Policy Brief on Energy Transition and Circularity

On June 27, 2024, the city council approved the updated policy document on Energy Transition & Circularity.

With this memorandum, we want to get on track with our sustainability ambitions of a 55% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to 1990. The document outlines what we will and will not do to achieve these ambitions. We have chosen to focus on areas where we have the most influence: housing and our electricity supply. For example, we have little influence on inland shipping on the Waal river. These emissions are attributed to us, but as a municipality we cannot prevent them.

Focus on housing

Our focus in the coming years will therefore mainly be on making homes more sustainable. In order to actually take steps in this direction, budget has been freed up to hire people. We will also be considering future heat sources in West Maas en Waal. To this end, we will be visiting neighborhoods to talk to residents. This takes a lot of time and energy. It is great that the city council recognizes this and is making funds available for this purpose.

Getting started with concrete projects

In order to develop policies that better reflect the needs of our residents, a sounding board group has been established. This group consists of interested residents who work with the municipality to develop sustainability policies. After the summer, we will start thinking together about concrete projects to implement the policy document. These could include accelerating insulation, supporting farmers in the transition, or making our own real estate even more sustainable.

If you are interested in joining this sounding board group and contributing ideas on how to realize the objectives set out in the policy document, please email Nando Habraken at nhabraken@westmaasenwaal.nl.