RIS318170 Bijlage Commitments TheHague English

2030

The Hague

Climate City Contract

2028

Commitments

2026

2024

2024 - City of The Hague

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Commitments

Table of contents

City of The Hague

1 Foreword

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2024

2 Our city

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Annex 1: Climate Action Plan Annex 2: Climate Investment Plan

2.1 Our Ambition

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2.2 Our Emissions

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2.3 Our Priorities

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3 Collaboration and Cooperation

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3.1 The Hague Climate Agreement

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3.2 Connection between The Hague Climate Agreement and the Climate City Contract

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3.3 Shared Ambition

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3.4 Other Municipal Documents

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3.5 Residents

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4 Next Steps

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Disclaimer All pictures used in this document are property of the Municipality of The Hague or under licence of Getty-Images.

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Diversiteit en inclusie

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Sociaal Inkopen

Keten- en Internationale MKB vriendelijk inkopen Sociale VoorwaardenClimate City Contract - Commitments

1 Foreword

Foreword

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working with residents, businesses, entrepre-

ambition nearer. However, more is needed to

neurs, and social organisations to work towards

accelerate the transition towards a climate-

In front of you is the first version of

a climate-neutral The Hague in order to make

neutral city. In the coming years, our ambitions

The Hague’s Climate City Contract (CCC).

the city future proof, liveable, and healthy.

need to be further translated into concrete

This document marks the city’s partici-

actions with visible results. But the munici-

pation in the EU’s 100 Climate-Neutral

The CCC helps The Hague take an important

pality cannot do this alone; this is a task for

and Smart Cities in 2030 (100CNSC).

step forward in accelerating and scaling

the entire city. The HKA is designed to help

By participating in this EU mission,

up climate ambition and action in the city.

the city in working together. In the HKA,

The Hague gains access to international

The CCC helps The Hague link local projects

about 160 parties in the city endorse the

cooperation and exchange, contributing to

and policies to national and European

municipal climate ambition. They also agree to

our work to make the city more beautiful,

opportunities for collaboration, knowledge

contribute to it: the agreement contains pledges

green and future proof. Together with the

exchange, and financing. Examples of how

to undertake concrete actions and projects

other participating cities, The Hague aims

this works are already visible throughout the

as part of over forty different climate deals.

to be a frontrunner in European efforts

city. In the district of Mariahoeve, for instance,

These deals will be executed in the coming

to achieve climate neutrality by 2050

we are working on a pilot to finance climate

years.

by aiming to fulfil our own ambition to

transition, with subsidies from Europe and

be climate-neutral by 2030.

in close collaboration with the government and

The HKA is the result of an intensive partici-

other Dutch mission cities. Members of the

pation process that the city enthusiastically

The CCC brings together perspectives

NZC network were also involved in the process

participated in and which included housing

from different levels of government,

towards the Hague Climate Agreement (Haags

associations, utility companies, entrepre-

from local to national and international

Klimaatakkoord, in short: HKA) as moderators

neurs, knowledge institutions, and residents.

policy. The document was created with

and speakers. And The Hague exchanges

The combined energy from that process will be

input from dozens of municipal teams,

knowledge and experiences with other

desperately needed in the coming years to make

departments, and services. It is also the

European cities about the smart application of

the climate transition in The Hague a success.

product of collaboration and knowledge

large-scale data analysis for sustainability.

That is why The Hague is confidently joining the

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exchange with other Dutch and European

European mission of 100CNSC. Our goal is for

cities, the Dutch government, and the

In recent years, significant steps have been

The Hague to be a healthy, green, and inviting

NetZeroCities consortium (NZC). And above

taken in The Hague to bring our climate

city – now and in the future.

all, it reflects the city-wide movement to make The Hague more sustainable. We are Arjen Kapteijns, Alderman for Energy Transition, Mobility, and Resources on behalf of the council of mayor and aldermen

1 Amsterdam, Eindhoven & Helmond, Groningen, Rotterdam, and Utrecht.

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How To Read The Climate City Contract (CCC) is another

The Climate City Contract is a document of

step towards The Hague realising its climate

The Hague and Europe

ambition: a climate-neutral city by 2030.

The European Commission identifies the CCC

The CCC consists of three parts: Commitments,

as one of the building blocks of the 100CNSC

the Climate Action Plan and the Climate

mission. It is important for Europe that

Investment Plan. It connects local sustainability

The Hague CCC is recognisable within this

policies with the structure and logic of the

system; for The Hague, the CCC has to fit within

100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities in 2030

the context of the city’s policy, which is why

mission, which is carried out by NetZeroCities

it deviates on a number of points from the

consortium (NZC) on behalf of the European

100CNSC templates. Annex 1 of the Climate

Commission. The CCC is based on the

Action Plan contains an overview of the

following principles:

contents of the CCC templates and the trans-

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lation into The Hague CCC. The Climate City Contract is a Dynamic Document

The terminology used in this Contract also at

For The Hague, the CCC is a means to

times deviates from the CCC formats and guide-

bring closer the ambition of a climate-neutral

lines in favour of local terms. This is always

city by 2030. It maps existing and planned

preceded by an explanation of these terms

actions and places them in (an EU) perspective.

using 100CNSC terminology as a reference

Many climate actions will be further developed

point.

and made concrete in the coming years, which is why the CCC should be seen as a snapshot of where we currently are. We will publish revised versions every two years until 2030 (after 2024, updates will be published in 2026 and 2028). Each subsequent version will provide more concrete answers and solutions.

Sustainable built environment theme

The Urban Water Buffer: Reusing Rainwater Collecting rainwater, storing it underground and reusing it on hot days: it is happening in The Hague’s Cromvliet Park. With money from the European Interreg fund, in 2020 an Urban Water Buffer that can hold 35 million litres of rainwater was constructed. The Urban Water Buffer is a circular system. On days when it rains heavily, the water is collected and purified in a sand filter, and is then stored in an underground sand layer. During hot periods, it is pumped back up and used to water the plants in the park, and to provide water for the petting zoo and the vegetable gardens.

2 NetZeroCities is a European consortium of 34 parties financed by the European Commission to implement the 100CNSC mission. This is financed under Horizon Europe. 3 There are 112 participating cities: 100 within the European Union and 12 from associated countries.

The neighbourhood around the park benefits from the underground storage in two ways. On days when it rains heavily, there is less flooding. And in the summer, residents can visit a park that is both greener and cooler, because plants that are well watered are able to more effectively cool themselves through transpiration. The Cromvliet Park is a textbook example of climate-adaptive design in the city. The city has created a Guide to Climate-Proofing The Hague, which is designed for parties that want to work on making The Hague more resistant to the consequences of climate change. The guide includes, among other things, a stepby-step plan for climate-adaptive design.

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2 Our city

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Our City

Figure 1: Peace Palace

The Hague is known worldwide as the international city of peace and justice. It is the political centre of the Netherlands and home to more than 200 different international organisations, such as the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, the Permanent Court of Arbitration and over 100 embassies. This international profile is rooted in a tradition that goes back to the Hague Peace Conference in 1899. Climate, peace, and justice are inextricably

more than 600.000 by 2030. This makes it the

linked, which is why the area covered by the

third largest city in the Netherlands and the

International Court of Justice now also extends

largest Dutch city by the sea, with eleven kilo-

to the consequences of climate change.

metres of coastline. Our economy is home to

In 2023, the court considered the question of

approximately 70.000 companies, including a

what climate obligations states have, and what

wide array of local, national, and international

the legal consequences are if they damage

start- and scale-ups.

the climate through their (in)action. The Hague offers a unique mix of urban The Hague is also a lively and fast-growing city.

life and valuable nature. The city has eleven

The Hague currently has more than 560.000

ecozones and The Hague’s dunes are part of the

residents, and this is expected to grow to

Hollandse Duinen (Dutch Dunes) National Park.

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Figure 2: Nationaal Park/National Parc Hollandse Duinen

Various parts of the city have Natura 2000

The Hague is also a city full of contradictions.

status. We are proud of our nature, take care of

Of the four major cities in the Netherlands,4

it and, where necessary, take steps to preserve

The Hague is the most segregated, socially and

and restore it.

economically. This is visible and tangible in the city. Inequality can be seen in analyses of energy

At the same time, The Hague’s coastal location

issues, health, and green space in The Hague’s

poses spatial challenges for our city. The Hague

neighbourhoods. The neighbourhoods with

has very little space to accommodate the

the lowest incomes also appear to be those

expected population growth; the sea forms a

with many poorly insulated homes, with a lot

natural border and it is not possible to expand

of heat stress and little access to green spaces.

the built environment within the municipal

Consequently, the most vulnerable neighbour-

boundaries. The Hague must therefore densify

hoods in The Hague also face a major challenge

its built environment. This results in complex

in terms of an energy transition and greening.

choices and considerations about the use of

The sustainability challenge, therefore, also has

the available space for achieving its objectives:

a clear social component.

accommodating more residents while maintaining a flourishing economy and a healthy, sustainable living environment.

4 In order of population size: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht.

Sustainable mobility theme

DEEL: Share a Car With Your Neighbours You have a car, but be honest: how often do you use it? The street is full of cars, but 95 percent of the time they are stationary. A waste of space, thought the initiators of DEEL, an initiative in The Hague to share electric lease cars with local residents. The structure for this is the neighbourhood cooperative. At DEEL, residents are in control. They determine the rules for car sharing in their own neighbourhood: which cars they use, the rules, and the price. In practice, a shared car replaces several private cars. This creates more space for public

greenery or bicycle parking. Residents who participate in DEEL can work together on developing new ways to use public space. And those who rarely use their own car also save money. DEEL, a not-for-profit, offers residents tools to help them set up their own cooperative. In The Hague, six neighbourhoods have already established cooperatives, and the success of DEEL has spread to Amsterdam and Utrecht, with the city of Rotterdam also interested in developing the initiative.

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2.1 Our Ambition Numbers x ton CO2 excluding several small emission sources we currently lack data on.

TOTAL

2.070.225 7.205 MOBILITY

197.888

621 TOTAL

1.972.433

7.500

646

199.933

78.780

79.920 HOUSEHOLD WASTE

TOTAL

TOTAL

6.095

578 6.328

1.742.113

1.751.280

162.487

156.194

88.876

85.786

598 TOTAL

1.534.973 6.537 174.265

933.516

81.708

859.142 737.665

COMPANIES AND INSTITUTIONS

687.674

The Hague, the citizens of The Hague and

Along with the ambition of climate neutrality

The Hague’s natural environment deserve

by 2030, The Hague is also committed

a beautiful, sustainable future. To make

to national and international goals.

The Hague future proof, the city has been

The Netherlands is one of the 196 states that

working on sustainability for many years.

signed the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015.

In 2008, The Hague was one of the first munic-

This sets the target of a 49 percent greenhouse

ipalities to join the EU Covenant of Mayors

gas emission reduction in 2030 compared to

for Climate and Energy, the largest European

1990. In the Netherlands, this has been trans-

network of local authorities for climate

lated into the National Climate Agreement and

neutrality and adaptation.

has since be re-established to the aim to reduce emissions by 60 percent in 2030. In 2020, the

620

In 2017, a majority group in The Hague city

European Union also re-established its climate

council took the initiative to create The Hague

goals with the European Climate Law: a climate-

Climate Pact that stated the ambition to

neutral EU by 2050 and reducing CO2 emissions

be climate-neutral by 2030. The Pact, signed

by 55 percent by 2030.7 The Hague is committed

in in 2018 by approximately 300 parties,

to these national and international goals.

contains tools to help work on the ambition 616.382

to be climate-neutral.5 In 2018, the mayor

The municipality has an important role in

and aldermen adopted this ambition in their

tackling inequality in the city, and the tran-

coalition agreement. This ambition has since

sitions required for a future-proof city create

been repeated by each new coalition and is also

opportunities to address this. The City of

included in the current coalition agreement.

The Hague is committed to ensuring that

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subsidies predominantly benefit the people HOUSING

852.215

825.292

814.700 746.412 655.461

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

HOUSEHOLD WASTE

In April 2023, The Hague Climate Pact was

who need them most, so that everyone can

followed up with the process to arrive at a

participate in the climate transition. And the

Hague Climate Agreement (HKA, see chapter 3).

municipality prioritises making the most

The participating parties in the HKA -

urbanised neighbourhoods of The Hague

companies, residents, and institutions - endorse

greener, making vulnerable neighbourhoods

The Hague’s climate ambition and translate this

healthier and more liveable. This ensures

into action. Consequently, The Hague’s partic-

that climate neutrality and climate justice

ipation in the EU mission 100 Climate-Neutral

go hand in hand. Because every resident of

and Smart Cities is fully in line with the city’s

The Hague has the right to a future-proof, safe

existing ambitions and actions.

and healthy place to reside and to work.

MOBILITY PUBLIC TRANSPORT

COMPANIES AND INSTITUTIONS

MOBILITY COMMERCIAL

HOUSING

MOBILITY PASSENGER TRANSPORT

Figure 3: CO2 emissions of The Hague 2018 – 2022 (Source: The Hague CO2 scanner)

5 Dit is het Haags Klimaatpact 2030 - Haags Klimaatpact 6 Haags akkoord 2023-2026 (raadsinformatie.nl) 7 EUR-Lex - 32021R1119 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu)

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The Hague sees this as a key element in the

This is because it has been documented that

approach to climate neutrality. The eyes of the

the rise of gas prices due to the phase-out of

world are on The Hague as an international

gas extraction in Groningen and geopolitical

city of peace and justice, including in the field

unrest has a significant impact on the use of

of climate action. And it is precisely because

natural gas as well. Figure 3 shows the decrease

of this special international role in creating a

between 2018 and 2022 and the distribution

future proof world that the city itself should

between emission sectors (emission domains).

100CNSC Emission domains and The Hague sustainability themes

not lag behind. That is why The Hague aims to commit itself to a just transition within its own

According to the 100CNSC methodology, in

borders. Our ambition for a climate-neutral city

order to achieve The Hague’s climate ambition,

is that of a city that takes its own responsibility,

our emissions need to decrease by 80 to 100

locally and internationally.

percent by 2030 compared to 2018.9 This trans-

2.2 Our Emissions In 2022, the city of The Hague emitted 1.534.973

lates into a maximum of 398.305 tons of CO2

Energy systems and Built environment:

Circular economy, green industry, and nature-

emissions by 2030.

Energy transition

based solutions: circular economy

The transition of our energy supply from fossil

The transition from a linear economy with a

fuels to renewable sources. This theme also

continuous demand for finite resources and

includes insulation and other energy-saving

large waste flows to an economy based on

activities. After all: energy you do not use,

value retention of raw materials. Reuse of raw

does not need to be generated.

materials is the norm in a circular economy. As a

2.3 Our Priorities

tons of CO2. This number is the sum of the 8

emissions that take place within our city limits,

The City of The Hague has worked with four

the emissions released during the production of

sustainability themes since 2018: energy tran-

result, the demand for primary raw materials

the energy that The Hague uses, and the emis-

sition, sustainable mobility, circular economy,

decreases, as does the production of waste.

sions connected to processing our household

and sustainable built environment. The EU

waste. The CO2 emissions released during the

mission 100CNSC has six emission domains.

production of everything else that is imported

To make the CCC applicable to the local policy

to the city - the food, clothing and belongings

environment, the EU domains ‘energy systems’

of the city’s residents, the emissions from mate-

and ‘built environment’ are combined under

rials used in construction, and the construction

the theme ‘energy transition’ and ‘circular

of vehicles used in the city – is excluded.

economy’, ‘green industry’, and ‘nature-based solutions’ are combined under ‘circular

In 2022, the city’s CO2 emissions were approxi-

economy’.

mately 27 percent lower compared to 2018, the

Mobility & transport: Sustainable mobility The transition to an emission-free mobility

year that The Hague uses as its baseline year for

Sustainable built environment is an integral

system. This can be summarised in three key

this CCC. This decrease is mainly due to lower

part of climate actions. Since it focuses

words: reduce, change and make cleaner.

Sustainable built environment

energy use in the built environment; in homes,

on mitigation it is not linked to any of the

Reducing the number of traffic movements and

Working towards a city that is both sustainable

companies, and institutions. Though important

100CNSC emission domains.

the number of kilometres that people travel,

and future-proof. This city is climate-neutral and

progress was made in improving energy effi-

changing travel behaviour so that people more

resistant to the effects of climate change, such as

ciency and development of the district heating

frequently choose more sustainable ways

heat stress and flooding, and at the same time

network, it is not possible to say how effective

of traveling, and making existing modes of

accessible, safe, and pleasant to live and stay

these measures were in terms of CO2 reduction.

transport cleaner, more economical and efficient.

in. The sustainable city is green and healthy for

When designing public spaces, we make choices

people, plants, and animals.

8 Which emissions are included within the 100CNSC framework is discussed in detail in our Climate Action Plan. 9 Complete CO2 remission reduction is the principal objective of the 100CNSC mission. However, the guidelines in the Info Kit for Cities state that a maximum of 20% of emissions from the basline year (2018 for The Hague) can be compensated by Carbon Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) or carbon credits.

that promote walking, cycling and the use of public transport or car sharing.

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To give substance to these themes the munic-

objective to annually provide 10.000 existing

longer to meet the target, such as small and

reduction this could yield has not yet been

ipality develops four sustainability agendas

homes with an energy efficient label (A, B, or C)

medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

properly calculated. However, we do know

in 2024, one for each theme. These agendas,

until 2030. This will contribute to ensuring that

which will be updated annually, contain the

the approximately 100,000 homes in The Hague

While CO2 reduction through rollout and

tities of materials, that we have a significant

municipal plans in the field of sustainability

that currently have an energy label of E or lower

expansion of the zero-emission zone is initially

housing shortage, and that we are expected

in the period 2023 - 2026, which is the policy

will receive a higher energy label by 2030 at the

relatively small (the logistics sector is respon-

to see a steady grow in population, further

period of the current The Hague board of mayor

latest.

sible for less than three percent of the CO2 emis-

increasing the need for construction. In 2024,

sions from the mobility sector), in the longer

the municipality will formulate clear ambitions

and aldermen. Based on these agendas, the

that the construction sector uses large quan-

elements deemed most essential to achieving

This will prepare the built environment to

term the reduction potential is much greater;

for the sustainable use of materials in new

our climate ambition were selected for this

stop using natural gas for heating along with

more zones, and more extensive zones, mean

construction. This priority will be more clearly

CCC. These can be translated into the City’s stra-

increasing energy efficiency, thus decreasing

a greater effect. The ZE zone will improve air

defined in the next CCC (2026).

tegic priorities. The Hague has identified the

energy demand.

quality in the city significantly, while the depo-

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following three strategic interventions linked to

sition of nitrogen in The Hague’s Natura 2000

the four sustainability themes:

areas on the coast will be reduced. This makes the rollout of this zone highly relevant for the sustainble built environment in our city as well.

2.3.1 Priority 1: Retrofitting Homes to Stop Using Natural Gas (Energy Transition)

2.3.2 Priority 2: Zero-Emission Zone (Sustainable Mobility and Sustainable Built Environment)

The City of The Hague aims to reduce the use of

The City of The Hague focuses on decreasing,

gas in the coming years. Heating using natural

changing and improving the mobility system.

Europe’s goal is to have a fully circular economy

gas is one of the largest sources of greenhouse

We aim to create a modal shift: a shift from car

by 2050, where the reuse of raw materials is

gas (GHG) emissions in the city. The phasing out

use to increased walking, biking, and use of

the norm. This requires a different structure

of gas extraction in the Netherlands along with

public transport. We also focus on decreasing

of our economy. This makes the transition

current geopolitical developments also mean

the number of commutes and kilometres made

to a circular economy highly complex. That

that the natural gas supply is less stable than it

in the city by stimulating working from home

is why the Netherlands has set an interim

was before. Consequently, in the years to come

and improving the efficiency of the current

target of achieving an economy in which raw

buildings in the city will be switched from gas

mobility and logistical networks. Central to

material use is halved by 2030. Estimates from

to alternative heat sources, such as residual

our efforts is the step-by-step rollout of a zero-

the Netherlands Environmental Assessment

heat from the Port of Rotterdam or geothermal

emission zone.

Agency (in short: PBL) indicate that halving raw

heat.

2.3.3 Priority 3: Circular Construction (Circular Economy)

material use can lead to a 15 percent reduction The Hague currently has an environmental zone

in total CO2 emissions.

To make this switch successful, it is crucial to

in the city centre. From 2025, this will become

begin insulating large numbers of buildings

a zero-emission zone for logistics. We are

To achieve this strategic priority, The Hague

across the city. Some alternative heat sources

currently looking into expanding the categories

still has a lot of work to do. It is expected that

have a lower (water) temperature, so good insu-

of vehicles that have to comply with the stricter

a significant part of the intended reduction

lation is critical to ensure an indoor temper-

emission rules. Because zero-emission vehicles

can be achieved by building more sustainably,

ature comparable to that achieved using gas as

are expensive to purchase, transitional arrange-

through the reuse of materials and scaling

a heating source. That is why The Hague has the

ments will be introduced for parties that need

up ‘bio-based’ construction. What kind of CO2

10 Strategic priorities as defined in the CCC guidelines ‘should be meaningful changes that will have a profound impact on reducing GHG emissions in [our] city’.

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3 Collaboration and Cooperation

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Collaboration and Cooperation

Figure 4: Participants of a climate round table listen to a presentation

“The task is great, but together we can achieve a lot!” This slogan is central to the municipality’s communication about sustainability. The municipality is well aware that it is only one player in a large and complicated playing field. We cannot do everything ourselves, and we do not want to. We can only successfully complete our climate challenge if the entire city feels it is important. This is why the municipality wants to join forces in a variety of ways with other parties in the city, including organised groups and residents of The Hague.

3.1 The Hague Climate Agreement

To create the Climate Agreement, the municipality started a participation process with parties in the city in April 2023. This included

The Hague Climate Agreement (or Haags

professional organisations such as housing

Klimaatakkoord, in short: HKA) is an important

associations, the regional transport company,

document in the transition to a climate-neutral

the water company, universities and colleges,

city. With the HKA, The Hague wants to create

as well as active resident initiatives, such

momentum and a joint agenda together with

as energy and car-sharing cooperatives.

companies, organisations, and residents to take

The international community is also involved

concrete steps towards a climate-neutral city in

and non-profit organisations, embassies and

the years to come.

representations have participated in an English-

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language branch of this process. In total, about 160 different parties had discussions with the municipality and with each other, with the aim of supporting one another to take positive steps forward in the climate transition. The parties covered the four climate themes of The Hague: energy transition, sustainable mobility, circular economy and sustainable living environment. This cooperation leads to the first version of the HKA in April 2024. The participating parties put their names under climate deals: agreements between two or more parties to arrive at a concrete plan for sustainability. This means that achieving The Hague’s sustainability ambitions becomes a joint responsibility with the city. 40 Climate deals have been submitted for the HKA. In the coming years, the city will continue to work on the implementation of these deals and the development of new deals,

Figure 5: Front page of The Hague Climate Agreement

helping grow the movement that is working on sustainability in the city. The municipality plays a central role in this: as a facilitator, as a cooperating partner in climate deals, and in monitoring implementation.

Circular economy theme

3.2 Connection between The Hague Climate Agreement and the Climate City Contract The Hague Climate Agreement (HKA) and the Climate City Contract (CCC) are closely related. The HKA is mainly focused on cooperation between various parties in the city and focuses on local action. With the CCC, The Hague joins 111 other cities that are working towards the ambition of being climate-neutral by 2030. The CCC is mainly focused on knowledge exchange and cooperation with other Dutch governments, European cities and the EU. The HKA and CCC thus complement and strengthen each other.

Spullenbak: Reuse on Order Collecting waste, selecting what can be reused, and burning the rest - this is how it works almost everywhere in the Netherlands. With the Spullenbak (Waste Bin), The Hague turns it around: entrepreneurs and institutions indicate what kind of waste they need and it is delivered so that they can use it immediately as a raw material. Old towels and sheets, cork, paper, LPs, old ties, unused tools, they all get a useful new purpose. With the Spullenbak, The Hague is contributing to the circular economy of the future. Residents of The Hague who have a waste bin at home know exactly what they can put in it and what happens to their waste. The corks go to a company that grinds them into cork granules of different sizes.

These are then reused, for example, for floor finishing. Used egg cartons go to an organic farm, old tools are given a makeover and go to schools and craftsmen in developing countries, and wastepaper is used as filling for sleeping bags in the local hedgehog shelter. The Spullenbak was established in 2022. After a pilot in several neighbourhoods across The Hague, today, everyone in the city can request a Spullenbak for free. When the bin is full, users can make an appointment online to have it collected and exchanged for an empty one. More than a thousand households in The Hague currently have a Spullenbak at home, and dozens of companies, social entrepreneurs, and social institutions are also participating.

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Climate City Contract

The Hague Climate Agreement

Ambition

Climate neutral by 2030

Climate neutral by 2030

Parties involved

The city, the government, other European cities, the European Commission

Organised parties (professional and from residents) active in the city

Participation

Network continues to grow. Parties are approached in a targeted manner

Network continues to grow. Parties can join continuously

Iterarions

Bi-annually

Annually

Monitoring

Yes, actions described on CO2 emissions and implementation

Yes, on implementation of climate deals

Tabel 1: Overeenkomsten en verschillen tussen het Climate City Contract en Haags Klimaatakkoord

3.3 Shared Ambition

for the coming years, and thus also form the substantive basis of the CCC. The municipality

The Climate City Contract and The Hague

discussed this with more than 200 residents

Climate Agreement share the municipal

and entrepreneurs from The Hague during a

ambition of a climate-neutral city by 2030.

large city meeting in April 2023.

All parties participating in climate deals in the HKA support the municipality in this ambition and contribute to this through

3.5 Residents

their role in a deal. Their commitment to our municipal ambition is thus captured in the

Sustainability is a relevant topic among

HKA. Because the CCC and HKA share the same

residents of The Hague; the city is home to

ambition and were established at the same

many citizen initiatives on energy and (re)

time, stakeholders were not asked to sign the

greening, among other things. This is not to

Commitments. All deals and parties involved

be taken for granted, because we can only

in the HKA can be found on the website

achieve our ambitions if the residents of the

www.denhaag.nl/klimaatakkoord.

city participate. We are therefore committed to encourage and support residents’ initiatives

3.4 Other Municipal Documents

and run campaigns aimed to inform and talk with citizens about sustainability. For example, in 2022 the municipality organised two citizen

The basis for The Hague’s sustainability policy is

consultations on climate and the energy tran-

the 2019 Sustainability Memorandum. It iden-

sition across a number of city neighbourhoods.

tifies the themes that The Hague is working

Residents are also involved in the HKA, and we

on: energy transition, sustainable mobility,

are currently working on a citizens’ council to

circular economy and sustainable living envi-

play an important role in monitoring the devel-

ronment. In 2024, four working agendas will be

opment and implementation of the Agreement.

developed that further establish the objectives of the Sustainability Memorandum for the years 2023-2026. These working agendas set out the sustainability priorities and activities

Energy transition theme

Scheveningen is Building the Network of the Future The City of The Hague and grid operator Stedin are experimenting with the flexible energy network of the future. Part of the network, with a capacity of 1MW, has been separated from the public grid. This local network provides the opportunity to experiment with new digital technologies and innovations, working methods and protocols. It allows the city to learn about the possibilities of a flexible network that offers more space for locally generated sustainable energy. The share of locally generated sustainable energy is increasing rapidly. However, this leads to new problems as the electricity grid is not able to transport such amounts of energy. In many places in the Netherlands new connections simply no

longer fit into the grid, which hinders the energy transition. A local and smart energy network that applies digital innovations to monitor, predict, and control energy generation and consumption and that has the possibilities for energy storage can help reduce the peak load on the electricity grid. The municipality currently manages the local network as part of Living Lab Scheveningen and also is its only user. In the next phase, other users such as local businesses can be connected as well. Eventually, a local energy cooperative with grid users will be responsible for the management of the network. This way, we will learn important lessons on how to organise the network of the future together.

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Climate City Contract - Commitments

< CONTENTS

4 Next Steps

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Figure 6: A solar roof with The Hague’s skyline in the background

Next Steps

In the period up to 2030, the municipality will draw up a new version of the CCC every two years and share it with the European Commission. The updates, which will be based on previous versions of the CCC, will detail progress made and look ahead to 2030. We aim to publish the next CCC in 2026. The HKA will remain important for the CCC

relevant processes are underway in The Hague

in the coming years, as it describes the agree-

that will lead to considerable substantive depth

ments and actions of parties from within city.

in subsequent versions of the CCC. The two

Following the HKA’s launch in April 2024, the

most relevant processes in 2024-2025 are:

municipality will support stakeholders that are leading a deal with the implementation

• Developing and implementing a

process. Going forward, parties will be free to

Hague climate dashboard as a sustainability

conclude new deals and add them to the HKA,

monitoring and analysis tool for mapping the

and to add partners to existing deals. We will

impact of current policies and making data-

organise a meeting of participating parties

driven decisions about new policies.

at least once per year, and we will publish

• The kick-off of the HKA as an instrument of

annual reports detailing the progress of the

cooperation on the theme of sustainability in

agreements.

the city, and starting a council that plays an important role in the implementation and

These commitments are substantiated by the Hague Climate Action Plan and Climate Investment Plan. This makes it clear that various

further development of the HKA.

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