Rotterdam ranks 13th in European Green City Index
On the European Green City Index, Rotterdam now ranks in 13th place. This unique European study, conducted by The Economist on the instructions of Siemens AG, is a sustainability analysis of European capitals. The study initially involved 30 capitals and was presented last year during the climate summit in Copenhagen. Following a poll conducted over the past few months, Rotterdam has now been added to the list, which currently contains 31 cities. The study results were presented to Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb of Rotterdam by Peter Löscher, President and CEO of Siemens AG.
Thirteenth place for Rotterdam is relatively high. Peter Löscher emphasized the fact that Rotterdam is the only large European city that has a port of global significance. ‘The port and the industry around it accounts for 85% of all CO2 emissions. Despite this world port and its intensive industry, Rotterdam ranks above cities such as Rome, Lisbon, Dublin and Prague.´ Copenhagen is the ‘greenest´ city in Europe, as the study by The Economist reveals.
The left-hand row
‘Place 13 on a list of 30 capitals is fairly satisfactory in my opinion,’ said Mayor Aboutaleb. ‘Of course, we would prefer to rank among the top three, especially in view of the fact that we have the most ambitious climate policy in the Netherlands, but to use a soccer metaphor: we are in the left-hand row. It is good to see that The Economist appreciates the fact that we are the only large European city that has a port of global significance, surrounded by highly intensive industry. This makes it hard to compare. 15% of CO2 emissions may not seem like much, but it is equivalent to the total emission of a city like Amsterdam.’
High score
Rotterdam scores well on the index when it comes to elements such as buildings and transport, in eighth and ninth place, respectively. In the Water section, Rotterdam ranks fifth on the European Green City Index. Rotterdam scores high due to the small number of leaks in the water system and an average per capita water consumption of only 45.2 cubic metres, which is the lowest in all of Europe.
Active in Rotterdam
Siemens CEO Peter Löscher met with Mayor Aboutaleb and Aldermen Hans Vervat and Lucas Bolsius. Furthermore, he met with a number of CEOs of large corporations, with whom he discussed solutions for the environment and possibilities to cut CO2 emissions. Siemens is already very active in Rotterdam when it comes to the built environment, care, industry and adaptation (countering the consequences of climate change).
Information on the European Green City Index: www.siemens.com/greencityindex.
