Alderman Arjen Kapteijns presented the Hague Climate Report and Climate Dashboard to the city council recently. These reports show that emissions in The Hague fell by approximately 4% in 2024 compared to 2023 and are now 46% lower than in 1990. This is despite the city’s growth. With current policies, the city is on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 60% by 2030 compared to 1990. This is better than the national and European target of 55%. This places The Hague among the frontrunners in the Netherlands and Europe. We can be proud of this, but we also know that further steps are needed to become completely climate neutral.
The municipality is also taking a major step toward making sustainability measurable with the first The Hague Climate Dashboard. For the first time, a dashboard provides everyone with insight into how greenhouse gas emissions have developed since 2018, their origins, and the impact of our policies. The strength of the new Climate Dashboard lies primarily in its ability to look ahead, set interim targets, and link policies and actions to their actual impact on emissions. This allows The Hague to work increasingly effectively and data-driven towards its climate goals and become a sustainable city.
” The Climate Dashboard shows us where we are, where we’re going, and what we’re doing to get there,” says Alderman Arjen Kapteijns (Energy Transition, Mobility, and Raw Materials). ” We see that the city is making progress, but also where we can make more adjustments to policies that truly have an impact. This helps us make The Hague climate neutral. “
Progress in 2024
Nearly three-quarters of emissions come from buildings. In 2024, over 7,000 homes were insulated, primarily in the Centrum and Loosduinen districts. Nearly 10,000 households facing energy poverty received assistance through the “Behaaglijker Wonen” (Energy-Efficient Living) project. In addition, 1,650 homes were connected to a district heating network, and 21% more solar panels and 122 new charging stations were installed (nearly 3,000 in total). The Hague also prepared the zero-emission zone in the city center for vans and trucks, which took effect on January 1, 2025.
The municipality is also leading by example. Thanks to innovative solutions such as sewer thermal energy (heat recovery from sewage) at the De Blinkerd swimming pool and 2,400 additional solar panels on municipal buildings, the municipality’s emissions fell by more than 12% by 2024. Furthermore, more than half of the municipal vehicle fleet is now electric.
Stronger together
Collaboration remains key. More than 115 parties are working on 44 climate deals through the Hague Climate Agreement. The Hague Climate Council, with 17 involved residents, actively contributes to decisions in the city. And through Sustainable The Hague, 19,000 residents are already participating in energy conservation and greening projects. Together, residents and businesses created over 5,200 m² of new green space by replacing 250,000 tiles in 2024. This is the highest score among the G4 cities. Together with residents, businesses, and social organizations, The Hague is working towards a green, sustainable future.
With the “Green Busy” concept, The Hague is putting sustainability on the map as a shared ambition. It’s an invitation to participate in innovative projects that prepare the city for the future, such as the climate deals in the Hague Climate Agreement, tile-removal, the reuse of household items through the Spullenbak (Storage Bin), and the use of alternative heating systems in the hospitality industry, such as heating pads.
The next step
The Hague Climate Report shows that we’re on the right track, but also that we’re not there yet. For some goals, such as insulation, district heating, and reducing energy poverty, even more action is needed.
The energy transition also requires a stronger electricity infrastructure and investments. This is being worked on intensively. For example, the municipality is in talks with Energie Beheer Nederland and NetVerder to jointly establish a public heating company for The Hague. With this new heating company, the municipality will provide homes and other buildings with sustainable, affordable, and reliable heating. This represents a concrete step in accelerating the heating transition in the city.
Over the next few years, more than 500 new transformer substations will be installed to strengthen the electricity grid. This is necessary because more and more households are cooking electric, driving electric vehicles, and switching to heat pumps.
Using the Hague Climate Dashboard as a compass, we keep a close eye on progress and the municipality can make adjustments where necessary. This way, we are gradually building a climate-neutral, green, and healthy city.
More information
Text & Image: Gemeente Den Haag
Translation to English: The Hague Online