Carbon emission performance ladder
The City of Leeuwarden plans to be carbon-neutral by 2030. Our aim is to save energy, reduce carbon emissions and eventually become carbon-neutral. We also take a sustainable approach to the raw materials in our infrastructure, structures and products. We try to reuse as much as possible. This also prevents CO2 emissions. These goals are set out in the Implementation Agenda for Sustainable Ownership.
Three steps to becoming carbon-neutral
- We save as much energy as possible by reducing its consumption.
- We generate the energy we consume as sustainably as possible. That means energy from sustainable sources.
- What we cannot generate sustainably ourselves, we compensate through certificates. We keep this local wherever possible. A sustainability certificate proves that the extra energy we still have to buy has been generated sustainably. That contributes to reducing carbon emissions.
For this purpose we use the national Carbon emission performance ladder (opens in new tab) tool. Organisations can obtain an official certificate (opens in new tab) for their carbon emissions using this performance ladder.
Since 2025, we have used the new standards of the Foundation for Climate Friendly Procurement and Business (SKAO). These new standards for reducing carbon emissions focus more on cooperation and clear agreements with, for example, suppliers and property developers commissioned by the local authority.
We expect to receive the associated certificate for step 1 in late 2026: Reducing carbon emissions in your own organisation.
Carbon emission performance ladder and baseline measurement
A baseline measurement was made in 2022. This looked at how much energy we consumed as an organisation in 2019 and how much carbon we emitted. By using 2019 figures, we avoid distortions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Every year, we monitor our success in reducing our emissions.
The Carbon emission performance ladder shows how much carbon the local government organisation emits. That measurement helps reduce the emissions of our organisation and our projects. It also helps to share knowledge with colleagues, other organisations and companies. Together, we look for ways to reduce our carbon emissions.
Our carbon emissions and their reduction
You will find more information in the document CO2-Beleidscommunicatie 2025 (opens in new tab).
The Carbon emission performance ladder has the following levels (rungs)
Level 1 – Own organisation
An organisation gets started with short-term goals (up to 3 years), reducing the organisation’s energy consumption and emissions.
Level 2 – Influence in the supply chain
The focus is on an organisation’s main activities and the medium term (5 to 10 years). Product-market combinations, chain analyses, participation in programmes to reduce carbon emissions.
Level 3 – reducing CO2 to 0 by 2050
The emphasis is on the long-term goal (up to 2050) of 0 emissions, both from the organisation’s own activities and from the complete supply chain. Organisations are also encouraged to look beyond the supply chain’s emissions, at avoided emissions, for instance. This is part of the organisation’s strategy and policy.
What steps are we already taking
We procure our energy locally and sustainably
We buy energy in our own environment. This ensures that the money we spend on energy stays in our own environment. We procure our sustainable solar energy through Energie van Ons (opens in new tab).
We compensate carbon emissions from gas consumption with green certificates from GreenInclusive (opens in new tab). This organisation produces Frisian fibre hemp which is used as a natural insulation material in residential construction. This reduces carbon emissions.
We are making our vehicles more sustainable
Most cars and other vehicles of the City of Leeuwarden no longer emit carbon. They are driven by electricity, green gas or blue diesel.
We are making our buildings more sustainable
The Enforcement Department’s building on Groeneweg is fully insulated and no longer uses natural gas. It is now heated sustainably.
What results have we achieved so far?
You will find more information in the document Leeuwarden reduces its carbon emissions – progress 2025.
What else are we planning to do
Energy savings in local authority housing
The best way to improve sustainability is to use less energy. That’s why we are looking at what can be improved at the Municipal Office, the Town Hall and the Historical Centre Leeuwarden. For each building, we will determine what measures are necessary. Our aim is to be carbon neutral by 2030.
Generating our own sustainable energy
We are looking into how and where the local authority organisation can generate its own renewable energy. For example, we are consider more solar panels on private roofs and ‘solar carports’ above car parks.
Questions
Contact the City of Leeuwarden.
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Three steps to becoming carbon-neutral
- We save as much energy as possible by reducing its consumption.
- We generate the energy we consume as sustainably as possible. That means energy from sustainable sources.
- What we cannot generate sustainably ourselves, we compensate through certificates. We keep this local wherever possible. A sustainability certificate proves that the extra energy we still have to buy has been generated sustainably. That contributes to reducing carbon emissions.
For this purpose we use the national Carbon emission performance ladder (opens in new tab) tool. Organisations can obtain an official certificate (opens in new tab) for their carbon emissions using this performance ladder.
Since 2025, we have used the new standards of the Foundation for Climate Friendly Procurement and Business (SKAO). These new standards for reducing carbon emissions focus more on cooperation and clear agreements with, for example, suppliers and property developers commissioned by the local authority.
We expect to receive the associated certificate for step 1 in late 2026: Reducing carbon emissions in your own organisation.
Carbon emission performance ladder and baseline measurement
A baseline measurement was made in 2022. This looked at how much energy we consumed as an organisation in 2019 and how much carbon we emitted. By using 2019 figures, we avoid distortions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Every year, we monitor our success in reducing our emissions.
The Carbon emission performance ladder shows how much carbon the local government organisation emits. That measurement helps reduce the emissions of our organisation and our projects. It also helps to share knowledge with colleagues, other organisations and companies. Together, we look for ways to reduce our carbon emissions.
Our carbon emissions and their reduction
You will find more information in the document CO2-Beleidscommunicatie 2025 (opens in new tab).
The Carbon emission performance ladder has the following levels (rungs)
Level 1 – Own organisation
An organisation gets started with short-term goals (up to 3 years), reducing the organisation’s energy consumption and emissions.
Level 2 – Influence in the supply chain
The focus is on an organisation’s main activities and the medium term (5 to 10 years). Product-market combinations, chain analyses, participation in programmes to reduce carbon emissions.
Level 3 – reducing CO2 to 0 by 2050
The emphasis is on the long-term goal (up to 2050) of 0 emissions, both from the organisation’s own activities and from the complete supply chain. Organisations are also encouraged to look beyond the supply chain’s emissions, at avoided emissions, for instance. This is part of the organisation’s strategy and policy.
What steps are we already taking
We procure our energy locally and sustainably
We buy energy in our own environment. This ensures that the money we spend on energy stays in our own environment. We procure our sustainable solar energy through Energie van Ons (opens in new tab).
We compensate carbon emissions from gas consumption with green certificates from GreenInclusive (opens in new tab). This organisation produces Frisian fibre hemp which is used as a natural insulation material in residential construction. This reduces carbon emissions.
We are making our vehicles more sustainable
Most cars and other vehicles of the City of Leeuwarden no longer emit carbon. They are driven by electricity, green gas or blue diesel.
We are making our buildings more sustainable
The Enforcement Department’s building on Groeneweg is fully insulated and no longer uses natural gas. It is now heated sustainably.
What results have we achieved so far?
You will find more information in the document Leeuwarden reduces its carbon emissions – progress 2025.
What else are we planning to do
Energy savings in local authority housing
The best way to improve sustainability is to use less energy. That’s why we are looking at what can be improved at the Municipal Office, the Town Hall and the Historical Centre Leeuwarden. For each building, we will determine what measures are necessary. Our aim is to be carbon neutral by 2030.
Generating our own sustainable energy
We are looking into how and where the local authority organisation can generate its own renewable energy. For example, we are consider more solar panels on private roofs and ‘solar carports’ above car parks.
Questions
Contact the City of Leeuwarden.