Green The Hague

The Hague is situated on the shores of the North Sea between Rotterdam Airport and Schiphol International Airport. Its central position is not based solely on geography; The Hague has always been the governing centre of the Netherlands, the seat of the Dutch national government as well as the residence of the Dutch royal family. In the international arena, The Hague took centre stage as the City of Peace and Justice due to its role as the official seat of the International Criminal Court of Justice.

Lead by example

The Municipality of The Hague is the first city in the Netherlands that has a climate-neutral municipal government since 2010. As the political heart of the Netherlands, The Hague wants to lead by example when it comes to sustainability. Alderman for environmental affairs Peter Smit says, ‘The Municipality of The Hague wants to be a benchmark for the rest of the country. We purchase green energy and make an effort to reduce energy consumption where possible. In order to be a climate-neutral organisation, we focus on three key words: save, preserve and compensate. The compensation of CO2 emissions is facilitated via the local climate fund.’

The Hague Climate Fund

The Hague is the first city in the Netherlands to have a local climate fund. The Hague Climate Fund aims to make The Hague and its surroundings more climate - friendly. By investing locally, the fund aims to put into practice the possibilities for reducing CO2 emission in everyday life. This is made possible by supporting those projects which would not be realised without logistical and financial support. The focus is initially on supporting non-profit organizations that benefit society in The Hague and the surrounding area such as sport associations, schools, cultural associations and organisations for the welfare of humans and animals.

Climate-friendly in practice

The Hague Climate Fund is an initiative of the Municipality of The Hague and the Platform Duurzaam Den Haag, but is financed by the entire community. The fund asks companies and individuals to calculate their impact on the climate and pay a fee of € 20 per tone of CO2 produced. This money is then used to co-finance projects aimed at decreasing the use of electricity, gas and fuel and to promote and facilitate the production of renewable energy. Besides supporting local projects, the fund also creates awareness amongst companies, citizens and visitors of The Hague and its surroundings about the consequences of CO2 emissions and the necessity of becoming more climate-friendly. With the support of The Hague Climate Fund, climate-friendly homes and businesses in The Hague become a reality.