February 22, 2022, reading time 4 minutes

Our alderman Marieke van Doorninck (Sustainability and Development): “A lot needs to be done to make Amsterdam a more sustainable and climate neutral city. By taking these concrete measures, we kill several birds with one stone: we reduce our energy consumption, we increase the generation of clean energy, and we create jobs.

Thousands of solar panels

With the 78 million euros from the Climate Fund, the City of Amsterdam is investing in six programs to speed up Amsterdam’s climate change ambitions: these programs concern solar, heat, real estate, climate adaptation, SME, and renovation and insulation. Through the solar program for example, the municipality will provide subsidies to housing associations to place over 32,000 solar panels on their roofs.

Natural gas-free and more green areas

With an investment of 50 million euros, the heat program is the largest. 10,000 homes will be made natural gas-free. In the real estate program, 40 buildings of the municipality are being made more sustainable at an accelerated pace, and the climate adaptation program will provide 100 extra green areas in the city. Small and medium-sized enterprises are supported in making their buildings more sustainable and are encouraged in the development of innovative sustainable products and services. Finally, 10,000 homes from housing corporations will be insulated, 3,000 homes from VvEs (homeowners’ associations) will be renovated and the municipality will create collective benefits for sustainability measures for homeowners.

More jobs in sustainability

All projects resulting from the six sustainable programs provide job opportunities in sectors such as (installation) technology and construction: sectors that are indispensable for achieving Amsterdam's climate goals. The municipality offers Amsterdam residents who have lost work due to the corona crisis the prospect of (re)training and a new career in the sustainability sector. To this end, employers, MBO (vocational education), private training institutes, sector organizations, and the municipality are jointly developing work-study programs and training.

Less dependent on tourism

Our alderman Rutger Groot Wassink (Social Affairs and Employment): “With this program we invest in employment that directly contributes to the sustainability ambitions of the city. We want to encourage starters and those who want to switch jobs to choose a career in the sustainability sector. This also strengthens the Amsterdam labour market, making it less dependent on tourism, strengthening the local economy.”

Our councillor Elisabeth IJmker (Work & Income): “Times of crisis offer the opportunity to bring about the change that is so much needed. I am glad that we as GroenLinks are seizing this opportunity to show what kind of city we have in mind. A sustainable, social city with a local economy that is less dependent on the tourism economy. As we know that the infrastructure and tech sector is still very much focused on men, my specific hope is that we will also be able to reach women and girls with these programs.”