a better of quality of life for the citys

residents.

20

Amsterdamin2020



12/17

Opportun

itiesandchallenges

23

In addition to very large companies, relatively small and young businesses in all areas of the economy

(above all the manufacturing sector, followed by the construction industry and other sectors) are frequently

frontrunners when it comes to sustainability. Such companies are characterised by their focus on innovativeproducts, services and management. Approximately one third of businesses in the Amsterdam Metropolitan

Area are consciously making their products, services or management more sustainable. At a rough estimate,

these businesses jointly represent approximately 25 per cent of the regions economic volume. Sustainability

has therefore become an important economic i ssue, and in view of rising energy prices, also presents

businesses with a competitive opportunity: consuming less means lower costs. This focus stimulates

innovation and new product development, for example in the area of electrical transport technology.

The clustering of innovative power in the business community, knowledge institutions, (creative) industries

and government, via new forms of cooperation, strengthens the citys sustainable character. These talent-

rich, committed forms of cooperation will play a denitive role in shaping Amsterdam.

A ocus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)SMEs need to save energy if they wish to remain competitive. SMEs, which are responsible for

approximately 25 per cent of Amsterdams CO2

emissions, are already working with the Municipality to

reduce their emissions. Optimising operational management is essential. By adopting more integrated chain

management, Amsterdams SMEs can capitalise in increasingly innovative and exible ways on new

developments and markets, and full key roles in the furthering of sustainable development and the localeconomy.

SMEs play a key role in the Cabinets vision of corporate social responsibility and sustainable development.

They can capitalise on new developments and markets in innovative and exible ways. SMEs usually draw in

people from the immediate environment, meaning that they are closely linked to the local communities and

neighbourhoods in which they are based.

The recently founded EnergieLoket(Energy Ofce) for hotels, shops, restaurants, ofces and business

premises is helping to lessen the energy-related burden on businesses. As a result, protable saving

measures have made energy efciency accessible and applicable, while delivery, installation, assembly, and

nancing can be taken care of. Used in combination with business scans, extending this concept to uses

Sustainable tourism

Increasingly, hotel guests appreciate a climate-friendly stay. These responsible co nsumers deliberately look for

a hotel that offers the best price, quality and service, while still respecting the environment. A hotel can set

itself apart in environmental terms and at the same time offer increased comfort, because sustainability and

comfort go hand in hand. Some steps, such as the installation of a roof garden, provide hotels with asustainable image and offer something extra to their guests.

Energy costs form an increasingly large component of a hotels operating costs. These costs can be reduced

through additional investment in energy-saving measures, and this type of investment can be recovered in just

a few years. In 2007 a campaign was launched aimed at encouraging the number of hotels n Amsterdam with a

Green Key environment certicate. By the end of 2008 a considerable number of the larger hotels are

participating. The city offers hotels a special Menu for Sustainable Hotels. The menu provides hotel owners,

project developers and other clients with some easily applicable, sustainable and energy-saving measures,

which can be incorporated into the construction plans of new hotels. And in 2008 a dialogue was started with

restaurant owners to study the feasibility of the introduction of a quality label for restaurants.

Amsterdamin2020

SustainableOppo

rtunities,SustainableFuture


13/17

Opportunitiesandchallenges

24 25

other than energy and structural embedding can o ffer sustainable savings (from new lighting to new, large-scale

construction projects), when undertaken at the most appropriate investment moment.

Sustainable hospitalityCity marketing is becoming increasingly important to Amsterdams economy. Amsterdam is facing a number of good

opportunities for marketing its sustainable facilities as a commercial and tourist magnet. Amsterdam RAI was the rst

European exhibition and convention venue to be awarded bronze status by Green Globe, the international

sustainability quality mark for the exhibition industry. Much attention is being given to making the hotel industry

more sustainable. Sustainable tourism can be made mo re visible, by focusing industry promotion on keywords such as

environmentally friendly, innovation, trendy, progressive, and quality. An urban environment that offers access to nature

is also a distinguishing feature that carries weight in the competitive international market.

Amsterdam as a launching customer or sustainable products and servicesAmsterdam is one of the frontrunners in the area of sustainable purchasing. Developments such as the smarter

utilisation of the market and more sustainable tendering processes offer opportunities for strengthening this position.

As a launching customer, Amsterdam is in a position to challenge the business community to develop innovative

sustainable products and technologies, and to let the power of innovation do its work. The social impact can be

evaluated, along with nancial results and the impact on the environment.

Delegating the task o saving energy

In Amsterdam, there are between 15,000 and 20,000 small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs), such as

bakeries, production companies, hotels, ofces and many others. The SMEs are an economic motor, a

motor that does not pollute. An SME programme is given shape in a broad framework of cooperation

between parties from government and business.

In cooperation with several nancial institutions and energy companies, a concept is being developed

that will make it easier for companies to benet from energy savings. For example, a business that

requires a new lighting installation will not have to invest in this installation itself; it will repay the

nanced amount from the savings on its energy bill. This concept will be tested in the near future and

if successful will be structurally included in the other projects and expanded.

SMEs are responsible for approximately 25% of total CO2

emissions in Amsterdam. The size of the

accommodation and the type of activity are good indicators of the CO2

emission. Important items are

lighting, heating, refrigeration, apparatus for kitchens, production and ofces, air-conditioning and

climatisation.

Amsterdamin2020

SustainableOppo



14/17

26 27

Energy transition can be achieved in Amsterdam by means of applying already-

existing measures on a larger scale: extending the district heating and coolinggrids, undertaking energy-saving home renovations, generating energy from

waste, and using solar energy and wind turbines. In addition to small-scale

housing projects (such as the Zon op je dak [Sun on your roof] project),

a number of large-scale projects will also be realised, such as wind energy parks,

extending the district heating grid, and more thermal storage and solar energy

projects. Agreements will also be needed, for example in the form of contracts

with businesses, housing associations, and social institutions.

Setting a good example: a climate-neutral municipality by 2015Amsterdam has set itself the target of reducing its CO

2emissions by 40 per cent by 2025 (in comparison with 1990

levels). The Municipality of Amsterdam, which is responsible for approximately ve per cent of emissions, aims to

become a climate neutral organisation in 2015; that is, it will not affect the balance of CO2 in the atmosphere (bykeeping emissions of greenhouse gases to a minimum, and compensating for those emi ssions that do occur).

Energy efciency and climate-neutral buildingsAmsterdams Municipality, inhabitants and business community face measures relating to energy efciency and

sustainable energy facilities. These measures constitute part of the New Amsterdam Climate initiative. For Amsterdam,

energy efciency is not only crucial from an environmental perspective, but also for keeping the cost of living

affordable. Greater energy efciency can be achieved via the large-scale realisation of climate-neutral homes and

commercial and industrial buildings, and by making existing buildings more energy efcient (homes, and also shops,

business premises and schools). From 2015 onwards, all new Municipality constructions will be climate-neutral.

27

Whispering waters o Amsterdam canals

Amsterdams waterways are being reduced to a bare whisper with the recent introduction of electric

boats. Boaty is one of a handful of green-minded entrepreneurs to rent out battery-powered boats that

literally tip toe along the water. These boats can be charged with renewable electricity at no extra cost

to the environment. Amsterdam city hall is actively encouraging the use of boats using cleaner energy,

granting new permits for hard-to-come-by mooring spaces.

Mobility and means of transport ranging from cars, buses and scooters to cruise ships areapproximately responsible for one third of the total CO2 emissions in Amsterdam. In order to

determine which technologies, concepts, approach and forms of cooperation are the most successful

various projects will be initialized focusing on sustainable ways of transport and the infrastructure

required to realise them.

100% sustainable deliveries

The city offers a nancial arrangement for the additional costs of electric vehicles. Amsterdam is further

involved in a pilot project of the government to lower parking fees for electric transportation. And

there are special parking places where electric cars can recharge and parking is cheaper. Recently, the

rst products have been delivered with a durable, 100% electric vehicle.

Amsterdamin2020

SustainableOppo



Amsterdamin2020Duurzamekansen,

duurzametoekomst


15/17

29

A scale-leap towards sustainable energyAmsterdam aims to become the D utch frontrunner in the development of smart energy grids, by means of

which, for example, an energy balance can be achieved at the district level. In a climate neutral district, energyuse and decentralised energy production are kept in balance through the use of local energy storage and

exchange via the energy grid. Amsterdam aims to take the lead on sustainable energy activities at a local and

regional level. Moreover, as an investor, the Municipality wants to boost certain options, such as wind and solar

energy.

Regional agreements will be needed, owing to the fact that in the short term, sustainable energy production

cannot occur entirely within the citys borders. By 2025, Amsterdam wants to meet a third of its energy needs

using locally-produced sustainable energy. By this point, techniques that are already under development will

have broken through, such as electrical transportation, the large-scale application of solar energy, micro-

cogeneration plants, and the further development of one-way grids into smart grids.

Amsterdam embraces electrical transportThe cleaner and quieter a device is, the better. The large-scale introduction and stimulation of electrical

transport will make a key contribution to the quality of life in Amsterdam. It will also stimulate innovation and

activity in areas such as development, design, assembly, and recharging- and battery technologies.

Sustainable schools

Amsterdam has 190 primary schools and 28 schools for special primary education where approximately 60,000

pupils are given lessons every day. In total, these schools own nearly 300 buildings and 170 gymnasiums. Based

on the condition of many of these buildings and their technical installations, and considering the possibilities to

manage energy and behaviour, it is absolutely clear that the consumption of gas and electricity can be reduced.

The indoor climate at primary schools is poor, and at many schools up to 40% can be saved on energy.Therefore Amsterdam is committed to improving its primary schools and introduced a pilot project in one of

the City districts. A unique aspect is the nancing construction for the integrated package of measures for

energy savings and improving the indoor environment. The approach that ultimately emerges from the pilot

project has become the standard for a multiyear renovation programme. The multiyear plan gives measures

that can be realised quickly, such as ne-tuning the central heating system and stipulates when the buildings

will be renovated for energy savings and when the indoor climate will be improved.

While the buildings are being improved, the primary schools will be encouraged to anchor the themes of

climate, energy and sustainability in the lesson programme. This program is not only good for the climate but

will enhance the learning performance of the pupils and leads to less sickness and absenteeism.

Amsterdamin2020

SustainableOppo


29


Amsterdamin2020Duurzamekansen,

duurzametoekomst

Amsterdam


16/17


Colophon

Sustainable Opportunities, Sustainable Future

ste dain 2020

30 31

City o AmsterdamEnvironmental and Building department

(Dienst Milieu en Bouwtoezicht)

Weesperplein 4

PO Box 9221000 AX Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Translation: UvA Talen

Design: dsgn.frm

Many people contributed to the process of dening these

opportunities for Amsterdam.

October 2009

Amsterdam in 2020: Sustainable Opportunities, Sustainable Future

can be downloaded at www.dmb.amsterdam.nl

The key issues that have been addressed in this exploration arise in part rom

the ollowing municipal objectives:

targets in the Amsterdam Environmental Policy Plan 2007-2010 relating to the following themes:

air, noise, climate, sustainable consumption and production, soil, green space and water;

specic targets in the Climate Programme (2008), the Air Quality Action Plan (2006) and

the Noise Action Plan (2008):

in 2025, CO2 emissions will have been reduced by 40 per cent, as compared with 1990

(while aiming for a reduction of 70-80 per cent in the long term (2040));

by 2015, the Municipality will function as a climate-neutral organisation; and from 2015 onwards,

all new construction by the Municipality will be climate-neutral;

in 2025, one third of energy needs will be met by locally-produced sustainable energy;

compliance with legal norms for particulates in 2010, and compliance with legal norms for

nitrogen dioxide levels by 2015 at the latest;

reduce background noise in Amsterdams most noise-polluted loc ations, and reduce disturbance

in (potentially) quiet locations.

Amsterdamin2020



17/17

Date post:	10-Apr-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	dienst-milieu-en-bouwtoezicht
View:	229 times
Download:	0 times

Amsterdam in 2020 (English)

Documents