A Green Metropole: Amsterdam Definitely Sustainable

The Amsterdam ambition

Cities play an important part in effecting the transition to sustainability. They cover just 2% of the earths
surface, but cities are already home to more than 50% of the worlds population and they account for 80% of
the greenhouse gases produced. This also means that cities will have to make the difference. The city has the
people, the expertise, the creativity, and the wherewithal economically and otherwise to take the step on
the path towards sustainability.
The City of Amsterdam holds the view that fostering cohesion among the various sustainability themes will
reinforce the citys concerted efforts and now is the moment to take action and achieve results. In the
Programme Agreement 20102014 the ambitions are described as follows:
In 2014 the city will be sustainable. The quality of the public space will continue to be of a high
standard. We can do more with less energy, thanks to new technologies and home insulation. The
attention devoted to climate, energy and air quality will have resulted in effective projects, such as
electrically powered vehicles, thermal storage, innovative processing of waste and wind energy
1
projects that are not merely positive for the environment but financially beneficial as well .

This ambition is translated into a four-year comprehensive programme Amsterdam Definitely Sustainable
2011 2014 focusing on 4 pillars:

Climate and energy

Result: through energy savings, locally produced sustainable energy and efficient use of fossils we
reduce the CO2 emission within the city.
Mobility and air quality
Result: Amsterdam will be a reachable city under the condition that our transport system will be
sustainable.
Sustainable innovative economy
Result: (inter)national companies choose our city because doing sustainable business in
Amsterdam is worthwhile.
Materials and consumers
Result: Amsterdam is a liveable city where citizens and companies are using raw materials in an

Kiezen voor de stad. Programakkoord Amsterdam 2010 2014, p. 8 (Choosing for the City. Programme Agreement for Amsterdam, 2010
2014).

effective way, living in a sustainable way and where the municipal organisation gives the right
example.
The programme reinforces the citys investments by forging these four pillars into a cohesive
whole. In times of scarcity, monitoring is more important than ever: Is the deployment of finance and capacity
being truly effective? The Sustainability Programme takes a short- as well as a long-term view and focuses on
doing more with less, not only in a financial sense but also in the use of raw materials and other scarce
resources. In addition, the programme generates support within and beyond the municipal organisation. The
cohesion and concerted action in pursuit of quality lead to a reduction in costs certainly in the longer term
as well as an improved living environment.

Urban solutions
The City of Amsterdam strongly believes that its primairely the responsibility of the city itself to develop and
implement specific urban solutions in order to realize this transition towards sustainability. And especially
because urban areas like the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area, are uniquely positioned to lead the greening of
the global economy through improvements in transport, energy, buildings, technology, water and waste
systems, as well as producing a wide range of economic and social benefits. So its the responsibility of the city
to develop urban solutions.
Some of the Amsterdam urban solutions are presented in this paper:
Urban planning
Energy, Waste, Water
Sustainable mobility
Amsterdam sustainability index: insight into performance
Sustainable finance and public private partnerships

Urban planning
Amsterdam is a relatively small city with 780,000 inhabitants (and 390,000 dwellings) with a long tradition in
planning due to the fight against the water. The population is divers with 177 nationalities and very dynamic. In
the recent three years we have seen a rise of more than 30,000 citizens, half through national and international
immigration and half through a high birth rate.
Amsterdam is a compact city, which you can cross within an hour even by bike, it has got a compact settlement
pattern, no sprawl and a restrictive policy towards building in green areas. Therefore, Amsterdam is a green
city. The green wedges penetrate far into the inner city and connect to the surrounding metropolitan
landscape. Visits to the city parks and to the metropolitan landscape have increased strongly in recent years.
They contribute to the quality of life and enhance the real estate value.
We have reinvented our long tradition of planning: inspiring, connecting and activating were motivations to
our current Structural Vision 2040, which has won the ISOCARP award for excellence November 2011.
Amsterdam has a planning tradition since the golden age (example of the Canal district). And now for the first
time our structural vision changed the scope: from Amsterdam as a city to Amsterdam as core of the
Metropolitan region.This Structural vision is an integrated vision: it was co-produced by various municipal
departments and by society. In this vision, which is called Economically strong and sustainable, we are tying
together economic performance and sustainability challenges.
Amsterdam Guide to energetic urban planning
The City of Amsterdam has ambitious goals as to become climate neutral. This will only be possible through a
structured approach to both new and existing neighbourhoods. Following steps from the New Stepped Strategy
and using the methodology of Energy Potential Mapping (EPM), the Amsterdam Guide to Energetic Urban
Planning (in Dutch: Leidraad Energetische Stedenbouw, LES) must become the manual that will support urban
area (re)development towards energy neutrality. The Guide clarifies local Amsterdam energy potentials, both

natural and anthropogenic, and gives an extensive overview of measures and data to be used for the
sustainable provision of electricity, heat and cold. This is presented in a very tangible manner, practical to
urban planners, architects, housing corporations, developers, public institutions and politician. The Amsterdam
Guide has been tested on two sites, one to be newly constructed and another to be redeveloped, and the
incremental approach proved worthwhile, enabling energy neutrality in both cases. The Guide has incited
discussions on both short-term actions and long-term visions needed to facilitate real climate neutrality in the
city of Amsterdam. Recently, the European Commission has approved a project in which partners from 6
European cities work actually on implementing the new filosophy from LES.

Energy, Waste and Water

Energy strategy
The City Councils objective is to reduce CO2 emissions by 40% by 2025, compared to the 1990 baseline.
2
Amsterdam works according to the principle of the Trias Energetica, an approach that leads to optimum
reductions in CO emissions. Three tracks are being pursued simultaneously in order to establish a sustainable
energy supply: energy savings, sustainable energy production and more efficient use of energy from fossil fuel.
Examples are:

Realizing a comprehensive insulation programme for the existing buildings

In the built environment there are huge gains to be achieved by pushing back energy consumption. A
large-scale insulation programme for existing dwellings will be launched during this Municipal
Councils term in office. The initial strategy is to attract, facilitate and stimulate, in accordance with
the principles in the coalition programme. Agreements are being struck with the housing corporations
to insulate their existing housing stock.
Stimulating energy efficient datacenters
25% of all data centers in the Netherlands are located in Amsterdam. Amsterdam is also an important
ICT cluster in Europe. Amsterdams data centers together use approximately 10% of the electricity of
the total electricity use of Amsterdams 22,000 companies. It is expected that because of growing data
traffic, the sector will grow further. The availability of enough data storage and computing capacity is
considered very important by the City of Amsterdam. From this view Amsterdam is actively working
together with the industry to build new green datacenters. And Amsterdam stimulates excisting data
centers to save energy through on the one hand financial triggers and on the other hand by
enforcement (together with the Environmental Department).

The Trias Energetica is a simple and logical concept that helps to achieve energy savings, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and save
the environment. Its three elements are: 1. Reduce the demand for energy by avoiding waste and implementing energy-saving measures;
2. Use sustainable sources of energy like wind, the sun, water and the ground; 3. Use fossil fuel energy as efficiently as possible and only if
sustainable sources of energy are unavailable. Source: http://www.triasenergetica.com/

Wind energy
According to Amsterdams ambition, in 2025 25% of Amsterdams electricity needs will be generated
sustainably within the city boundaries. The aim is to produce 400MW wind energy in 2040, which is
more than 334MW than is being produced now. The city council has decided that new wind turbines
will be built in Amsterdam to meet these objectives. The policy paper: The Windvision, proposes the
areas in which wind turbines will be built. The city council will decide upon these areas before summer
recess.
Solar energy
Amsterdam is active in removing obstacles that prevent people from getting solar energy. In particular
the question of self supply is of importance: the moment residents can settle their own produced
energy with their electricity bill, the so called: virtual net metering, solar energy becomes profitable.
Amsterdam pleads for virtual net metering for owners associations as they represent 40% of total
housing in Amsterdam. Amsterdam has started a pilot in which three owners associations will gain
experience with virtual net metering.
ArenA
The Amsterdam ArenA stadium already fulfils an iconic function for Amsterdam on many fronts. On 11
November 2010 the ArenA presented an integral sustainability programme. The basic principle for the
ArenA is that sustainability ought to be perceived as self-evident within the organisation. This makes
the stadium a trendsetter in Amsterdam and across the Netherlands when it comes to the greening
of an existing building and the events that are staged there.
Climate-neutral new-build
From 2015 all new construction in the city must be climate-neutral, whether housing or commercial
and industrial buildings. This means that the building-related energy consumption will be reduced as
far as possible by means of insulation (while retaining proper ventilation) and the remaining energy
demand will be met from sustainable sources.

Waste and Energy Company

The Waste and Energy Company (AEB) is part of the City of Amsterdam. AEB is a world leader in the sustainable
conversion of waste into energy and valuable, reusable raw materials. AEBs mission: to extract the maximum
possible benefit from waste. AEB uses innovative techniques to produce sustainable energy and reusable
materials from waste. The generated electricity is fed to the grid and supplies households and industries all
over the country. And the produced heat is used in the local districtheating system. During the next few years,
AEB and the Dutch energy company Nuon will together implement the City of Amsterdams energy and climate
policy by connecting 100,000 households to the district heating system. In the longer term, the connection of
200,000 households is planned.
Nearly 99% of over 1.4 million tonnes of processed waste every year is recycled. This makes AEB the largest
single-location waste processor in the world. AEBs Waste Fired Power Plant (WFPP) is a world leader in
producing energy and products from waste. No other facility can match AEBs environmental credentials. The
innovative plant has set a new global standard for electrical efficiency and maximising products from waste.
New technology has achieved an energy efficiency that is 30% higher than the average this represents real
progress. The Dutch Ministry of VROM has therefore awarded AEB the Recovery (R1) status. This means that
the government regards the method applied by AEB to convert waste into energy and construction materials as
recycling, and therefore good for the environment. This also enables AEB to import waste for processing.
The Amsterdam Water Cycle: Waternet
The public water governance model in Amsterdam is unique due to the combination of excellent performance
and customer service, policy integration, innovative power and low costs. Waternet is the first company in the
Netherlands whose operations cover the complete water cycle: from provision of drinking water, sewerage and

storm water management, the treatment of waste water to maintaining levels and quality of surface water. It is
the joint executive service of two governments: the city of Amsterdam and the Regional Water Authority. Some
examples:
Resourceful water and waste: backbone of a more sustainable city
The Amsterdam public utilities make big steps in the recovery of raw material and energy from water
and waste. Together with private partners, they already produce green heat, cooling, electricity and
gas for the metropolitan area and will expand this the coming decades. The combination of the
integrated water cycle assets and world's best performing High Efficiency Waste Incineration Plant are
an excellent starting point for becoming a centre of excellence in the future green economy.
Reliable and efficient drinking water supply
The quality of Amsterdams, non chlorinated, tap water is benchmarked as the best in the
Netherlands. It originates from the Rhine river and is filtered through dunes west of the city. A second
major supply is seepage water from polders. Water consumption per head is low, at about 53 cubic
metres per inhabitant per year. In terms of water leakages, Amsterdam is the best-performing city,
losing just 3.5% of water.
Living with water: water sensitive urban design and management
Amsterdam is a delta city rooted in a robust and resilient water management. We have learned to link
the urban dynamics with coping with all different water challenges. All building developments make
water a value in stead of a thread. Climate change is used as a trigger for further accelerate,
economize and innovate water sensitive urban design and management in the existing city
(www.watergraafsmeer.org).

Sustainable mobility

Bicycle city
Bikes are seen as the poor man's vehicle in many countries. However, this is not the case in the Netherlands
and in particular, in Amsterdam. The bicycle is simply the fastest, most flexible and fun way to get around. It is
embedded in our culture. Inhabitants of Amsterdam together cycle 2 million km daily. 73% of all inhabitants
owns a bicycle. The share of bicycle in the choice of transport in Amsterdam is 39%; public transport 24% and
car 37%. There is 513 km of separated bicycle lanes in Amsterdam. Essential elements of our policy:
Make cycling self-evident and communicate the advantages
Start young: every Dutch child learns how to ride a bike. It should be part of each childs upbringing, in
schools. Advantages: its fast, especially in a compact city like Amsterdam; its also flexible because
parking is possible close to the destination; its cheap and healty.
Start with making clear and logical local bicycle policy
Creating a grid of the most important (potential) cycling routes, and formulating criteria to make them
cycle friendly (quality requirements for the main bicycle network). Focusing on the most logical and
most-used routes and researching who will potentially use these routes.

Make road safety for cyclists a priority

In the Netherlands, all children receive traffic education and most take cycling exams. Special cycling
programmes in Amsterdam involve parents, teachers and school children. They have proven to be
very successful.
Make the bicycle more attractive by making other transport modalities less attractive
A parking permit system was introduced to make the Amsterdam city centre more accessible. The
total number of permits is limited and car owners without a permit are required to pay to park their
car. On reflection this was a major contributor to the number of people choosing to travel by bike.
Stimulate cycling by making it easily accessible
Public transport bikes are available in the Netherlands. These are rental bikes that make it easier to
use bicycles at railway stations as part of a public transport chain.

Electric mobility
In this young, dynamic market, in the first years the government has an important role as guide, motivator and
facilitator. Amsterdam has taken that role and is currently the world leader, with the planned rollout of 1,000
charging stations and the ambition of 10,000 electric cars in 2015. This makes Amsterdam an attractive area for
companies to further develop business on electric mobility. Amsterdam realised already the highest charge
density points of the world: 350 public charging stations in the city, 1000 in February 2013. Two public fastcharging points and a couple more from private investors around the city. Agreements with car manufacturers
Nissan/Renault, Mitsubishi and PSA Citroen to jointly promote electric transport and supply electric cars to
Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. First 10 electric taxis in March 2011, 500 in 2015. And furthermore:

Economic opportunities for electric transport in Amsterdam

Because the car companies want to offer security to their product, they are still cautious when
bringing it into a larger production. First they want to eliminate uncertainties. They want to know how
the electric car reacts and evolves. The existing infrastructure and cooperation offered by the
municipality of Amsterdam takes away some of those uncertainties.

Ideal testing ground, and ideal area for business development

Pioneers such as Nissan, Opel, Mitsubishi, Renault and BMW chose the Randstad (and in four of five
cases even Amsterdam) as a venue for the launch of their first electric models on the European
market. There is no competition of Dutch car manufacturers, and secondly because they find in
Amsterdam an extensive and reliable charging network their cars can actually use. For the same
reasons Daimler launched in november 2011 the 100% electric car sharing program car2go in
Amsterdam, with 300 electric cars available for daily use.

What does Amsterdam in the offer?

Amsterdam (municipal and private sector) have in recent years built up valuable knowledge and a nice
lead. It is now important to maintain this advantage and reap its benefits. Amsterdam on electric
transport offers the following: Large multinationals that either have knowledge or money (to) invest,
or already work on the electrification of their fleet: ABN-AMRO, Rabobank, KLM, ING, Athlon, Ahold /
Albert, Accenture.

Amsterdam sustainability index: insight into performance

The contribution of the activities the four pillars spawn will be quantified wherever possible. Making the
city stronger and more efficient is achieved on the basis of a careful analysis, linked with implementation
and the specification of the results. Linking expenditure to performance and achievements is an
inescapable and necessary stipulation certainly in these economic times. With proper monitoring the
city can share good examples from its own practice with its partners and can likewise draw lessons from
its partners. Amsterdam benchmarks its own performance and welcomes comparisons with other
European cities.
For each pillar, the desired results for 2014 are associated with one or several indicators. These indicators
will contribute to the Sustainability Index which was recently completed, an index that provides an outline
of the headway being achieved in the implementation of the sustainability programme at a glance. For
the Climate & Energy and Sustainable Mobility & Air Quality pillars, the indicators are primarily
quantitative in nature. For the Sustainable, Innovative Economy and Materials & Consumers pillars, some
of the indicators and the associated results are more qualitative. This is determined by the current phase
in development of the projects within these pillars. The results of the monitoring will be reported in
accordance with the Planning & Control cycle. The total index figure represents the level of sustainable
development within the city. The table below shows the results 2010 and the indexfigure. 2010 is the
baseline year so the indexfigure is 100. A lower figure means better performance on sustainable
developments. Amsterdam is now in the process of preparing the sustainability report 2011 which will
form an integrated part of the annual municipal year report.

General Indicators
1

CO2 emission per inhabitant

2010

Index figure
2010

6.57

100

64.5

100

16.9

100

2.66

100

49

100

48

100

100

8.05

100

324

100

7.12

100

Annual CO2 emissions in ton CO2 per inhabitant

(source: CO2monitor, inhabitants: department for Research and
Statistics)

NOx emission per inhabitant

Average concentration NO2 + average concentration NO by 10
3
measuring stations in g/m (source: measures air quality by Health
Department)

Climate and Energy

3

Energyuse households per inhabitant

Annual energy use inhabitants in GJ per inhabitant. (source: Liander)

Sustainable energyproduction per inhabitant (inverse)

Annual sustainable energyproduction in GJ per inhabitant (source:
annual yearreport Waste and Energy Company, programbureau Climate
& Energy)

Sustainable Mobility and Air Quality

5

Bicycle share in modal split (inverse)

% bycyle in total amount of Singelgracht movements of bycle +
moped + motor + car. (source: Department of Transport and
Infrastructure)

Share clean trucks and lorry (inverse)

(% trucks and lorry with standard Euro 4 or cleaner engine/2. (source:
TNO)

Sustainable Innovative Economy

7

Attractiveness Amsterdam for new companies

Rankinglist European Cities Monitor (ECM) (source: Cushman &
Wakefield)

Energy use per added value

Use of elektricity and natural gas in MJ per euro added value.
(source: Liander, TNO, Department for Research and Statistics)

Materials and Consumers

9

Amount residual waste from households per inhabitant

Residual waste from housholds in kg per inhabitant
(source: annual year report Waste and Energy Company)

10

Liveability indicator (inverse)

Figure between 1 and 10 answered by inhabitants given the question
How satisfied are you with your own neighbourhood? (source: Living
in Amsterdam)

Sustainable indexfigure

100

Sustainable finance and public private partnerships

Sustainable development asks for different financial models. Interventions take different forms ranging from
subsidies and loans to the use of tailor made financial engineering instruments. Much depends on where the
initiative is taken, where the ownership (i.e. Housing) lies, involvement of the private sector in various
partnerships, and the role of other levels of government. One of the most important questions is what cities
can do themselves within the (legal) frameworks in which they will have to operate. Amsterdam has experience
on the use of different financial models with a focus on participations, loans and revolving investments.
Important part of the Amsterdam approach are public private partnerships.
The Amsterdam Sustainable Financial District:

Amsterdam Investment Fund

When large scale investments in relatively profitable projects stay behind due to the financial and economic
crisis or market failure amongst the financial institutions, it could be beneficial to create financial instruments
specifically aimed at sustainable investments in cities. The Amsterdam Energy and Climate Investment Fund
( 65 mln/ 4 years) will operate as a leverage instrument. This mainly revolving fund aims at multiplying
governmental investments through additional private investments. The fund focuses on those projects where
the market fails, and who directly contribute to the Citys energy strategy. In other words: using this financial
instrument to excellerate the Amsterdam Energy transition. The Climate Board (CEOs representing the private
sector in Amsterdam) advises the City Council about investments in relevant projects. And the City works
closely together with private partners.
Holland Financial Centre (HFC)
This centre is a public private partnership between several public authorities, banking sector, investors and
private companies. The Holland Financial Centre aims at strenghing of the financial sector in both Amsterdam
and the Netherlands.
Green Finance Lab
This Green Finance Lab is an initiative of the City of Amsterdam and the dutch bank ABN AMRO. It is part of a
so called Green Deal between the City of Amsterdam and the Dutch national government. Aim of the Green
Finance Lab is to find new financing mechanism to realize our transition towards a sustainable metropole,
looking at ecosystem services, energy, water, raw materials and mobility. The Green Finance Lab serves as a
meetingpoint where stakeholders from different sectors (public, private, NGO, research) develop new financial
solutions for concrete sustainable challenges. This Green Finance Lab is part of the Amsterdam Sustainability
Programme.
In 2011 the first Lab was organized focusing on the financing of green areas around Amsterdam. Followed in
2012 by organizing so called chambers for sponsoring, donation, private investment zones and Value Capture
Finance. And developing new chambers e.g. on energyprojects.

Each chamber brings together entrepreneurs (from the private, social or public sector) and investors. The
entrepreneurs present funding proposals to the latter in a dragons den setting. Entrepreneurs are asked to
frame their proposals in parameters that give maximum information to investors (e.g. cash flow, risk
management). Investors are asked to comment, coach and help searching for innovative solutions, where
conventional mechanisms fall short.
Public Private Partnerships
Important part of the Amsterdam approach is working closely together with all parties involved. Realizing
public private partnerships, investing together in the sustainable development of Amsterdam.
Example: Amsterdam Smart City create a test bed
A unique collaboration between the inhabitants of Amsterdam, businesses, grid operator, connectivity
company and governments in order to illustrate how energy can be saved, and how new technologies can be
applied, now and in the future. This program functions as a testbed for public private partnerships,
development of proven concepts, integrative projects and awareness building. Strong point: the combination
of ICT, Energy infrastructure and participation of businesses and inhabitants.
Focusing on three district areas in Amsterdam. This platform has around 70 small and large companies as
partners. Amsterdam Smart City won in 2011 the European City Star Award 2011. Recording to the jury it was
the best practice about how cities deal in a sustainable way with energy.
Economic cooperation on Electrical Vehicles
Example: Car2go Daimler Benz
Daimler Benz started a innovative electrical car sharing service with 300 cars without a permanent parking lot.
Amsterdam will be the first of the World. Daimler invests millions in this project. City of Amsterdam takes care
of the policy part and infrastructure.
Example Nissan-Renault cooperation
Amsterdam and Nissan-Renault have agreed on stimulating the use of electrical vehicles in Amsterdam on a
mutual basis. Nissan-Renault garantees the electrical vehicles and Amsterdam takes care of the practical site.
Amsterdam is one of the First cities in Europe where electrical vehicles are available. Same also for PSA
(Citroen-Peugeot) and Mitsubishi.

www.amsterdam.nl/duurzaam