The Water Authorities’ Climate Monitor

Dutch water authorities have high ambitions when it comes to sustainability. Their ambition is to be 100% energy neutral in 2025 and to be climate neutral in 2035. The Climate Monitor water authorities explains how the water authorities are performing on these ambitions. The Climate Monitor is a joint initiative of our bank and the Association of Dutch Water Authorities. This annual study analyses the water authorities’ contribution to energy and climate targets. The study is conducted by consultancy firm Arcadis.

The water authorities are ambitious when it comes to sustainability. They want to be entirely energy self-sufficient by 2025 and climate neutral by 2035. The results over reporting year 2024 show that progress is being made in renewable energy production, reduction of greenhouse gas emission and other sustainability topics. The Climate Monitor also shows that market conditions are difficult. Because of, amongst other, net congestion and negative electricity prices energy neutrality in 2025 in out of reach. The most notable longer term challenges are reduction of methane and nitrous oxide emissions.

 The Climate Monitor as a key source of information
As the bank of and for the water authorities, we diligently pursue our own sustainable ambitions. For example, we generate a large portion of our funding through ‘Water Bonds’ (Green Bonds). Every year we publish a Water Bond Report to shed light on how the proceeds of these bonds are used. The Climate Monitor is a key source of information in this endeavour. But we have even greater ambitions. As the sustainable bank, we want to map the climate impact of our entire credit portfolio from 2021 onwards. We are grateful that we can use the Climate Monitor for that purpose.

If you would like to learn more about the Water Authorities’ Climate Monitor, please visit the website of the Association of Dutch Water Authorities.