Delft, 10 November 2020. The Delfland water authority has today received a CO2 awareness certificate for achieving level 3 on the CO2 Performance Ladder. With this, the water authority receives the 1,000th certificate of the Ladder.
Certificate holder Heijmans wants to build CO2-neutral after 2023. And the ambition is to work completely emission-free by 2026. So without CO2, nitrogen and particulate matter emissions. Good for the climate, it provides better workplaces for employees and less nuisance for the environment. That is why Heijmans believes that its construction equipment should be made more sustainable. Three Heijmans employees explain how they intend to reduce emissions to zero in six years. Electrification, ambition and money are the keywords in the story.
In the Climate Agreement, a CO2 reduction of 49% by 2030 has been agreed. That also means work to be done for municipalities. A tool that helps to make this reduction measurable is the CO2 Performance Ladder. The VNG developed a special program: CO2 reduction by municipalities. The municipality of Soest is certified under this program for level 3 on the CO2 Performance Ladder. Marloes Borsboom-Turabaz of the VNG and Soest alderman Nermina Kundić explain which steps municipalities can take in reducing CO2 emissions.
The Ministries of Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZK) and Climate Policy and Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) are today publishing their first joint report on the sustainability of their own business operations. In 2019, the national government has included the objective of climate-neutral operations by 2030 in the Climate Agreement. The sustainability report provides insight into the progress. The ministries of EZK and LNV share, among other things, the building, vehicle fleet and operational management and therefore opt for one sustainability report. The report published today covers calendar year 2019.
SKAO today published version 1.1 of the normative audit days table. The changes are the result of the publication of Handbook 3.1 and an evaluation among CIs of version 1.0.
Fuel supplier Finco Fuel has recently obtained a level 3 certificate on the CO2 Performance Ladder. What drives an organization that also transports fossil fuels to aim for sustainability? And how did this organization manage to implement the requirements of the Ladder? Kirsten Barnhoorn (director FinCo Renewables) speaks.
The province of Gelderland is the first government organization to be certified for level 5 on the CO2 Performance Ladder. Deputy Jan Markink received the certificate on Monday 28 September 2020. The province aims to be a climate neutral organization by 2030.
Schiphol Trade Park, a special project in North Holland by area developer SADC :. The project is full of sustainable and circular practical examples, initiated by contractor KWS in collaboration with SADC. The company is level 5 certified on the CO2 Performance Ladder. What measures have been taken on the project and how does KWS work on sustainability and circularity?
CO2 emissions from Dutch economic activities were 21.1 percent lower in the second quarter than in the same quarter of 2019. According to the first calculation, gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 9.3 percent in the same period. The decrease in CO2 emissions is partly due to the fact that the energy companies used less coal in their production.
This conclusion is drawn in a study conducted by Arcadis on behalf of the Climate Friendly Procurement & Business Foundation (SKAO) and the Union of Water Boards.
The COVID-19 pandemic has a substantial impact on socio-economic activities and energy use, and therefore on CO2 emissions. For the short term, in the case of prolonged lockdowns worldwide until the end of 2020, a global CO2 emission reduction of 8%, compared to 2019, is estimated, based on data and projections of the IEA and Global Carbon Project.
The current situation with the Corona virus means that, in some cases, planned audits, including for the CO2 Performance Ladder, cannot be carried out on location. As an accredited scheme, SKAO refers to the latest version (April 7, 2020) of the explanatory document ( T051 ) that the Accreditation Council has published on its website for such situations.
On 24 September, the VNG will start again with a new group of municipalities for the project acceleration of CO2 Performance Ladder level 3 for municipalities.
Due to COVID-19, SKAO works with fewer people in the office, which means that we are less accessible by telephone than you are used to from us.
VenhoevenCS goes for future-proof VenhoevenCS architecture + urbanism is the first architectural firm with a level 5 certificate on the CO2 Performance Ladder. Because the organization has been working on sustainability across the board for years, there is a lot of in-house experience and the organization dares to think big. What will cities look like in 50 years? Helga Lasschuijt, General Manager and CO2 manager of the organization, gives her vision on this and explains the role CO2 reduction and circularity play in this development.
The Climate Friendly Procurement & Business Foundation (SKAO) has set up a network to facilitate contracting authorities in using the CO2 Performance Ladder. The idea of the Network is that contracting authorities learn from each other and inspire each other about the possibilities of using the Ladder as a tendering instrument.
Another training "CO2 Performance Ladder for consultants" will take place on 23 September and 16 December. This time the training is based on the recently published Handbook 3.1 and is given by Stichting Stimular and with a contribution from SKAO. As a consultant, would you like to (better) guide organizations in using the CO2 Performance Ladder? Then this training is meant for you.
CO2 emissiefactoren.nl has been making data available for CO2 emission factors and the calculation of CO2 emissions since 2014, after signing the Green Deal. Together with Connekt, MilieuCentraal, SKAO and Stimular, Rijkswaterstaat is now launching the renewed website www.co2emissiefactoren.nl.
With the Rabo Impact Loan, Rabobank gives an interest discount to companies and organizations that do business with a sustainable or social impact. As a certified organization for the CO2 Performance Ladder, you receive an interest discount from level 3 up to 0.65%.
The first event of the Network Procurement CO2 Performance Ladder took place on Thursday 22 June. The recently launched Network was created to allow contracting authorities to make more impact when it comes to CO2 reduction. "More impact through collaboration," said Monique Bollen, the network's leading figure.
According to the report of the Remkes Committee, nitrogen emissions must be halved in the next ten years to improve the state of Dutch nature. The construction sector will also have to invest in sustainable measures to meet the nitrogen ambitions of the Remkes Commission.
On June 22, 2020, the Climate Friendly Procurement & Business Foundation (SKAO) published Handbook 3.1 of the CO2 Performance Ladder. The new Handbook has become a more efficient standard and pays more attention to projects in which clients and companies collaborate on CO2 reduction.
Handbook 3.1, the successor to Handbook 3.0, was published on 22 June. SKAO interviews Jeroen Gijzen and Huub Groenenberg, two members of the Central Board of Experts (CCvD). The CCvD makes the amendment decisions about the Manual. One of the pillars of Handbook 3.1 is the 'more efficient standard'. What is meant by this and what role have they played in this?
Handbook 3.1, the successor to Handbook 3.0, will be published on 22 June. SKAO interviews members of the Central Board of Experts (CCvD) about the creation of the new Handbook. Harald Versteeg (independent chairman), Maud Vastbinder (project leader Handbook 3.1) and Tijmen de Groot (secretary) have their say. Why has a new manual been published and how do you get support from so many parties?
Handbook 3.1 of the CO2 Performance Ladder was published on 22 June 2020. From this moment on it is possible for organizations to be certified in accordance with the new standard. What does this mean for contracting authorities and buyers?
Handbook 3.1, the successor to Handbook 3.0, will be published on 22 June. SKAO interviews Charlotte Pars (ProRail), Stefan Daamen (Heijmans) and Maarten Neelis (Rijkswaterstaat), members of the Central Board of Experts ( CCvD ), about the project file in Handbook 3.1. What is that, and more importantly, what's in it for us?
Gww contractor Ploegam, certified at level 5 on the CO2 Performance Ladder, has developed a 30-ton crawler excavator together with Doosan importer Staad and electrification company UMS. An interchangeable battery pack must ensure that the machine can be used 24/7. The three companies will immediately launch three battery-electric excavators: a 2-ton mini, a 16-ton tire crane and the 30-ton crawler excavator. The machines are also for sale for other companies.
Not only the Dutch government provides incentives to stimulate circular procurement and tendering. The EU is also taking steps towards a circular economy. Europe already presented a first action plan in 2015. This month, the EU announced a new action plan for a European circular economy entitled "For a cleaner and more competitive Europe."
Construction company van Gelder, certified at level 5 on the CO2 Performance Ladder, reports that it is about to order two earth-moving machines from the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai. The innovative construction machines operate emission-free and run on hydrogen instead of diesel.
Organizations are taking more and more measures to make the construction site and the equipment used there more sustainable. For example, the focus is on the in-house generation of electricity, the application of alternative fuels and the electrification of vehicles and equipment. This is evident from the Report of Measure List 2019, drawn up by SQ Consult, on behalf of SKAO.
The European Commission has put forward plans with the Green Deal to combat climate change. The Green Deal is intended to ensure that the European Union becomes climate neutral by 2050. To achieve this objective, a road map is being drawn up with a package of measures for a sustainable energy transition. SKAO would like to contribute to the Green Deal with the CO2 Performance Ladder and has written a letter to Frans Timmermans, Vice-President of the European Commission. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has written a accompanying letter in which it endorses the importance of the CO2 Performance Ladder.
In the context of the study "Towards a climate neutral infrastructure sector in the Netherlands" that SKAO conducted in collaboration with TU Delft, a business case on sustainable asphalt has been highlighted. This business case can be seen in a film in which the results of the study are also mentioned. View the movie here.
The board of SKAO has reduced the annual contribution for CO2 Performance Ladder certified companies.
Together with Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research and the environmental consultancy CE Delft, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment has developed a method to determine the effect of circular procurement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving resources.
For the CO2 Performance Ladder, 2019 was dominated by opportunities, impact and growth. From the start of the sustainability instrument in 2010, 950 certificates have now been obtained. Nearly 150 new registrations were added in 2019 and a total of eight governments were certified. More governments will follow when we look forward to the award of the 1000th certificate on the CO2 Performance Ladder in 2020!
Haasnoot Bruggen is certified at level 3 of the CO2 Performance Ladder. After making the electricity more sustainable, the bridge builder started looking for other measures to reduce CO2 and reduce the environmental impact of the organization. That is why Haasnoot Bruggen ended up with Basic Office Solutions, a company that offers sustainable printing solutions and thus saves 92 percent CO2 emissions. SKAO spoke with both Haasnoot Bruggen and Basic Office Solutions about this energy-saving printing technique.
The municipality of Arnhem has recently obtained a certificate on the CO2 Performance Ladder. With this, the municipality strives to fulfill its exemplary role in the transition to green energy and sustainability. A certificate on the Ladder makes it possible to manage CO2 reduction both within business operations and on projects.
From the TÜV Certifying Institute, the directors of the municipality of Arnhem, labor development company Scalabor and Sportbedrijf Arnhem today received an official certificate confirming that they are taking significant steps to reduce CO2 emissions in their business operations. This makes Arnhem the first large municipality in the Netherlands to receive such a certificate. Arnhems ambition is to reduce CO2 emissions by 40% in 2023 compared to 2018.
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and Smart Freight Center have published a report with guidelines for socially responsible procurement in the transport and logistics sector: the Sustainable Freight Procurement (SFP) Guidelines. The CO2 Performance Ladder is herein referred to as a best practice to limit the CO2 emissions of tenders in the sector.
In the coming years, Belgian governments will experiment in their tenders with the CO2 Performance Ladder. Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels will take part in the experiments with the CO2 management system. When the results of the pilot phase turn out to be positive, then the Ladder will become the norm for Belgian governments.
The construction sector is able to reduce carbon emissions with, among other things, the reuse of building materials and more efficient machinery.
Sustainability is particularly high on the agenda of Dutch water boards. With things like green energy, sustainable innovations and sustainable procurement, they have been playing an exemplary role for years. Seven water boards are now preparing for the next ambitious step: certification on the CO2 Performance Ladder.
Since 2016, a certificate for the CO2 Performance Ladder from level 3 has been used as an alternative to the European Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) Energy audit obligation. This validity has been extended again.
Until 2022, the Flemish government is experimenting with the CO2 performance ladder for public procurement. In concrete terms, companies that reduce their CO2 emissions will have a greater chance of winning government contracts.
