Climate justice, now!
The consequences of the climate crisis are becoming increasingly visible and serious. Thanks to BIJ1, Amsterdam was the first city in the Netherlands to declare the climate crisis in 2019, but unfortunately, this has not yet led to effective policy; Amsterdam is behind on its own goals. Big companies buy up land, continue to colonise, and are not being held accountable.
The goal of our national government is fixed: climate neutral in 2050. According to science, that is a death sentence for man and nature! Amsterdam must be climate neutral by 2025. This is the last period of government in which the city council can counteract the worst consequences of the climate crisis. Therefore, large polluters are no longer welcome in our city. At the same time, we will make sure that people with little money will not have to foot the bill and that they are always involved in decision-making.
On the initiative of BIJ1, Amsterdam was the first city in the Netherlands to declare a climate crisis. Despite this important recognition, little has changed. Therefore BIJ1 proposes the following measures:
- A new committee will commit itself to the results of a residents' consultation. In this residents' council, a selected group of residents that is a good reflection of the city will decide how we can become climate neutral in a fair way.
- Companies that cause climate damage that lead to large-scale disasters are held responsible. Amsterdam speaks out in favour of ecocide legislation.
- In order to be climate neutral by 2025, Amsterdam reduces its current energy consumption in combination with increased use of solar and wind energy.
- All new buildings will be required to have solar panels and/or green roofs. The municipality is making an even greater effort to get solar panels and/or green roofs on existing buildings.
- All buildings in the municipality will be off natural gas by 2030. The Amsterdam heat networks must move as quickly as possible towards a low temperature and away from Vattenfall.
- The municipality will do everything in its power to prevent biomass plants in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area.
- The municipality supports energy cooperatives in which residents themselves generate, store and share sustainable energy.
- The reuse of raw materials and things is the municipality's guiding principle. Examples are hemp as an alternative to plastic and the local reuse of organic waste.
- The municipality is committed to sustainable mobility and reducing the amount of polluting traffic, for example by focusing on free public transport.
- The port must become drastically greener and fossil-free by 2025.
- The city council will preserve the Lutkemeerpolder, the last organic polder in the city, for organic agriculture and to implement the Food Park plan.
- We will not accept new abattoirs or the expansion of existing ones. There will be extra checks at local abattoirs.