Amsterdam’s emissions falling, but not enough to reach targets

Amsterdam has made significant strides in sustainability, but the city is not on track to meet its 2030 climate targets, according to the first report from the “Our City of Tomorrow” program. The municipal government says national measures will be needed, such as strengthening the electricity grid, further greening the industrial sector, and expanding heating networks to reduce reliance on natural gas.

The report projects that Amsterdam’s CO2 emissions from city territory will fall 46 percent by 2030 compared with 2018 levels. While the city called this “substantial progress,” it falls short of the 60 percent reduction target. Efforts to halve the use of new materials through circular economy practices are also lagging, the report said.

The city government said it will continue to explore measures it can implement itself, particularly in mobility, the built environment, and industry.

Progress has already been made in the port and industrial sectors. Emissions dropped significantly following the closure of the Hemweg coal-fired power plant at the end of 2019. Residential energy efficiency has also improved, with 63 percent of homes now rated energy label D or better, up from just 20 percent in 2012. The municipal administration itself has cut its CO2 emissions by 75 percent since 2018, according to the report.