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Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management climbs higher on the CO2 Performance Ladder

State secretary Stientje van Veldhoven, of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, calls upon other governments to actively reduce carbon emissions.

The Hague, 29th of May, 2018 – The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (I&W) has been certified on the CO2 Performance Ladder at level 4. On Tuesday the 29th of May 2018, state secretary Stientje van Veldhoven received the certificate. In the past eight years, the energy consumption of I&W has dropped by one third of the total energy consumption.

I&W completely climate neutral in 2030

The Ministry of I&W aims to become completely climate and energy neutral in 2030. This means that the ministry wants to generate as much energy as it is being used and no carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gasses are being emitted into the air. With the purchase of 100 new electrical vehicles, 30 percent less carbon emitted through aerial transport and moving to a more sustainable office building in which 99,7 percent of the materials are reused, the ministry is making progress towards achieving its climate goals. Rijkswaterstaat, the executive organization of the Ministry of I&W, takes part in the certification on the CO2 Performance Ladder. I&W plans to achieve the highest level on the Ladder within the coming years.

Dutch governments obtain certificates on systematical CO2 reduction

The state secretary calls upon other governments in the Netherlands to also obtain a certificate on the CO2 Performance Ladder. Van Veldhoven passed on the relay race stick, that symbolizes commitment to systematically reduce carbon emissions by implementing the Ladder, to the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate and the municipalities of Harderwijk, Bronckhorst and Barneveld. These government institutions will follow the example of I&W and will soon obtain their own certificate on the Ladder. Earlier this year, the governments have signed an Agreement that signifies their commitment to implement the CO2 Performance Ladder in their policies this year.

State secretary Stientje van Veldhoven (Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management): “Bit by bit, we contribute to a solution to climate change, a problem that we are all responsible of. The CO2 Performance Ladder helps us to work towards the necessary solution. This is why the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) mentions the Ladder as best practice. In my point of view, other governments should follow our example and it should become a lot more crowded on the CO2 Performance Ladder.”

Gijs Termeer (manager of the Foundation for Climate Friendly Procurement and Business, SKAO): “It is fantastic to see that governments are obtaining a certificate on the CO2 Performance Ladder. The certificate on the Ladder makes them credible and exemplary partners in the transition towards green energy, that for a large part will be run by them.”

CO2 Performance Ladder

The CO2 Performance Ladder is an instrument that helps organizations to structurally reduce their carbon emissions within daily business operations, but also in projects and in their business chain and sector. Organizations certified on the CO2 Performance Ladder receive an award advantage in procurement processes. The CO2 Performance Ladder is used as both a CO2 management system as well as procurement instrument.

For more information on the CO2 Performance Ladder, check out www.skao.nl