News 16 February 2017 News from SKAO
Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment certifies for CO2 Performance Ladder
The Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment (IenM), is the first Dutch ministry certified for the CO2 Performance Ladder. Undersecretary Sharon Dijksma was awarded the CO2 Aware certificate on Thursday, February 16th. In the past year, the Ministry has achieved a substantial 17 percent CO2 reduction. It aims to be fully climate-neutral by 2030 latest.
IenM fully climate-neutral by 2030
In the past year, the Ministry has achieved a substantial 17 percent CO2 reduction. This is largely due to procuring green energy in the Netherlands and using bio-fuels at the Rijksrederij. The replacement of public lighting along freeways by LED-lights also contributes substantially to reductions, both now and especially in the future. Rijkswaterstaat, IenMs largest administrative organisation, is part of the IenM-certificate. The emissions and savings of the Ministry are largely determined by Rijkswaterstaat. IenM aims to be fully climate-neutral by 2030 and in the coming period it wants to move up to the highest step of the performance ladder.
First Dutch governments certify for CO2 reduction
The CO2 Performance Ladder is the fastest growing sustainability tool in the Netherlands, nominated by OECD as the worldwide best practice for sustainable procurement. Over 50 clients, including ProRail, Rijkswaterstaat and various municipalities, use the ladder for tenders and reward companies that reduce CO2 with a notional discount on the tender price. Following the Renkum municipality, which received the CO2 Performance Ladder certificate last week, the Ministry is the first government body that has managed to certify its own organisation. Alliander and ProRail are the sole other (semi)public organisations with this certificate.
Gijs Termeer, manager at the Foundation for Climate Friendly Procurement and Business, manager and owner of the CO2 Performance Ladder: "By now, over 2.500 certified companies reduce on average 3.2 percent CO2 per annum. That is twice the Dutch average. Clients cannot afford to lag behind. But it does take courage to have a third party assess you on sustainability. The Ministry and the Renkum municipality therefore want to lead by example for other governments who want to structurally reduce their CO2 output."
For more information about the CO2 Performance Ladder, please visit www.skao.nl.