Sustainable Zaan-region 2020

The city of Zaanstad has created the 'Duurzaan 2020' to highlight its ambition to become climate neutral in 2002. In order to realize this a whole range of initiatives is launched by the city council. To make the ambition reality the city of course needs to enage with local businesses. That is why the city is organizing a series of events to work with business in reducing their energy usage and thus their environmental footprint. icentials is involved in the content creation and also chairing of these events.

On October 30th the kick-off was done with the 'Duurzaam aan de Zaan' conference, which was organized to inform local business and institutions about the possibilities and opportunities of a sustainable business practice. icentials was asked to give a speech at the plenary session and hold two workshops. The plenary session was focussed on the need for change. The audience was taken up to the high north with stunning imagery. A place where climate change is already clearly visible in the landscape and very real for the people that live there. A very moving interview with an old Inuit who still lives by the traditional way gave the audience food for thought. In the following workshop sessions we gave all the participants tools to start working on sustainability within their own businesses. Both practical tips about saving energy as strategic considerations about discovering new business cases where shared with the attendees.

On December 14th the follow-up meeting 'Duurzaan Samenwerken' was focussed on Energy. Participants could choose which of the three workshops they would follow; footprint calculation, energysavings in buildings or local, sustainable energy generation and storage. The day was also meant for connecting those regional business who had challenges around these subjects and those who had solutions. Based on the number of individidual follow up appointments this has surely succeded.

Both meetings attracted more participants as expected, resulting in overcrowded sessions and workshops. A clear sign that sustainability has a gotten a high priority within the business community in Zaanstad. We hope that our efforts contribute to a climate neutral Zaanstad in 2020.