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Making sustainability a way of life for Rotterdam

Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change 2015-2018

2 | Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change 2015-2018 Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change 2015-2018 | 3

Making sustainability a way of life for RotterdamRotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change 2015-2018


“

I try and focus my efforts on elements of sustainability that I can control.”

Astrid Brison

“

We need to take a more intelligent approach to preserving our planet earth.”

Dagmar van Doorn

You have before you the new 2015-2018 Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability

and Climate Change, entitled ‘Making sustainability a way of life for Rotterdam’. The programme is the result of a platform that was presented to a large number of citizens and stakeholders of Rotterdam and to which they

contributed their ideas. After all, sustainability ambitions cannot be achieved in isolation. This document describes projects and measures that the City of Rotterdam intends to implement over the next few years. We will continue to challenge everyone to put forward their ideas and initiatives to help Rotterdam develop into a sustainable city. Numerous initiatives have already been launched and we have achieved a great deal. However, there is still a lot to do if we want to reach the goals we have envisioned for the city. Therefore, over the next four years, we will continue to combine our efforts and commit to the cause.

Over the course of the programme, we intend to bring home the importance of sustainability to the people of Rotterdam. We will do so on both a large and a small scale, in the port as well as in the residential districts. It is beyond dispute that Rotterdam, being the largest port in Europe, should take the lead in countering the adverse effects of climate change. During these four years, however, we will invest more in projects in the city, the immediate environment in which we live of the citizens of Rotterdam, since they are entitled to a healthy, attractive and green city. We will invest in clean air, dry feet and lower energy bills to ensure that the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change will benefit all those who live and work in Rotterdam.

We will be taking further steps to improve the air quality in Rotterdam. Extra funds have been set aside for this purpose. We will do this by promoting cleaner traffic, installing more electric vehicle charging stations, and by further improving the quality of our own vehicle fleet as well as that of the shipping industry by using cleaner fuels. We can all chip in and do our bit by choosing to travel by bike or public transport for short trips. Better bike paths and sheds and public transport interchanges will encourage people to leave their cars at home. This will help us to free up the road network together, exercise more and improve the quality of the air we breathe.

The consequences of climate change will in turn increasingly affect the personal lives of Rotterdam’s citizens. Flooded basements and quays are no longer the exception. In the past few years, we have developed and implemented several solutions in Rotterdam to drain and manage the excess water resulting from increasingly frequent incidents of extreme rainfall. In so doing, Rotterdam has secured a unique position in the world and has become the role model for other delta cities. Over the next four years, we will continue to invest our expertise in finding new solutions, generating more cross-border trade for Rotterdam-based businesses, thus benefitting from the additional job opportunities created by this sector.

We will continue to focus on energy efficiency and new, clean energy sources such as solar and wind energy. By 2030, we will be generating more renewable energy than the city’s current total consumption. One of the strategies we will use to achieve this is the use of residual industrial heat. Eventually, and by 2030, 150,000 homes in the city will be heated using this heat source. By the end of the municipal term of office, at least 10,000 homes will be connected, resulting in greater home comfort and a considerable reduction in energy consumption.

The port and industrial complex of Rotterdam are the beating heart of the Dutch economy and a driving force of job creation for Rotterdam and its surroundings. The challenge is to keep innovating and investing in innovative and clean technologies. Rotterdam is the laboratory where new technologies are invented, tested and applied in cooperation with businesses and universities. We will continue to encourage and enhance this quality to ensure that these new technologies attract new companies and new investments to our region as well as creating numerous new jobs. This is to ensure that the environment close to the port and industrial complex remains safe and healthy, and that in future, the complex will continue to serve as the driving force of job creation it has been since time immemorial.

Yours sincerely,

Pex LangenbergAlderman Councillor responsible for sustainability, mobility and culture

Preface



ContentsMaking 8 sustainability a way of life for Rotterdam

01

What do the 10 citizens of Rotterdam think about sustainability?

Survey 11

Consultation 12

Participation 12

02

Aims for making 14 Rotterdam a sustainable city

03

Aim 1: 20

Green, healthy and resilient city

04

Aim 2: 34

Cleaner energy at lower costs

05

Practical aspects 67 of implementation

Organisation 67

Funding 67

Communication 70

Measuring and 70 evaluating progress

09

Cooperation 63

Promoting sustainability 63 requires a joint approach

Lobbying 63

Exchanging knowledge 63

Adapting the Rotterdam 64Climate Initiative

Clean Tech Delta 64

08

Being a good 59 role model

Green buildings 59

Sustainable procurement 60

Clean vehicle fleet 60

07

Aim 3: 48

A strong and innovative economy

06

Energy savings for 35 residents

Energy savings for 39 entrepreneurs

Energy savings for 41 entrepreneurs

Wind energy benefits 42

The sun as a source 45 of energy

Clean air 21

More green spaces 23

Dry feet 27

Sustainable areas 31

Opportunities for clean 49technology

Stronger competitive position 50 due to energy efficiency

Frontrunner of the circular 53 economy

Development of the 54 bio-based economy

Cleaner transport and 55 logistics

Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change 2015-2018 | 9

1.

Over the next few years, the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change will focus on subjects that directly affect the people of

Rotterdam. The focus will shift from reducing CO2

emissions to cleaner air, enhancing sustainability, cleaner energy and energy efficiency (reducing burdens on business), dry feet, and a greater awareness of how we mange natural resources.

We have achieved great progress in recent years. We have earned a position as global trendsetter when it comes to water management and delta technology. An extensive heat network has been developed in the residential districts that now supplies industrial residual heat to numerous households. A network of electric vehicle charging stations has been built. Innovative and remarkable projects have received incentives and encouragement. Over a brief period of time, these developments have turned Rotterdam into an inspiring example to other European cities as regards electric transport. Bargemen use quayside power for their river vessels. Within the space of four years, Rotterdam has managed to leverage the €26.5 million sustainability budget, generating a total of over €400 million in sustainable investments in the city and port complex.

Our agenda is now firmly embedded in the city. Sustainability has been readopted as a municipal priority, in line with the ambitions as set out in the City Vision, the Urban Development Framework and the Port Vision 2030. This is the framework for new policy development such as the Rotterdam Mobility Agenda and the Strategic Policy Document on Air Quality. The new Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change takes us further along our chosen path of investing in innovation and experiments. We are doing this together with the people of Rotterdam as well as businesses, institutions, civil society organisations and NGOs in the city and the port. We team up with our partners in the Rotterdam Climate Initiative and Clean Tech Delta to encourage investment, promote innovation and help create more employment opportunities.

We have asked the people of Rotterdam, its institutions and businesses what sustainability means to them and what they feel is important here. The conclusions of this survey are presented in Chapter 2 and serve as starting points for the new Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change 2015-2018 entitled ‘Making sustainability a way of life for Rotterdam’. Our goal is to turn Rotterdam into the inspiring example to other delta cities in the world that are going through a sustainability transition. This is explained in further detail in Chapter 3. In addition, we are committed to three overlapping ambitions for 2030:

1. We are committed to a green, healthy and resilient city.

2. We invest in cleaner energy at lower costs.

3. We aim to build a strong and innovative economy.

Chapters 4, 5 and 6 outline the work schedule for 2015-2018. Following the consultation period, we will be adding campaigns and projects to these Chapters as suggested by residents and other stakeholders in the city. Being a good role model. Chapter 7 lists all the campaigns that the municipal organisation itself will be launching for the purpose of further enhancing the sustainability of our own operations. The organisation of the new 2015-2018 Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change and the anticipated funding are described in Chapter 9.

In Rotterdam, we are committed to achieving a pleasant, green and safe city. We experiment and innovate, and we seize every opportunity for economic growth. By investing in sustainability for the benefit of and, most importantly, in partnership with the people of Rotterdam, we aim to create a healthier, more resilient city for all those who live and work in Rotterdam. Our objective is to provide better air quality, lower energy bills and more jobs. This is described in the #Kendoe municipal programme.


8 | Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change 2015-2018


Survey

The attitude of the people of Rotterdam towards and awareness of sustainability are the basis of a programme that is designed to benefit the

community of Rotterdam. In December 2014, a survey1 was conducted to gauge the Rotterdam public’s perception of sustainability and to find out what efforts they themselves make towards achieving this goal. The results of the survey are summarised below.

Sustainability is important to the people of RotterdamOver three quarters of Rotterdam’s inhabitants feel that it is important to pay attention to sustainability. A similar proportion agrees that investment in sustainability promotes a healthy and resilient environment in which we live. One third of the population consider sustainability to be a hype.

Some of the people of Rotterdam already make a conscious effort towards sustainability, but would like to do moreFour out of every ten citizens of Rotterdam are currently consciously engaged in sustainability. In addition to energy-related efforts such as setting the thermostat to a lower temperature and providing the home with double glazing, people mention waste separation, using the bike more often and minimising the use of plastic bags as the efforts they are making towards sustainability. Themes that are most closely related to the immediate environment in which we live are considered most important. Additional municipal measures are desirable in every area.

One quarter of Rotterdam’s population would like to step up their sustainability efforts. Lack of time, resources and knowledge, however, prevent them from doing so. The City of Rotterdam can promote sustainability efforts further by providing the people of Rotterdam with information as to how they can achieve a higher impact here. If people are better informed, sustainability efforts will often take less time. Citizens of Rotterdam predominantly search the Internet for information about sustainability.

2.What do the citizens of Rotterdam think about sustainability?

1 Source: Blauw Research BV, n= 760, December 2014

The people of Rotterdam are committed to sustainability and expect the municipality to adopt a more active policy to support their efforts.

ConsultationIn order to enhance the initial draft of the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change, a number of community input sessions were held with residents and representatives of relevant organisations (civil society organisations, NGOs, residents’ associations, housing associations, independent workers and small businesses) to discuss themes including ‘Green spaces and water’, ‘Air quality’, and ‘Energy conservation, heat and renewable energy’. The general conclusion is that everyone is in favour of a combination of large-scale measures that ought to be mainly initiated by the government and the business community, and very tangible projects in which the municipality involves residents and challenges them to make a personal commitment, thus emphasising the personal responsibility of the people of Rotterdam. Citizens expect the government to promote awareness and to ensure that citizens’ initiatives receive support as they implement them.

We also met with various companies, knowledge institutions, NGOs, and civil society organisations. They applaud the municipality for making sustainability a priority again. They emphasised the importance of collaboration between the main partners in Rotterdam, as well as proper coordination with The Hague and Brussels. They argued in favour of a clear ambition, a clear dot on the horizon for a cleaner and healthier Rotterdam with a strong economy. The latter requires a proper balance between reinforcement of the economy through energy savings and modernisation on the one hand, and attracting and supporting a new type of business in the field of clean technology on the other hand.

Following publication of the programme in the form of a consultation document, a second, intensive round was organised. Using the programme as a basis, over 100 parties in and around the city were asked for a detailed response. The responses we received (over 60) have been summarised in the appendix entitled ‘Making sustainability a way of life for Rotterdam’. This appendix also includes a summary of four large meetings on the programme. This appendix is only available in Dutch. In collaboration with LOKAAL and Nationale Nederlanden, AD/RD hosted an election debate on Aim 2. The municipality hosted a discussion meeting

with various stakeholders and experts to scrutinise the details of the entire programme. The discussion of the consultation document at the economy, port, mobility and sustainability (EHMD) committee meeting was part of this second round of consultations and the RCI Council were asked for their feedback on the programme.

All the reactions have been included in this document. Some reactions were included in the text as soon as they came in, while others required further cooperation on certain elements. These matters have been discussed in meetings or have already been fleshed out in specific commitments with (ongoing) projects.

The reactions we received in this second round of consultations show that:

• There is wide public support for the goals adopted by the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change and the commitment to the various themes;

• A number of parties feel that Rotterdam could show greater ambition as regards their approach to sustainability;

• Citizens and companies are very interested in the opportunities offered by solar panels and greenery on roofs;

• The majority of area committees would be more than willing to help implement sustainability measures in their respective areas;

• There is a great need for information and advice on improving the level of sustainability as well as on a proper dialogue regarding the implementation of measures such as the development of wind farms;

• There is no objection to challenging the market to contribute initiatives. This should be facilitated;

• There are concerns about the environmental impact (air quality and noise) of certain major development projects.

These items will be addressed as the programme is being implemented.


ParticipationUnderstanding the needs and views of residents and local businesses is important – not just in preparing the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change. The input of the people of Rotterdam is essential, particularly when implementing a programme. Involving residents and entrepreneurs in projects ensures that the municipality attracts additional expertise from the city and that they know exactly what the people and companies need. Apart from substantive input for projects, this raises additional awareness about sustainability among the people of Rotterdam. The constructive involvement of residents and business owners helps build support and confidence.

Rotterdam is rife with good ideas that can benefit the city, ideas that are worth implementing. Experimenting, innovating and giving the people of Rotterdam more power are top priorities for the incumbent City Council. CityLab010 is a municipal programme encouraging the

people of Rotterdam to participate in the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change as well as in other programmes (€440,000 available for sustainability and mobility solutions). The Air Quality City Lab is another example. At the request of the municipality, residents came together to share their ideas to improve the air quality at ’s-Gravendijkwal. Their good ideas and drive have resulted in a City Lab that embraces a much wider focus than ’s-Gravendijkwal alone. This is how participation leads to greater commitment.

Guiding principles for the programme

Based on the results of the consultation with the people of Rotterdam and stakeholders, we have established the following guiding principles for the programme:

1. Offer sustainable solutions and improvements in the immediate environment in which Rotterdam’s citizens live.

2. Offer Rotterdam citizens more knowledge and information on sustainable solutions and improvements.

3. Promote and support initiatives of the people of Rotterdam and ensure that they can participate personally.

4. Reinforce cooperation in the city between the municipality, institutions and companies.

5. Build up close bonds and maintain a dialogue with the central government and Brussels.

6. Ensure that new branches of industry are attracted to the city and the port, such as clean technology.


The Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change focuses on accelerating and upscaling activities that will make Rotterdam healthier and more future-proof for everyone during the current municipal term of office. This involves activities that the municipality itself will pursue, but also, and specifically, activities that citizens, companies and organisations in Rotterdam will undertake. Targeted support and smart combinations will help us bolster these activities.

3.Aims for making Rotterdam a sustainable city

The people of Rotterdam live in an attractive, green city with a great quality of life and clean air. We use mobility solutions that have minimal impact on air quality, travelling by bicycle, public transport or electric vehicles. This is a city that is safe and functions properly even in extreme weather conditions. Despite more and heavier rainfall and higher water levels, we keep our feet dry.

Rotterdam generates more renewable energy than the city’s current total power consumption. The city and the port complex have forged a successful partnership in this area, and the residual heat recovered from the port heats and cools at least half of all homes and buildings. Renewable solar and wind energy plus energy savings will result in lower energy bills for Rotterdam citizens by 2030 than they would have been without this renewable energy transition. The roofs of municipal buildings will be greenified and used to generate solar energy wherever possible.

Rotterdam is a city with an efficient and clean port complex, making it the European centre of the bio-based and circular economy. One of the ways we achieve this is by using our waste as a resource for manufacturing new products and generating energy. On a global scale, Rotterdam is at the forefront in the field of water management and delta technology. This places the economic Clean Tech cluster in a solid position as one of the pillars of the Rotterdam economy.

Our aim for 2030Rotterdam is the inspiring example to other delta cities around the world going through a sustainability transition.

We are committed to a green, healthy and resilient city

We invest in cleaner energy at lower costs

We aim to build a strong and innovative economy

In brief: In brief: In brief:

T hese three ambitions form the basic principles for the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change. They overlap and by tackling

them head on in a single programme, we reinforce their implementation and create logical combinations of measures. In doing so, we aim to set a good example as the municipality by implementing measures in our own organisation and on our own property that will save energy and contribute to better air quality. Furthermore, every spatial change should result in an improvement in the quality of the environment in which we live. This will help us avoid new bottlenecks in the area of air quality or noise pollution, while at the same time ensuring that the environment in which we live contributes to the attractiveness of the city and the health of the people of Rotterdam.

The target for achieving each of these ambitions is 2030, and the performance of activities with a focus on this long-term ambition should have an immediate effect in

terms of a greener, healthier and economically stronger city of Rotterdam during this municipal term of office.To this end, several themes have been defined for every aim, each with their own specific goals. Alderman Langenberg is responsible for the sustainability portfolio and therefore for a large part of this programme. Achieving these ambitions and goals requires the commitment of the entire municipality and City Council. Alderman Eerdmans is responsible for implementing measures relevant to the theme of ‘More green spaces’. The themes of ‘Sustainable areas’ and ‘Energy savings for residents’ are within the scope of Alderman Schneider’s portfolio. The themes that are part of Aim 3, A strong and innovative economy, are divided between Aldermen Langenberg and Struijvenberg. Councillors Visser and De Jong will each manage the portfolios relating to energy conservation in sports clubs and schools. Further details on these aims are given in the next few Chapters.


Aim

1 Aim 3

Aim

2

A green, healthy and resilient city

- Clean air- More green spaces- Dry feet- Sustainable areas

Strong and innovative economy

- Opportunities for clean technology- Stronger competitive position due to energy efficiency- Frontrunner of the circular economy- Development of the bio-based economy- Cleaner transport and logistics

Cleaner energy at lower costs

- Energy savings for residents- Energy savings for entrepreneurs- Industry as a source of heat- Benefits of wind energy- The sun as a source of energy

Aim 1 A green, healthy and resilient city

In order to create a healthy, green and future-proof city, we will be investing in the following themes:

Clean air: optimising sustainable mobility aimed at less-polluting vehicles in the city centre and growing use of bicycles and public transport.

More green spaces: increasing the quantity and diversity of useful plants and vegetation in (and around) the city.

Dry feet: a combination of flood management and strengthening the city’s resilience.

Sustainable areas: adopting standard frameworks and sustainability goals for every spatial development project.

Aim 2 Cleaner energy at lower costs

The use of more types of clean, renewable energy and energy savings will have a cost-cutting effect over time on energy prices. We will achieve this through:

Energy savings for residents: the programme entitled Acceleration010 will tackle energy consumption in rented as well as in owner-occupied homes.

Energy savings for entrepreneurs: by carrying out energy scans, we can show small and medium-sized (SME) owners exactly where and how they can save energy and money.

Industry as a source of heat: expanding the number of connections to the industrial heat grid of the district heating network.

Benefits of wind energy: honouring our ambitious agreements with respect to Rotterdam as a ‘wind-win area’, directly benefitting the people of Rotterdam.

The sun as a source of energy: facilitating expansion of the application of solar energy.

Aim 3Strong and innovative economy

Strengthening the existing economy while at the same time attracting new, clean technology companies. Offering space for the ‘next economy’, by pursuing the following themes:

Opportunities for clean technology: promoting the clean technology industry in Rotterdam.

Stronger competitive position due to energy efficiency: developing large-scale infrastructure for recovering industrial residual heat, steam and CO

2.

Frontrunner of the circular economy: Rotterdam as the hub in the circular economy.

Development of the bio-based economy: aimed at green chemistry, green fuels and other biomaterials based on second- and following generation resource and residual flows.

Cleaner transport and logistics: greater use of LNG and hydrogen in transport and logistics.


“

I practise guerrilla gardening, removing pavement slabs and planting flowers to help save the planet.”

Hans Swart

“

If I asked my brother, he could take me to my internship by car, but I take the conscious decision to travel by bike.”

Kamar Rahbi


The people of Rotterdam live in an attractive, green city with a great quality of life and clean air. We use mobility solutions that have minimal impact on air quality, travelling by bicycle, public transport or electric vehicles. This is a city that is safe and functions properly, even in extreme weather conditions. Despite more and heavier rainfall and higher water levels, we keep our feet dry.

In brief: we are committed to a green, healthy and resilient city

This means that we reduce exposure to polluted air, enhance biodiversity, greenify the city while at the same time improving flood management and reducing the risk of flooding. These efforts will open up more space for cyclists and pedestrians. We take specific measures to improve the quality of the environment in which we live. Examples include the cycle paths and shelters, expansion of the low emissions zone, electric vehicle charging stations, a clean fleet of municipal vehicles, measures concerning navigation and green river banks. Further examples include the intelligent design of residential districts and buildings, the landscaping of public spaces with the emphasis on green spaces and water and sustainable renewal of the urban and regional traffic and transport policy.

Aim 1:Green, healthy and resilient city

Our ambition as regards air quality is quite a challenging one. The people of Rotterdam live, work and relax in a clean and healthy city. The

impact of traffic on the health of Rotterdam’s citizens is minimal. The city is easily accessible even though traffic is restricted. The air in Rotterdam is clean and causes minimal health problems for residents. Cycling, walking and using public transport are the best ways to get around the city. Traffic passing through the city is emission-free. This means a huge improvement in the quality of living conditions, turning Rotterdam into an attractive city for residents, visitors and business owners alike.

Rotterdam has a serious air pollution problem. Several locations in the city fail to meet the European air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide (NO

2). The Netherlands

has a direct link between decisions on spatial planning and European standards. This poses yet another risk in the procedures for spatial development plans. Rough calculations show that up to over 50% of all traffic would have to be eliminated in order to remove all Rotterdam’s NO

2 bottlenecks over the next year with measures that

we ourselves can take. The impact on society would be unacceptable, especially in view of the fact that it would have to be reduced as early as next year.

Even more important is the fact that the air quality in the city contributes significantly to the frequently poor health of the people of Rotterdam. The main culprit behind this poor health is soot (Elemental Carbon, or EC), and this can be largely attributed to traffic emissions. The challenge Rotterdam faces is to reduce traffic soot emissions soon. In addition to this challenge, Rotterdam must take firm action to reduce the background concentrations of air pollution by teaming up with other large cities, the province and central government. These concentrations come from Europe, the Netherlands, and the Rijnmond region (including glasshouse horticulture, manufacturing industry, the shipping industry and motorways).

The Mayor and Aldermen have set targets for air quality. By 2018:

• the reduction in the concentration of elemental carbon due to road traffic (average of 0,75 µg/m3) must be accelerated to 40 per cent (as compared to 2014). The overall EC concentration now hovers around 1,5 µg/m3;

• the municipal vehicle fleet must be 25% ‘cleaner’;

• the use of bicycles at the measuring points around the city centre must have increased by 10%.

Sustainable mobility as a solutionTo achieve these targets and to turn Rotterdam into a city with clean air, we need to take a number of measures. A proposal containing a set of measures in addition to the previous package (which included the scrappage scheme and the ban on lorries at ’s-Gravendijkwal) has been included in the Strategic Policy Document on Air Quality. The measures are designed to achieve an ongoing reduction in the exposure to elemental carbon as well as a reduction in NO2

concentrations. This requires (structural) changes, for which preference is given to measures of a generic, source-oriented nature. The main source within the urban area is motorised traffic. Hence the approach predominantly focuses on more sustainable mobility. We aim to achieve this by means of measures which include the following:

• The existing low-emissions zone must be expanded so that the most polluting cars can be banned from the zone. This expansion may be defined either in terms of geographical locations or types of vehicle (such as lorries, vans, and cars) and the environmental features of these vehicles (Euro class).

• Traffic circulation in the city must be highlighted in the urban mobility plan. The urban mobility plan will reflect choices that are made in traffic circulation with respect to bicycles, public transport, and cars; choices that are made with an emphasis on a healthy, habitable and economically prosperous city. The principal idea is to reduce motorised traffic in the city centre over the long term and to have cars park in carparks instead of next to the curb. This will help us to create more space for cyclists, pedestrians and public transport. This is the principle of a City Lounge: the car is a guest here.

Clean air



• Facilitating choices for the people of Rotterdam that are consistent with a healthy lifestyle with regard to mobility and encouraging them in this. This may include providing information on quick and easy cycle routes, promoting the use of Park & Ride facilities, and continuing the successful scrappage scheme.

• Providing attractive Park & Ride facilities. This will help to reduce car use in the urban area and will have a positive effect on the reduction of harmful traffic emissions. The Parking Plan proposes measures that will further enhance convenience for this using the P&R facilities.

• Promoting the use of public transport by improving the quality of transfer options and the layout of interchange locations, as well as the connection to bicycles and cars (increase in the number of bicycles available under the Bike Rental membership scheme [OV-fietsen] and extension of this facility to metro stations; Park & Ride facilities). The objective is to achieve 2% growth in public transport during the current municipal term of office.

- As part of the ‘Beter Benutten’ (‘Optimising Use’) programme, we team up with other stakeholders to invest in quality improvements at the Blaak and Alexander interchanges.

- As part of the ‘Beter Benutten’ (‘Optimizing Use’) programme, Rotterdam examines, in cooperation with MRDH (Metropolitan Region Rotterdam-The Hague), whether it is possible to increase the average speed of trams 23 and 25 and the express tram in Alexander.

- Research should be conducted into whether traffic control systems at important public transport corridors can give more priority to trams.

- Research should be conducted into options for making the public transport network more robust and for moving towards multimodal access to economic development locations.

- In concert with MRDH and RET, we want to invest in maintenance and, wherever possible, improvement of high-quality bus, tram, and metro services.

- Participation in the innovative sustainability solutions action campaign of public transport in the metropolitan region.

• In line with the national aim concerning electric transport and Rotterdam’s leading position in this respect, the number of electric vehicles can increase to at least five thousand by 2020. By 2025, we should have at least twenty-five thousand.

Please note: the topics of air quality and sustainable mobility are important elements in Rotterdam’s sustainability approach. The Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change will coordinate policy, communication and monitoring. The phrasing of the measures and their implementation will be described separately in the Strategic Policy Document on Air Quality and the Rotterdam Mobility Agenda. A separate budget is available for this purpose (air quality approach, €11.7 million, as part of the Urban Layout programme, Environmental Product).

Relative breakdown into sources of EC, 2013. The size of the pie chart represents the concentration of EC in the air.

Important to Rotterdam (93%), importance of municipal attention to this theme (75%).

51% of Rotterdam citizens travel by bicycle whenever they have the opportunity

43% use tram, bus or metro whenever they have the opportunity

20% have bought or drive efficient cars

The responsibility for cleaner air is mainly delegated to the

Dutch central government and the corporate sector, even

though twenty per cent feel that the municipality has a greater

responsibility for this. The people of Rotterdam regard

the measures taken by the municipality on this theme as

insufficient. For instance, according to Rotterdam citizens,

it would do no harm for the municipality to add a little more

coercive muscle by pedestrianising a number of areas,

banning polluting cars or lorries from the city centre, and

holding companies or factories to account for pollution. Even

free public transport was mentioned as an option.

Abroad

Rest of the Netherlands

Traffic

Industry

Shipping

Consumer

EC breakdown (%)


More green spaces

Rotterdam as a green city is an attractive and resilient city where people love to live, work and relax. Greenification is an important municipal

priority (portfolio of Alderman Eerdmans, responsible for safety, enforcement and public spaces). It brings people together, inspires them to go out and explore and creates healthier living conditions. Joining hands to improve the green quality of the neighbourhood contributes to the people’s resilience and to the quality of life in the neigh-bourhood.

In and around Rotterdam we have a myriad of wildlife habitats and places of natural beauty to enjoy. They ran-ge from large parks to concealed gardens in courtyards and on roofs, from nature conservation areas in the city to small beaches by the waterside and from monumental trees to baby trees. Rotterdam is greener than you think, but there is always room for improvement. Together with the people of Rotterdam, we will give the city what it deserves: an even greener appearance. We will actively involve citizens in creating more green spaces, ensuring that everyone is inspired, motivated and eager to get started.

In the period leading up to 2018, we will engage in activi-ties including the following:

• Together with residents, we will plant more flowers and shrubs in the brick-dominated districts of Oude Noor-den, Nieuwe Westen/Middelland, Tarwewijk, Bloem-hof and Hillesluis. Where possible, we will combine greenification efforts with measures to contain storm water runoff in incidences of extreme rainfall. As part of this, we will also explore new solutions such as rain gardens.

• We will explore additional opportunities for adding green elements to existing facilities, such as green car parking sites.

• The introduction of lush greenery and a healthy cover of vegetation along the river banks of the New Meuse River (Nieuwe Maas), the New Waterway, the River Rotte and the River Schie will result in the creation of attractive green corridors where it is a pleasure to live and work. The works involving the creation of the Mallegatpark tidal channel and the construction of an eco-friendly river bank at Nassauhaven will start short-ly.

• Residents will be encouraged to plant more flowers, shrubs and trees near their homes:

- Removing tiles from the garden will help drain off rainwater, thus reducing the pressure on the sewerage system in extreme weather conditions. In conjunction with the Schieland and Krimpener-waard Higher Water Board and the municipal Green Team, we organise annual Green Do Days (‘Tiles out, plants in’ campaign). The focus on these days is on district greenery. Plants are distributed and information is provided. The objective is to remove bricks and tiles from as many square metres as possible. We will set a good example ourselves by engaging in activities in public open areas.

- Wall gardens, or vertical gardens, not only brighten up the streets but also prevent the wall from war-ming up too much during extremely hot days. The installation of wall gardens is encouraged by means of a brochure and an active policy in conjunction with the area development organisation and dis-trict-based intermediaries.

- Green roofs enhance Rotterdam’s green appeal and absorb excess rainwater. Green roofs are necessary to keep our feet dry, particularly in brick-dominated areas such as the city centre and old urban districts. In addition, green roofs save energy (keeping homes cooler in summertime) and double the life of the roof. Furthermore, they en-hance the city’s biodiversity. The target is to install 40,000m2 of green roofs every year, in partnership with the water boards. The tools we use to achieve this goal include a grant scheme (that will gradually be phased out over the next few years), campaign periods, information days and personal advice. In addition, research is conducted into the desirability of mandatory green roof installation and the options of longer-term guarantees.

• Making green spaces in the city more readily accessible to residents and visitors. Green is good (exercise, mental health) and contributes to the ima-ge of Rotterdam as a hip and trendy alpha city. That is why we are developing and combining tools to encourage people to use and enjoy beautiful green areas, including cycling routes, walking routes, run-ning routes, exploration routes as well as a green app.

• We support research and efforts to create a new urban park, a floating forest in the Rijnhaven and pocket gardens at the former Hofplein tracks.

• Promoting biodiversity through tree and shrub maintenance, for instance by introducing a greater variety of tree species.


76% of the total roof surface in Rotterdam is flat

39% are willing to take measures against flooding, such as installing a green roof and removing tiles from the garden

The City of Rotterdam is considered to be primarily

responsible for this theme. People expect the municipality

to take a more active stance in efforts to install and maintain

green places in the city. There is a fairly general perception

that green spaces increasingly need to make way for new

developments. By being more careful with existing green,

open spaces or by adding more green spaces, we may be able

to change people’s opinions.

Perception of neighbourhood green spaces in 2013(such as lawns, trees and parks)

insufficient presence

perception: neutral or varying

ample presence

Source

2013-2014 Enquête Wijkprofiel

(District Profile Survey)

City of Rotterdam

Processing

2013-2014 Enquête Wijkprofiel

Webservice vierkantstatistiek.nl

(Web service quadratic statistics.nl)

Weighted average of at least 10 individual perceptions (respondents) in 300-metre radii around the centre of every square.Size of square: 100 x 100 metres.Depending on their location, at least 25% of respondents are included compared to an unweighted average calculation.

City of RotterdamDepartment of Research and Business Intelligencewww.rotterdam.nl/onderzoek


Rotterdam is one of the lowest-lying cities in Europe. We are protected by levees, dams, embankments and water defences, but in extreme

weather conditions, we are still vulnerable to flooding. That is why we keep investing in safety measures to avoid serious problems in the future. We apply proven techniques and smart, innovative solutions. This is how we turn a waterproof and resilient city of Rotterdam into a showcase for new export opportunities.

In September of 2014, the national Delta Programme was adopted by the House of Representatives. The Delta Programme lists the Rijnmond-Drechtsteden region as one of the most important regional elements. The flood management approach as described in the Delta Programme is part of the Rotterdam Adaptation Strategy. This strategy also aims to contain storm water runoff in incidences of extreme rainfall, if possible in combination with measures to improve and enhance the green quality of open spaces in the city. It includes measures at neighbourhood, street and building level to minimise the consequences of extreme precipitation that will, at the same time, result in a more beautiful, green city for the people of Rotterdam.

Over the next few years, Rotterdam and its partners, including the water boards and the Port of Rotterdam Authority, will continue to invest in flood management and a safe, future-proof and resilient city. We aim to achieve this by with measures that include the following:

• Implementing the Rotterdam Adaptation Strategy:

- with a comprehensive policy for the areas outside the levees. The focus in this respect is on risk communication and flood management plans for the three areas outside the levees (which were also named as pilot areas in the national Delta Programme):

1. Kop van Feijenoord/Noordereiland (2015);2. Merwevierhaven (2015);3. Botlek (2016).

The flood management plans are linked to area development and refurbishment of the open space. The focus for Noordereiland is on residents’ participation.

- with additional water storage capacity for incidences of extreme rainfall in the three areas inside the levees:

1, Zomerhofkwartier; 2. Leonidas; 3. Rubroek.

The implementation in all of these is aimed at getting residents and entrepreneurs involved who are based in the district concerned.

Dry feet

Rotterdam as a resilient city

A sustainable city is also a strong, resilient and resilient city. Flood safety is just one of the tasks confronting the city. The ongoing energy transition, the next economy, obsolescence, cyber issues - these are all developments that generate opportunities as well as risks. Rotterdam needs to anticipate these changes and develop resilience. Combining sustainability efforts with a programme to develop assertiveness and resilience will enable us to identify what future risks and opportunities specifically will present themselves, so that targeted actions can be undertaken, actions that contribute to the self-reliance of the people of Rotterdam and the businesses based in the city and which will result in smart, comprehensive solutions at district level as well as in future-proofing the city as a whole. Participation in the Rockefeller Foundation ‘s100 Resilient Cities programme the will support Rotterdam in developing this strategy through funding and the knowledge and best practices of other cities. The resilience programme can provide very useful support for the other pillars and ambitions of the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change, not least by linking the various themes and intelligently anticipating future trends.



- Including adaptation principles in investments in the city as much as possible. This includes more small-scale measures in districts, focusing, for instance, on the application of permeable paving, green roofs (with options for subsidies for residents and businesses), more pocket gardens in streets and the smart design of open spaces to include playgrounds and water storage facilities, for example.

• Supplying capacity, content and where possible providing financial support in offering space to innovations such as ‘polder roofs’, water-storage road structures, multifunctional levees, water playgrounds, floating constructions, adaptive construction, and a 3Di model to improve flooding predictions. Participation in the regional ‘Valorisation Programme Delta Technology and Water’ (together with partners including the water boards, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Deltares, and Delft University of Technology) helps generate the capacity mentioned above. The aim is also to continue this successful partnership beyond 2015.

• Implementing the national Delta decisions in Rotterdam, such as short-term and long-term levee reinforcements, improving crisis management (including by means of pilot projects and a strategy for local evacuation to higher ground or taller buildings), and reducing the vulnerability of vital networks and objects to flooding.

• Preparing and adopting a Resilience strategy that is set out in detail at project level. In 2016 and beyond, implementation will take place in conjunction with the stakeholders concerned, supported financially and substantively by the 100 Resilient Cities network. Topics that will be addressed include:

- the relationship between flood management, energy and IT security;

- smart IT applications and self-reliance;

- smart data management and data access.

Source: De Urbanisten XXXX

Flooding risk chart 2100The risk chart shows the areas where safeguarding controls may be deficient in the future and which are vulnerable to more intense precipitation due to uneven soil subsidence. This concerns mainly built-up peatlands. In addition, the chart shows bottlenecks in sewerage, groundwater flooding, and low-lying infrastructure such as tunnels.


42% of the people of Rotterdam are concerned about rising sea levels40% of the people of Rotterdam are concerned about flooding

According to the citizens of Rotterdam, the government is

primarily responsible for preventing flooding. The majority of

the population is unaware of the City of Rotterdam’s efforts

in this respect. More information is required. Measures

mentioned are sewer replacement and maintenance of drain

pipes, drain canals, and levees.

Flood chart Rotterdam areas outside the levees 2100climate scenario W+ with a repeat time of 1 x 1,000 years

Source: Deltares

The Rotterdam Adaptation Strategy (2013) charts the course by which Rotterdam plans to adapt to the consequences of climate change and shows how residents, businesses and the city can gain maximum benefit. This strategy offers the framework and the guiding principles for a future-proof development of Rotterdam and ensures that every future (spatial) development will include subjects such as flood management, accessibility and robustness of the city as basic principles from the very outset of the process.

Water issues Bottlenecks and vulnerable areas


Sustainability is an integral part of all area development projects in Rotterdam. Sustainable areas are future-proof areas with good living

conditions. This means that the housing here is comfortable, readily accessible, with low energy bills, attractive outdoor spaces, responsible transport, clean air, optimal use of facilities and amenities, etc. Furthermore, sustainable areas are potential money-makers. Think, for instance, of energy-neutral or even energy-generating homes, large-scale applications of renewable energy, so-called smart grids and urban farming. The implementation of several combined forms of sustainable measures results in profitable areas that harbour intrinsic added value. These sustainable areas help to avoid future and hidden costs; they promote health, are prepared for the consequences of climate change (adaptation) and give new life to vacant property.

We aim to achieve this by means of measures which include the following:

• In every development project, we will consider the interconnection of aspects such as green outdoor spaces, air quality, sustainable construction, reuse of property, affordability and accessibility, as well as noise and due consideration for an exercise-friendly layout (encouraging cycling and walking), and implement the projects accordingly. Obviously, the developers of these areas will have the major responsibility for this. In many cases, this concerns property developers, housing associations, and other market players rather than the municipality itself, as well as growing numbers of ‘smaller’ parties that have joined the market in recent years (think of collective private commissioning and self-builds). Over the next few years, the City Council will focus explicitly on facilitating and providing framework conditions for this.

• In large-scale spatial development projects – think of Hart van Zuid and Rotterdam Central District –sustainability will be included as a requirement in the development criteria, for instance in the tendering methodology.

• In smaller area development projects, we will gain experience with a tool that enables comprehensive analysis of the sustainability criteria for a certain area. This tool is based on the internationally recognised BREEAM standards. Based on these standards, the City Council and the market players concerned will draw up a plan for implementing specific measures. Affordability, feasibility, and method of implementation will feature as aspects of this plan. If successful, we will translate the experiences gained in the current pilot areas to other area development projects that will be launched in Rotterdam over the next few years. Our objective is to apply this methodology in all new area development projects, to ensure that sustainable areas will be the norm instead of the exception.

Sustainable areas



“

In my view, power generation deserves a more sustainable approach, with more wind energy and solar energy.”

Montessir Karroumi

“

Hot groundwater that is stored at a depth of 2 to 3 kilometres below ground level can be used to heat surface water, which in turn can be used to heat municipal or corporate buildings.”

Mario Huiberts


Rotterdam generates more renewable energy than the city’s current total power consumption. A successful grid now connects the city to the port complex, and the residual heat recovered from the port heats and cools at least half of all homes and buildings. Renewable solar and wind energy plus energy savings will result in lower energy bills for the citizens of Rotterdam by 2030 than they would be without this renewable energy transition.

Kortom: we are investing in cleaner energy at lower costs.

Aim 2:Cleaner energy at lower costs

Energy conservation will reduce energy bills for Rotterdam-based citizens and businesses. We can achieve this efficiency through behavioural change, structural measures such as insulation and by generating our own energy, for instance by using solar panels. We will reinforce the urban energy-efficiency programme for the built environment (Acceleration010), and invest in energy efficiency in commercial property.

The aim is to have 150,000 homes connected to the heating network by 2035. This will provide affordable, reliable and sustainable heating, as well as improved air quality. Furthermore, we set a good example by implementing measures in our own property in accordance with the ‘swimming pool approach’ that was implemented earlier and that helps to recover the costs of energy-efficiency measures through the energy savings achieved.

Wind and solar energy are important for achieving a clean and future-proof energy supply. The support of the people of Rotterdam and their awareness of this are important in this respect, as is a financial return for the environment. Constructive consultation with the stakeholders around us and their involvement are pivotal to achieving our aim.

Rotterdam promotes energy-efficiency measures in existing homes by close cooperation with various parties in the city. Investing in energy-efficiency

measures will result in energy savings and reduced energy bills, while at the same time increasing the level of comfort in homes. Furthermore, they will upgrade the energy performance label of the home, increasing its value at the time of a future sale.

2013 saw the launch of the Acceleration010 partnership, in which the municipality and fifteen partners from sectors including housing associations, construction and energy pursue the goal of accelerating the implementation of sustainability measures in existing homes. These homes will be renovated with a focus on energy efficiency. In total, this will amount to an investment of over €67 million in the existing housing stock. These investments will furthermore facilitate the creation of additional jobs and work-study programmes.

We will invest in actions which include the following:

• Improving energy efficiency in 7,000 housing association homes.

- Agreements to this effect will form part of the performance agreements with the individual housing associations.

- The municipality and housing associations will act in unison to activate tenants, gain access to relevant (European) funding sources, and implement innovations that will enhance and accelerate this approach.

• Activating owner-occupiers to improve the energy-efficiency level of 3,000 homes.

- Part of this plan is a specific approach for owners’ associations to improve the energy-efficiency level of 1,500 apartments. A special owners’ associations’ desk has been set up and we organise workshops on this.

- Residents are informed, activated and facilitated to increase their awareness, take firm measures and adapt their behaviour to energy-saving lifestyles.

Energy savings for residents



• Activation of neighbourhoods.

- Help ensure that existing neighbourhood initiatives gain momentum.

- Deploy improvement coaches to encourage neighbourhoods to implement energy-efficient home improvements.

- These efforts will be coordinated with current initiatives such as the Private Housing Stock programme, ‘Kansrijke Wijken’ (Promising Neighbourhoods), etc.

• To create and group the supply of Acceleration010 partners:

- Energy packages for Rotterdam offered by construction and energy companies, including ‘smart’ monitoring.

- In conjunction with Rabobank Rotterdam, the municipality has developed a loan product to help Rotterdam citizens fund their energy-saving measures. Repayment and interest are in line with the (periodic) energy savings.

- Joint target group-oriented marketing, including joint purchasing and organisation of market places.

• Facilitating and participating in promising, innovative initiatives by residents and companies, such as Blijstroom, Blaakende Zon and Concept House Village, that will help create new generic knowledge products and networks of relationships which in turn will facilitate development and application elsewhere in Rotterdam.

• National and European commitment and lobbying for central government funds for energy-efficiency measures in the existing housing stock.


Energy-efficient housing is considered to be primarily the

responsibility of the Dutch government. Nevertheless, the

majority of the population feels that the City of Rotterdam takes

insufficient measures to improve or preserve the level of energy

efficiency of buildings.

66% of the people of Rotterdam will keep their thermostat set at a conservative setting, not higher than necessary

49% have installed or are planning to install double glazing in their homes

35% buy or use energy-efficient appliances

29% have installed or are planning to install weather strips in their homes

23% have insulated or are planning to insulate their homes

“

I study architecture and in my studies, I try to focus on building in a sustainable way. By 2030, all new buildings should be energy-neutral.”

Noortje Weenink

Households in Rotterdam can potentially make annual aggregate savings of approximately €180 million on energy bills (gas and electricity). This comes down to an annual average of €600 per household, which is over 40% of their (variable) energy costs (figures 2013). The actual potential savings may vary per street and per individual home. This will partly depend on the type of home, the measures implemented earlier, composition of the family, and behaviour.


We support small and medium-sized enterprises (hereafter: SME) and institutions in implementing energy-efficiency measures in their (primary)

operations, buildings, products, etc. The Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change was designed to provide this specific support, alongside the enforcement of statutory provisions, which is provided by DCMR Environmental Protection Agency Rijnmond as instructed by the municipality. We aim to achieve this through measures which include the following:

• Offering energy scans to SMEs. This scan consists of an analysis of the company’s energy situation as well as possible solutions for saving energy. We offer insight into the possible proceeds of these savings for the companies, and advice on how they can achieve this. In addition, we keep records of the measures that are being implemented. In 2015, this involves 175 scans.

• Taking part in two pilot projects for the so-called EPK quality mark. In the context of the National Energy Agreement and the commitment to introduce an Energy Performance Quality Mark (Dutch abbreviation: EPK) for SMEs, central government has asked cities and regions to submit proposals for pilot projects. The idea is that this EPK quality mark will promote energy efficiency in the SME sector. DCMR is involved in pilot projects for the metal industry and the graphic design industry. This will provide us with local experience on this topic and help us further facilitate actual energy conservation. An important question included in the EPK pilot evaluation form is how we can ensure that the EPK tool can be used to make the way enforcement is conducted even more effective.

Energy savings for entrepreneurs



“

I am careful with my power consumption; I never leave electrical appliances on for hours.”

Renske van Dijk

“

We should be doing more about green roofs and green spaces in the city. I am convinced that more vegetation in the city would reduce energy consumption in buildings.”

Arie Romein

We use energy every day. Most of it is used to heat our homes and buildings. At the same time, heat is a very useful residual product of

Rotterdam’s industrial complex. It has the potential to heat the homes of as many as 1,000,000 families, but at the moment, most of it is released into the air.

The use of residual heat from the port complex ensures that buildings and homes in Rotterdam are no longer dependent on gas from Groningen or Russia. The first pipelines, the Leiding over Noord and De Nieuwe Warmteweg, have already been installed. Our objective is to supply the district heating system with more and more residual heat and heat from renewable sources. This will enable us to avoid extra gas combustion in the city, which in turn will help improve air quality and reduce CO

2

emissions. This energy can also be used to cool the city. The ambition is to create a reliable collective heat and cold supply system by 2030 that will contribute to a clean and healthy city and that is affordable for the end-user as well as for the parties in the heat and cold supply chain. In order to make residual heat and renewable sources of heat available to more families in Rotterdam, the number of connections to district heating should be increased. By 2030, 150,000 homes (almost half of the housing stock) and half of the rest of the property will be connected to the heat network.

Over the next few years, we will be joining forces and collaborating closely with parties including housing associations, energy companies and heat distribution companies to invest in a combination of measures.

• Communication and information efforts to raise awareness among residents about the advantages of this heat and cold supply facility.

• A heat chart that provides an insight into areas with the greatest potential for connections. This opportunities map will be translated into an overall vision for energy supply in Rotterdam and the port complex.

• Two pilot projects detailing the connection to the heat network at area level with the parties concerned, creating an approach for the rest of Rotterdam. The first pilot project has been launched in an area north of Reyerdijk.

• For the second pilot project, we are looking into the possibilities of connecting the apartments of the Sterrenflats in Prinsenland and the Merwevierhavens area development.

• Cooperation and lobbying with central government to make sure that this aim is feasible under the legislative boundary conditions. This lobby will focus on issues which include:

- ensuring that the Heating Supply Act allows for more experiments;

- including benefits to society (including costs of maintenance and gas pipes avoided) in the cost-benefit considerations;

- ensuring that heat can compete with other forms of energy by treating them equally. The main infrastructure of gas and electricity, for instance, relies on entirely different funding;

- providing assurance that the plans of Rotterdam and the Heat Loop plans will be included in the Heat Vision and in the Energy Agreement safeguards. (Please refer to 6.2. Stronger competitive position due to energy efficiency.)

Industry as a source of heat


According to the people of Rotterdam, the authorities and

the City of Rotterdam are primarily responsible. The measures

required predominantly focus on initiating and supporting

initiatives that are launched for the efficient use of industrial

residual heat.


In order to create clean and future-proof energy for Rotterdam and the rest of the Netherlands, Rotterdam is investing in renewable energy. Wind energy is

important in this respect.

At the same time, the City of Rotterdam supports tangible benefits from wind energy for its citizens. These benefits can take many forms, such as bonds for local residents, cheaper power, or investments in an area fund. Financial participation for the immediate vicinity has now been adopted as a condition in the development of future wind energy projects. This, therefore, clearly benefits the people of Rotterdam. The details as to how the City of Rotterdam intends to work out how wind energy will be created will be specified in a ‘Wind energy guideline’ still to be developed for Rotterdam.

The City Council has stated that it aims to create 350 MW of wind power within the municipal boundaries of Rotterdam by 2025, of which at least 300 MW is to be generated in the port area.350 MW is sufficient for the annual energy consumption of 200,000 households. The City of Rotterdam supports efforts to reduce CO

2 emissions in energy consumption

and the use of raw materials. Wind energy is an inexhaustible source of energy that will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

Good exampleA good example of how the people of Rotterdam can benefit from wind energy is the new Nieuwe Waterweg wind farm. In the Hook of Holland, three initiators are building eight wind turbines in close cooperation with the municipality. The benefits are substantial:

• Renewable energy for 33,000 households;

• Which means that a total of 70,000 people can be provided with renewable energy;

• An annual reduction of 63,317 tonnes of CO2

emissions;

• A 5% return for those participating in the bond loan programme. In total, the initiators make € 2 million available for this purpose;

• A total amount of € 800,000 is deposited in an area fund. These funds go to the immediate vicinity: the Oranjebonnen.

• 12 new jobs (FTEs) are directly related to the wind farm.

The aims of the City Council have been set out in the wind energy covenant of the Rotterdam Regional

Wind energy benefits

Wind energy, important for Rotterdam (63%), importance of municipal attention to this theme (46%).

The people of Rotterdam take the view that the Dutch

government should take the initiative when it comes to wind

energy. Twenty per cent of Rotterdam residents consider the

City of Rotterdam to be primarily responsible. Many people

in Rotterdam are less than adequately informed on the

measures the municipality is taking with respect to wind energy.

Those who do feel that they are adequately informed regard

the measures taken as inadequate. The measures people

expect from the municipality involve the installation of wind

turbines (also on roofs). In addition, they proffer ideas about

collaboration with various energy companies to generate more

exposure for this theme.

Administration and in the wind energy covenant for the port. Specific action in the context of both these covenants include:

• Commissioning of the Hartel 2 wind farm in 2015;

• Completion of the Nieuwe Waterweg and Slufter wind farms;

• Start of the development of the Rozenburg Headland and Beneluxster junction wind farms;

• Research – coordinated by the province and in close consultation with local residents – into alternative locations in order to fulfil the wind energy objective.

Haringvliet dam north extension upgrade

Haringvliet dam north extension upgrade

North Sea Boulevard

Hook of Holland

Rozenburg Headland

De Groote LuchtHet Scheur delta branch

Benelux tunnel (Schiedam)

Benelux tunnel (Vlaardingen)

Hartel-Oost Bernisse

Hartel-Oost Spijkenisse

Beneluxster junction

Kilometres

Vaanplein

Rivium

Nieuw Reijerwaard

Prisma/Bleizo

Business Park East (A15)

Heinenoord tunnel


Rotterdam joins residents, companies and institutions in a quest for cleaner energy. Cleaner energy contributes to cleaner air, improves the

competitive position of businesses in Rotterdam, and boosts the employment market. Solar energy is one of the renewable sources of energy and is relatively less of a burden to the environment compared to traditional energy sources. Rotterdam intends to ensure that more people in Rotterdam (residents, businesses and institutions) can get started with solar energy.

In the period leading up to and including 2018, we will take measures which include the following:

• We will encourage, facilitate and support residents in the goal of covering a total of 4,500 homes with solar panels.

• We will negotiate agreements with housing associations in the goal of covering at least 1,500 homes with solar panels.

• We want to conduct at least two pilot projects for solar energy on social housing in order to proceed with rolling out photovoltaic panels (see 7.1. Green buildings).

• At least two collective solar energy projects are currently underway.

Rotterdam has great solar potential. For instance, there is a surface area of 18.5 km2 of flat roofs, which equals 70% of the total roof area in the city. In the current state of photovoltaic technology, the solar potential for the city (excluding trading estates) is approximately 1,500 GWh. This means that solar energy could meet about 60% of the city’s demand for electricity (2013 figures). Rotterdam aims to achieve 1,000 GWh of solar-generated energy by 2030 and 20 GWh by 2018. The type and number of photovoltaic panels will eventually define the amount of kWh on the meter.

The sun as a source of energy

Solar energy, important to Rotterdam (71%), importance of municipal attention to this theme (50%).

14% of the people of Rotterdam have or want solar panels

Solar energy is considered important. However, people regard

the measures taken by the City of Rotterdam as inadequate.

The people of Rotterdam expect more in terms of promotion

and subsidies.



“

In our clothes shop, we hand out paper bags instead of plastic bags. I myself nearly always carry a tote bag with me, so I don’t need plastic bags.”

Ivar Delgorge

“

In our apartment building, I suggested placing an empty bucket in the entrance hall for collecting batteries. After all, taking the bucket out is no trouble at all, is it?”

A.J. Streur


Rotterdam is a city with an efficient and clean port complex, making it the European centre of the bio-based and circular economy. One of the ways we achieve this is by using our waste as a resource for manufacturing new products and generating energy. On a global scale, Rotterdam is at the forefront in the field of water management and delta technology. This places the economic Clean Tech cluster in a solid position as one of the pillars of the Rotterdam economy.

In brief: We aim to build a strong and innovative economy

Through the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change, we contribute to the transition to a new, sustainable economy. On the one hand, we offer space to new, sustainable and innovative activities; on the other hand we enhance the future resilience of the existing economy in Rotterdam, which today still relies heavily on fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas.

We promote the creation of a new, Clean Tech economy, focussing on the application of sustainable innovations, for instance in the area of the bio-based economy, the circular economy, or in urban water management, flood management and delta technology. Using the regions as a laboratory allows us to test, scale up and market the applied technologies.

Aim 3:A strong and innovative economy

Clean technologies are an important driver of innovation and therefore of the transition to a sustainable economy. This helps to establish a deeper connection between the urban and maritime economy.

We also want to strengthen the current economy so that the new ‘next economy’ will be based on a strong, up-to-date existing economy. For this purpose, we will leverage the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change to concentrate our efforts on energy efficiency and cleaner technologies. The industrial complex, the Westland horticultural region and the cities hold great potential for reusing industrial residual heat, steam, and CO

2. Smarter ways of managing energy and the use

of residual heat to heat homes, buildings and market gardening greenhouses will enable us to reduce energy costs while at the same time supplying heat to the city.

Our pursuit of the sustainability and climate change agenda will encourage public as well as private parties to invest in sustainability projects. During the past municipal term of office, a budget of €26.5 million enabled us to multiply this amount by 15 by attracting over €400 million in investment for sustainability projects. During the current municipal term of office, we aim to raise another €400 million in sustainable investments in Rotterdam.

The market for new, clean technologies has been seeing a 10% annual growth across the globe for several years now. The Clean Tech economic

cluster is gaining momentum in the Delft-Rotterdam-Drechtsteden region and we want to promote this development. Currently, the sector accounts for 2,300 companies and 28,000 jobs in the region, representing 7.5% of the gross added value. We will invest in the following objectives:

• Strengthening the preconditions for a fruitful and successful Clean Tech sector. This involves acceleration, establishing connections and attracting this sector of industry, as well as improving the business climate for these emerging and clean technologies. The focus here is primarily on the implementation of specific, promising projects by identifying them and bringing them into contact with the right knowledge and tools within as well as outside the city.

• Creating exposure for Rotterdam on a national and international scale as an attractive business location for clean technology and as a trendsetter in elements thereof, such as water management, adaptation, and delta technology. To this end, we will invest in ongoing cooperation, pooling of resources, and collective international and national positioning with regional partner companies and research and educational institutions.

• Taking part in the regional Valorisation Programme Delta Technology and Water in order to identify promising innovations in these fields and apply them as pilot projects in the city. For instance, we provide incentives to laboratories such as Aqua Dock. This is a floating lab in the Dokhaven for testing, demonstrating and creating water-related innovations. We do this in conjunction with Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, where students learn about technology and where they are involved in the city’s assignments.

Opportuni-ties for clean technology



The heat released in the port complex of Rotterdam is no longer discarded. Heat and steam networks have been installed to bring the heat to the city

and the region (see 5.3. Industry as a source of heat), as well as to companies in the port district itself. As a result, heat discharge is reduced, nitrogen deposition in nature reserves decreases due to a decrease in the number of gas-fired heating systems and boilers, and the port’s prospects for continued growth improve. The energy infrastructure is not only sustainable, it also enhances the business climate. Energy efficiency is easier to achieve as a result of the heat and steam network.

The industry in the port complex supplies industrial residual heat to the city for the purpose of heating homes and buildings through the district heating network. In the past few years, the municipality, the Rotterdam Heat Distribution Company and Eneco have invested substantially in this system. In addition to expanding the number of connections to this residual heat network in

the city (as described in Chapter 5), we want to expand the supply of industrial residual heat from the Rijnmond region significantly. The objective is to connect Delft, The Hague, and the Westland region as well, and possibly even Leiden. Heat is available in abundance. The energy savings this yields will go to reducing the energy costs incurred by the industrial complex while at the same time strengthening its competitive position. In addition, CO

2 is

used in horticulture to fertilise crops. This requires large-scale investments in pipeline infrastructure, requiring close collaboration with central government.

The target is to achieve 20 petajoules in primary energy savings by 2020, which equals the energy consumption of 325,000 homes. This amounts to one fifth of the national energy efficiency target for 2020, as agreed in 2013 in the National Energy Agreement.

This involves activities which include the following:

Stronger competitive position due to energy efficiency

Dordrecht

The Hague

Cluster West

Rotterdam

Zoetermeer

Leiden

• Together with Delft, The Hague, Westland, the province of South Holland, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and several energy and heat distribution companies, we are developing the Heat Loop Cluster West. The idea is to supply industrial residual heat from Rotterdam and geothermal heat to the built-up environment and greenhouse horticulture.

• Promoting CO2 capture at power stations and in

the industrial complex, for expanding CO2 supply to

horticulture as well. Shell and Abengoa will be joined by other companies in their efforts to supply CO

2 to

the horticultural sector. Market gardeners need heat and CO

2 for their crops.

• Expansion of the existing steam network in the Botlek area and research into feasible business opportunities here in other parts of the port.

• More suppliers and purchasers of heat connected to the existing heat pipelines of the Rotterdam Heat Distribution Company and Eneco.


Raw materials are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We want to recover high-grade raw materials from our waste and residual flows

and reuse them. According to the TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research), the circular economy has the potential to yield over €7 billion a year for the Netherlands as well as to create 50,000 new jobs. Companies recognise how important this is. Within Rotterdam, we see that the circular economy attracts growing attention. Reusing of industrial residual heat and steam makes a significant contribution. In capturing CO

2,

the focus initially is on how this CO2 can be used – for

instance to benefit greenhouses in the Westland district, or as a raw material for the chemical industry – before underground storage is even considered.

The bio-based economy offers ample opportunity to turn residual flows from one company into raw materials for the other. A new outlook on raw materials, waste and residual flows is required for us to be able to continue our development into a clean, green and healthy global port city. If we look even further ahead, a new way of managing raw materials will also create new economic opportunities. Waste will no longer be seen as something to avoid, something that costs money. Instead, it will be appreciated as a commodity that can earn us money. Rotterdam can leverage this view to develop into a circular hub. A comprehensive approach that uses residual flows as raw materials is an essential element of the Port Vision 2030, summarised as ‘use, reduce, recycle, replace’. In this area, the municipality works closely together with the Port of Rotterdam Authority and the corporate sector.

Within the municipality, we implement the circular economy concept by adjusting certain aspects including our purchasing and waste management policy. By focusing on waste reduction and more responsible use of waste products as raw materials, we aim to save costs for the municipality, companies and residents, while at the same time creating new jobs. Rotterdam’s objective for waste separation and recycling is to increase separation by at least 40% by 2018 (material recycling up from 23% in 2011 to at least 31% in 2018).

We are committed to promoting the circular economy. For this purpose, we focus on objectives which include the following:

• In conjunction with parties from the various cycles, we want to prepare a collective and coherent aim in 2015 to ensure that Rotterdam can take optimal advantage of the opportunities that the transition to a circular economy has to offer.

• Separation and recycling of large waste flows, such as paper and glass, should be encouraged at source.

• Building a subsequent separation facility to separate synthetic packaging waste. As technology advances, subsequent separation may in due course also be used in the recycling of other materials, such as organic waste and drinks cartons.

• The Re-evaluation of Water Plan 2 in 2013 added the theme of the waste water chain. The RoSa programme (Dutch acronym for Rotterdam-based collaboration in the waste water chain) was set up as part of this theme. The long-term view that resulted from this programme describes the aim to close the waste water loop. We want to separate the water flows over time, reuse them and recover raw materials and energy from waste water. We aim to achieve this by investing in innovation and collaboration with new partners in the region, such as knowledge institutes, citizens and local companies.

• We need to set a good example ourselves, first of all in demolition and renovation procedures, maintenance of plants and shrubs and purchasing and tendering procedures (see Chapter 7). We will draw up a list of points for improvement for the production, transport and waste management of the products and services that are part of these processes.

• Plastic bags should be banned from the city. To stop the use of plastic bags, we can encourage recycling and the use of bags made of less environmentally harmful materials.

• Supporting market initiatives, for instance by collaborating with the Circularity Centre that was founded in 2014 by the Port of Rotterdam Authority, Rabobank, and Van Gansewinkel. The objective is to pool market, technology and business model knowledge to be able to support promising projects.

Fontrunner of the circular economy

Waste recycling, important to Rotterdam (80%), importance of municipal attention to this theme (61%).

Commercial companies and the City of Rotterdam are regarded

as primarily responsible in addition to the Dutch government.

People therefore expect the municipality to motivate people and

to make enough household waste recycling centres available.



“Electrically powered vehicles, including hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, are the only real Tank-to-Wheel zero-emission vehicles that use energy efficiently. The future market for electric mobility will be diverse, and in the time leading up to 2050, it will gradually cover every range and application that users need. Hydrogen fuel cells can power a wide range of vehicles and offer a generous range on a full tank. Hydrogen cars can be charged in a few minutes at a hydrogen pump, similar to refuelling a petrol or diesel car.”

Source: Vision for a sustainable fuel mix for the future (SER, June 2014)

In the generation and logistics of and trading in energy, fuels and chemistry, we promote the transition to a bio-based economy. This is aimed at green chemistry,

green fuels and other biomaterials based on second- and following generation resource and residual flows. This involves a transition from an economy that runs solely on fossil fuels to an economy that adds biomass as a resource to the mix. This is an important element in innovating and enhancing the sustainability of our economy. The municipality teams up closely in these efforts with the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Deltalinqs. This approach contributes to the objective as described in the National Energy Agreement of generating 14% of our power from renewable sources by 2020, rising to 16% by 2023.

Activities that are undertaken to achieve this include the following:

• Both on a national and an international scale, Rotterdam offers itself up as a testing ground where pilot projects can be carried out and new concepts developed, while at the same time, the necessary upscaling of processes takes place on an industrial scale. At the Second Maasvlakte, eighty hectares are allocated to a bio-based cluster. We support the identification and development of green building blocks from biomass for the green production of feedstocks and fuels. One example is the feasibility study conducted by a consortium involved in the production of isobutanol, a compound that is used in the chemical industry. This may possibly result in a pilot installation in the industrial complex.

• We need to ensure appropriate conditions have been created for using biomass for energy and sustainable mobility (biofuels), in power stations or as engine fuel. This needs to happen in a responsible (proper sustainability criteria) and cost-effective manner. To a large extent, this involves lobbying the government and the EU. The use of biomass for energy is an important basis for green chemistry as profits can only be achieved in combination.

• A development agenda should be established for using non-recyclable waste for aviation biofuel and to promote algae cultivation in the Slufter area. We will closely monitor developments (of other parties) in the market to ensure that if and when the opportunity presents itself, we can link up with them.

• We want to help develop new, innovative projects by promoting the formation of consortia and providing support in the development of business cases.

Development of the bio-based economy

In order to reduce air pollution, noise pollution, and CO

2 emissions by road and river freight traffic and

to strengthen the position of the port and corporate sector in Rotterdam in this area, further development of an LNG and hydrogen infrastructure and clean mobility is being pursued under the leadership of Deltalinqs. The Port of Rotterdam Authority plays an important role in these efforts. In the field of LNG, the Gate Terminal makes Rotterdam the hub of North-western Europe, and the industrial complex has a vast hydrogen production capacity. Hydrogen is regarded as an important future energy carrier for mobility. The main activities in this respect are:

• Cooperation in the implementation of the Green Deal Zero Emission Urban Distribution, aimed at emission-Free urban distribution by 2020. Shops are supplied by low-noise and cleaner lorries.

• Ensuring that inland waterway vessel engines can be converted to run.

• In the field of construction logistics, we want to take on a pioneering role. The results of long-term research conducted by the Rotterdam Regional Administration in 2013 showed that thirty per cent of heavy goods traffic is related to construction, and that the load factor is only forty per cent. Construction logistics offer room for efficiency improvement, both in commuter traffic and construction traffic. For this purpose, we will prepare a ‘Green Deal Efficient Logistics in Construction’ in 2015, in conjunction with supply chain partners and the central government. Agreements on the joint approach will be set out in this document.

• A test will be launched of hydrogen fuel cell buses. In 2016, RET will start operating these buses. This is an important step towards dramatically enhancing urban public transport sustainability where the bus fleet is concerned.

• At least two hydrogen pilot projects will be launched for port terminal equipment. In addition, we will be testing the use of hydrogen fuel cell cars in the city.

• A safety programme will be implemented in conjunction with partners including the fire service and TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research).

Cleaner transport and logistics


“

We buy just enough food so we don’t have to throw any of it away, which we feel is a waste of good food and a sin against nature.”

Anouk Reitzema

“

We need to rethink how we deal with waste and what we consume.”

Luis Ramos


We are investing in a green, healthy, resilient city that embraces innovation. As a municipality, we cannot achieve this alone. We need to join

forces. We need to work hand in hand with the people of Rotterdam, business owners, the provincial authorities, central government, and all kinds of other (research and educational) institutions. The aim outlined in this programme is quite a challenging one. Commitment is required at various levels and we need the commitment of all of the people and parties who have a stake in making Rotterdam the city in which we live, work and relax together. This need, however, will not be met if the municipality, as the driving force behind the sustainability transition, does not take action – or sufficient action – itself. It is about being a good role model.

This chapter describes the way in which the municipality intends to set a good example with reference to three categories.

Green buildings

The municipality’s aim is to achieve specific sustainability goals in its municipal property. We will be focussing our efforts predominantly on the core portfolio of social housing and public buildings. The aim is to achieve 40% energy savings in municipal property by 2030 and to install solar panels wherever possible. We aim to achieve this through measures which include the following:

• Achieving at least 10% energy savings through indirect leasing and corporate business premises.

- Developing a business case to set up smart meters and energy monitoring in property.

- Conducting a pilot project by installing solar panels on five corporate business premises: the fire service’s district office North, the Zuidlaardermeer sheltered workshop, Piekfijnwinkel Aluminiumstraat, district office South of the Municipal Maintenance Department and the civic amenity site of the Municipal Maintenance Department at Koperstraat.

- Conducting pilot projects to install solar panels on the roofs of 70 gymnasia.

- Detailing funding options for sustainability measures (purchase/lease and offsetting the extra amount on energy bills). If this is successful, we will identify, list and implement the savings options.

• Including a sustainability sub-clause in maintenance contracts to be tendered, stating that the contractor has to submit proposals or recommendations to enhance the sustainability performance level of the buildings.

• Achieving a minimum “Breeam” rating of GOOD for new housing projects or large-scale refurbishments. The aim is to achieve a rating of VERY GOOD. “Breeam” is an assessment tool that rates the sustainability performance of buildings.

• Improving the indoor climate of the top 50 worst-performing schools and supporting schools in creating a Fresh School and a healthy indoor climate through research, measurements and on-site recommendations. This item will be included in the action plan for the 50 premises requiring attention.

• Under the title ‘Scoring with Energy’, we will provide advice to sports clubs on energy-efficiency opportunities, in cooperation with the Rotterdam Sport Support Foundation and Rabobank, as well as providing guidance, assistance in the implementation, monitoring, and funding of specific measures, in addition to providing information on national grant schemes. The energy consumption of the sports clubs will be monitored. They can benefit substantially from insulation, energy-efficient (cooling) appliances and heating boilers, and from being more careful about turning off lights, appliances and installations. This will contribute to the financial health of these sports clubs.

7.Being a good role model



Sustainable procurement

Every year, the municipality purchases goods, services, and projects worth a total of € 1 billion. Our purchasing power enables us to contribute to the enhanced sustainability of our economy. The objective of green procurement is to contribute significantly to implementing the economic, social, and environmental policy of the City of Rotterdam and society as a whole. Sustainable, or green procurement is based on quality and sustainability, rather than on price. The Dutch national Manifest for Professional Sustainable Procurement forms the (minimum) framework for municipal activities, and a guideline for their decisions and actions. Wherever possible and desirable, the bar is raised. Specific actions include the following:

• Procurement officers and supervisors of procedures are under an obligation to include sustainability criteria as early as at the specification phase of European public invitations to tender.

• Suppliers are obliged to prepare management reports on the environmental and social aspects of their goods and services. Insofar as is proportionate, the municipality requires comprehensive supply chain responsibility.

• Reducing and enhancing the sustainability of kilometres travelled to which municipal procurement gives rise. The municipality aims to achieve zero-emission supply by 2020 through emission requirements, more efficient ordering and pooling of deliveries.

• Encouraging circular procurement. Products purchased must be recyclable at the end of their service life in a high-quality application. Wherever possible, the City of Rotterdam prioritises the use of goods and materials over ownership.

• We work together with other municipalities in the Rotterdam-The Hague Metropolitan Region to achieve a more uniform approach to our sustainability requests addressed to the suppliers’ market.

Clean vehicle fleet

#KENDOE:‘We are setting a good example by further greenifying at least 25% of the municipal vehicle fleet.’

The size of our own vehicle fleet, managed by Roteb Lease, varies between 1,500 and 1,600 vehicles.We adopt three pathways for limiting the emissions of our own vehicle fleet:

• clean use of vehicles;• clean vehicles;• cleaner fuel.

Clean use of the vehiclesThree types of measures come under the label of clean use of vehicles:

• Influencing driving behaviour (to reduce fuel consumption per kilometre). This can be achieved through training programmes, awareness programmes, and discouraging car use by restricting mileage. In hybrid vehicles in particular, we pay attention to maximum use of the electric drive and minimising use of fossil fuel (facilitating this with the use of charging stations for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles).

• Reducing the number of kilometres. We can achieve this through changes in management (encouraging the use of other transport methods and optimising management).

• Reducing the number of vehicles. When a leasing agreement is due to expire, we will discuss whether we want to renew the contract or switch to a new supplier. This is the perfect moment to broach the subject of investigating different options for meeting our transport demand.

Implementing these measures mainly involves communication.

Clean vehicles: electric unless...We will continue to clean up the vehicle fleet by selecting the cleanest possible alternative when vehicles need to be replaced. Replacement in itself is a way of cleaning up, as the emissions standards that apply to new vehicles gradually become more stringent. In purchasing replacement vehicles as well as for new assignments, the order of preference in terms of the vehicle drive system is:

1. fully electric (battery or hydrogen fuel cell);2. plug-in hybrid;3. hybrid;4. petrol;5. diesel.

The choice in favour of ‘electric unless’ is partly based on the results of the Rotterdam Electric Driving Tests pilot project. An inventory shows that in the current state of technology, 240 passenger cars and ordinary delivery vans can be replaced by fully electric vehicles. In 2015, we will purchase 40 fully electric cars to replace diesel, hybrid, or petrol vehicles. The City Council will also be using these vehicles.

Cleaner fuelFor heavy-duty specialist vehicles, including sludge-gulpers, pickup trucks, and refuse collection vehicles which are normally driven by diesel engines, replacement by electric vehicles in the short term is not an option. Based on a study carried out under RAL45, it has become clear that the use of GTL (Gas To Liquid, a synthetic fuel for diesel engines made from gas) will result in a significant reduction of soot emissions by diesel engines. A second study carried out by TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research), has confirmed these results. Although GTL is a fossil-based fuel, in the absence and in anticipation of mature low-emission alternatives, the use of this fuel type is an effective, useful transitional measure. An additional advantage of the use of GTL is its lower noise output. We aim to provide as many filling stations in the region with GTL to promote the increasing use of this cleaner fuel. This goal can only be achieved if we work closely together with GTL suppliers and filling station owners.


“

I am careful about keeping the thermostat set at a reasonable temperature, even at work.”

Lillith van der Linden

“

I’m making sure that I am acquiring the knowledge and skills to survive and to pass these on to others.”

Amin Tsouli

Promoting sustainability requires a joint approach

The municipality can only deliver on the sustainability aims as set out in this programme if we do this in partnership with the people of

Rotterdam, with companies, knowledge institutions, civil society organisations, NGOs and other public authorities. We forge alliances for implementing projects in the city in which the municipality will often play a facilitating role. Projects sometimes need just a little nudge to gather the momentum to get off to a flying start. We can nudge them on by contributing expertise, bringing parties together by creating a platform, or by having preliminary studies carried out or business cases analysed. This is what the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change was designed to do. The relatively limited budget can thus act as a driving force behind more large-scale investments by public as well as private parties.

Within the context of the government’s new method of operation, various (regular) consultations are being organised of course with civil society organisations, NGOs, residents’ associations, and individual residents. Regular consultations are also held with nature conservation and environmental protection organisations such as Zuid-Hollandse Milieufederatie, Greenpeace, Stichting Natuur en Milieu and Rotterdams Milieucentrum. The latter continues to be an important partner for us in our grassroots contacts with the Rotterdam community.

To enhance the sustainability of the existing housing stock, agreements are negotiated with housing associations that will form part of the performance agreements to be signed between the municipality and the housing associations. In the area of water management, flood management and adaptation to climate change, we have the Administrative Coordination Committee on Water Management and Climate Change and Rotterdam presides over the Rijnmond-Drechtsteden Area Consultations as part of the national Delta Programme. Rotterdam’s contribution to these consultative structures is prepared and defined as part of the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change.

Lobbying

Cooperation also means joining forces in approaching other tiers of government in order to draw their attenti-on to and highlight the importance of our sustainability efforts. In Brussels, for instance, we need to ensure that proper sustainability criteria are adopted for biomass, that the emissions trading system functions properly so that CO

2 emissions actually cost money and investments

in sustainability measures become economically feasible, and also make a plea for support and proper laws and re-gulations to promote the reuse of industrial residual heat.

Rotterdam enjoys a high level of administrative support both at national and international level, partly as a result of the alliance known as the Rotterdam Climate Initiative. This gives Rotterdam with a good position in The Hague and Brussels, where we are regarded as a serious and relevant discussion partner, particularly where water management assignment and industrial energy challen-ges are concerned. We want to preserve and continue to leverage this position. In addition, the economic and innovation assignments of the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change require tools that will reinforce innovative powers and business develop-ment. The municipality facilitates this by attracting private investment funds (potentially through participation) or by providing assistance with attracting government funding, for instance from European funds.

Exchanging knowledge

In order to adopt sustainability as a standard in our muni-cipal decisions and actions, we will continue to focus on the proper exchange, sharing and distribution of know-ledge. Furthermore, we are actively involved in national and international partnerships, alliances and network organisations of other cities and local governments. This means that we are able to learn from other cities while at the same time exporting our knowledge and the expertise contributed by Rotterdam-based businesses. We do this, for example, through our presidency of the network we have set up, Connecting Delta Cities (in which 12 cities collaborate to address delta issues), our involvement in the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (an alliance of over 60 large cities across the globe focused on tackling the consequences of climate change), the Rockefeller Foundation‘s 100 Resilient Cities Programme and ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability). All of these ini-tiatives provide Rotterdam with a platform for as well as access to extra knowledge and resources.

8. Cooperation


Adapting the Rotterdam Climate Initiative

In order to make Rotterdam cleaner, greener and more sustainable and to ensure a strong economic position in the future as well, we focus not just on the city but also on the port and industrial complex. After all, the port and the city of Rotterdam are inextricably linked, both in terms of benefits (such as employment, income, activity and energy) and burdens (think of the environmental footprint and traffic, for instance). For this reason, the RCI has forged an alliance with the Port of Rotterdam Authority, Deltalinqs, the Rotterdam VNO-NCW (Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers) and the province of South Holland, supported by DCMR Environmental Protection Agency Rijnmond. To the municipality, the RCI is an important partner in terms of consultation and advice on the theme of sustainability in a broad sense. Our approach at national and international level is now firmly on the radar of all tiers of government, NGOs and knowledge institutions in the field of energy transition, sustainable innovation, sustainable mobility and water management and delta technology. This is helpful in our discussions with central government, the EU and on a wider international scale about legislation and regulations and subsidies to promote sustainability transition. Furthermore, this partnership enables us to attract funds and projects to Rotterdam geared to sustainable innovation. This helps generate additional investment and, as a result, employment opportunities for the Rotterdam region.

The partners each have their own vision and implementation agenda for sustainability that are coordinated under the umbrella of the RCI and set out in documents including the Port Vision 2030, the Deltalinqs Energy Forum Programme 2014-2018 and the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change.

Prompted by the priorities as set out in the #Kendoe municipal programme, the unifying focus driven by the RCI will now be changed. The new focus will be on green growth, innovation, energy efficiency and cleaner sources of energy, aimed at reducing pollution for the city (cleaner air), improving the competitive position and attracting new clean technology companies. A substantial reduction in CO2

emissions is no longer the primary and unifying goal, but rather a positive effect of the projects and measures to be implemented. In addition, Rotterdam will be helping to achieve national and European climate objectives. This approach will help to strengthen the relationship between the city and the port, which is necessary as the city and the port still do not benefit sufficiently from one another. For instance, the OECD report entitled ‘The Competitiveness of Global Port Cities’ (2013) concluded that the port of Rotterdam is developing as it should be in numerous respects, but people could benefit more from these developments within the city boundaries.

Clean Tech Delta

Whereas efforts to innovate and enhance the sustainability of the port economy are coordinated by the RCI alliance and undertaken in conjunction with the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Deltalinqs, the umbrella organisation for the port and industrial sector in Rotterdam, Clean Tech Delta, plays an important role in the development of new clean technology business in the city. Clean Tech Delta is an umbrella organisation of commercial companies, research and educational institutions and regional authorities created for the purpose of implementing innovative projects in the area of new, green technology. This plays a significant role within the pillar of ‘Strong and Innovative Economy’. We will bring the RCI and CTD closer together in order to strengthen the connection between the city and the port in these fields.

“

We need to be as considerate as possible towards the environment and nature, but also in what we build.”

A.N. de Graaf

“

When I clean out my wardrobe, most of the clothes I want to throw out are not torn or frayed in any way. They deserve a second life, I think, so I drop them off to be recycled or re-worn by people who can’t afford quality garments.”

Michael Leys


Organisation

At an administrative level, the coordination of and the responsibility for the programme, including the funds earmarked for the programme, are

in the hands of the Councillor responsible for the port, sustainability, mobility and organisation (Dutch abbreviation: HDMO). However, the programme concerns all the portfolios and parts of it will be implemented under the responsibility of other Councillors. Coordinated by the Councillors responsible for HDMO, agreements will be made on this subject within the Municipal Executive.

All these activities will be implemented by and for the benefit of the Rotterdam’s residential and business community. The municipality facilitates, initiates, and sets framework conditions wherever necessary.

Within the municipal organisation, these activities will be delegated to the line organisation as far as possible. This enables us to ensure sustainability is firmly embedded in the organisation. The Managing Director of the Urban Development cluster is responsible for implementing the programme. A programme manager is responsible for the daily management.

FundingIn the municipality’s multi-annual budget, the resources for funding the activities of the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change are spread over the years, both in terms of staff costs and tangible costs arising from facilitating, initiating and setting framework boundary conditions, as follows:

9.Practical aspects of implementation

Estimated budget in € 2015 2016 2017 2018

Mayor and Aldermen funds for the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change

2,000,000 3,000,000 4,000,000 4,000,000

RCI appropriated reserve 2,500,000 1.500,000 500,000 30,000

Rockefeller Contribution

Foundation (resilience)172,000 143,000 0 0

Miscellaneous 17,000 17,000 16,000 16,000

Total 4,689,000 4,660,000 4,516,000 4,046,000



2 Data based on preliminary annual account 2014

We have put together these resources to offer an incentive to enhance Rotterdam’s level of sustainability. For some of the elements described in this programme, the budget serves as an extra for other available resources. This applies to the implementation of waste management tasks, investments in landscaping and maintenance of green spaces and the implementation of the ‘traditional’ environmental tasks of DCMR Environmental Protection Agency Rijnmond. The City Council has set aside a separate budget for initiatives to improve air quality which are also being implemented as part of the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change, the size of which will be determined during the 2016 budget debate.

In addition to the programme’s budget, investment credits are available for the Green Roofs programme and for developing water storage capacity in public spaces (such as water plazas). During the current municipal term of office, the funds available for these purposes amount to € 2.6 million and € 6.4 million respectively.2

Third-party contributions and subsidiesThe implementation of all the activities requires both public and private investments. For this purpose, we will explicitly endeavour to bring in funding under EU schemes as well as government and provincial funding to Rotterdam. We are currently conducting negotiations with the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment on continuing the government contribution to the solution of local air quality problems. In addition, we will approach certain NGO funds (such as the Rockefeller Foundation and the European Climate Foundation, who were recently contacted on the subject).

For 2015, information is already available on the following amounts and subsidies granted:

• The Port of Rotterdam Authority will fund its own activities performed under the RCI umbrella that will contribute to the implementation of the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change. In terms of tangible costs and employee expenses, this involves an annual estimate for the next few years amounting to over € 1.5 million.

• The Port of Rotterdam Authority has its own air quality programme and approach to sustainability which are carefully coordinated with those of the municipality. The annual budget for these activities over the next few years will amount to over € 4 million. This involves measures, for instance, in the field of quayside power, degasification, promotion of the use of LNG, rollout of NOx management (nitrogen deposition), etc.

• Contributions from companies that take part in the Deltalinqs Energy Forum, Deltalinqs’ vehicle for implementing activities under the RCI. For participation in the business platforms, the DEF membership, and the implementation of specific projects, Deltalinqs estimates that this annual contribution will amount to € 1 million.

• The ELENA (European Local Energy Assistance) subsidy granted by the EU for implementing innovative projects to enhance the sustainability of a range of school buildings: € 400,000 available.

• Balance of RCI’s Green Deal with the central government (2011): € 350,000 for Green Buildings (rolling out the ESCO formula) and € 1 million as a contribution to a steam network.

Application of fundsAn estimate has been prepared of the distribution of available funds over the activities for the entire municipal term of office, which are clustered into the three principal aims of setting the right example, reinforcing activities and programme management.

Every year in autumn, a detailed work plan will be prepared, based on the insights gained to date, describing the activities anticipated, the expected results and the estimated use of funds in terms of tangible costs and staff costs for the following year. This multi-annual budget is therefore a broad estimate that is updated annually and detailed according to activities.

Investing in cooperationProgramme funds are available to Deltalinqs for implementing activities that will contribute to the goals of the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change in the port and industrial complex, which will jointly fund the Deltalinqs projects in 2015 at an amount of €300,000. We proceed on the assumption that we will be continuing our partnership with Deltalinqs during the current municipal term of office. Decisions on any joint financing of projects by the City of Rotterdam will be taken from year to year. The commitment on the part of DCMR Environmental Protection Agency Rijnmond to the Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change is part of the municipal work schedule and concerns aspects including monitoring, approaching SMEs, and knowledge support in various projects. For 2015, this assignment amounts to €350,000. This commitment, and therefore the amount of the investment with respect to the terms of reference will be redefined from year to year. These amounts are included in the table under ‘estimated expenditure’.

Estimated expenditure in € 2015 2016 2017 2018

Aim 1 A green, healthy and resilient city

929,000 1,000,000 980,000 870,000

Aim 2Cleaner energy at lower costs

1,770,000 1,730,000 1,690,000 1,500,000

Aim 3 A strong and innovative economy

1,050,000 1,000,000 950,000 850,000

Role model and reinforcing activities (including participation, communication and market exposure, monitoring)

490,000 480,000 460,000 426,000

Programme management (4 FTEs) 450,000 450,000 436,000 400,000

Total 4,689,000 4,660,000 4,516,000 4,046,000


Communication

The strategy behind communication concerning sustainability and the way it is disseminated builds on the knowledge, experiences and results garnered over the past year. The emphasis over the next few years will be on bringing the importance of sustainability home to the people of Rotterdam by pointing out the added value of sustainability for Rotterdam at every opportunity and by involving the community of Rotterdam in projects. Projects initiated by the City of Rotterdam will, in fact, be designated as municipal projects rather than RCI projects to shed more light on municipal efforts and results.

In order to communicate consistently about sustainability, we will be imparting a key message. For the next few years, we are making the following promise:

We will use this key message during the current municipal term of office for the strategic positioning of Rotterdam as a sustainable city. Specific elements will be highlighted depending on the context, target group, and objective.

The Rotterdam Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change is the substantive framework for communication about and with Sustainable Rotterdam. All communication efforts are designed to promote, reinforce and accelerate delivery on our objectives and ambitions.

The communication strategy is based on five principles. These principles are reiterated in every programme and every message about project communication. The five principles are:

1. Providing visible information about the efforts of the City of Rotterdam and the results achieved.

2. Actively involving the community of Rotterdam in the formulation of and delivery on sustainability aims.

3. Encouraging sustainable behaviour by actively presenting a comprehensive set of specific tools to the people of Rotterdam, which they can use to make an effective personal contribution.

4. Generating exposure for the city of Rotterdam as a sustainable, green world port city and a model delta city.

5. Anticipating communication opportunities and developments, and responding to current events.

Measuring and evaluating progress

The numbers tell the tale. Proper management, monitoring and adjustment of the programme as it is being implemented requires adequate information. Are we on course to achieve our ambitions? Are we actually achieving the desired results? Are we achieving the effect we had hoped to achieve? To answer these questions, we publish the results and effects achieved each year in the Rotterdam Sustainability Monitor. This monitor shows the current situation for each aim by reference to the main indicators and compared with the targets.

Furthermore, we chart the programme’s progress in management reports. An important element in this respect is the representation of achievements versus planning, with the focus on two questions:

1. Have we done what we intended to do?

2. Where do we stand as far as the use of the estimated budget is concerned?

Proposals for adjustment can be submitted based on the outcome.

“

At school, we watch News for Kids, which teaches us a lot about the environment.”

Ines Fernandes de Brito

“

I’m teaching teach my son to cycle to school.”

S.J. Valies

We will continue to invest in sustainability and adaptation to climate change in pursuit of a healthy and resilient city of Rotterdam for all those who live and work here. Our objective is clean air, more green spaces, dry feet, cleaner energy at lower costs, and job creation in the city as well as in the port and industrial complex. As the largest port city in Europe, we will set an inspiring example to other cities around the world in the area of innovation, sustainability, and adaptation to climate change as well.


Notes

Colofon

Rotterdam 2015-2018 Programme on Sustainability and Climate Change City of Rotterdam Designed by: IN10Photography: Eric Fecken, Hans Reitzema, Maarten Laupman

Contact

If you have any questions or suggestions for enhancing Rotterdam’s sustainability performance level, please send an e-mail to [email protected]


“

In my personal life, I do think that I should be more concerned about sustainability, but I tend to take things easy – a bit too easy, perhaps.”

Jorrit de Vries

making sustainability a way of life for rotterdam · we need to take a more intelligent ......

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