The climate is changing and we are all going to feel the consequences all over the world. Plenty of plans exist to prepare for it or even reverse the process. But what can you contribute as an alderman of a medium-sized city in the Netherlands? What is the impact of climate action at the local level? Rik Thijs, Alderman for Climate, Energy, Land, and Greening in Eindhoven, takes us through his dilemmas, choices, and ambitions once a month.
The climate is changing, and we are all going to feel the consequences all over the world. Plenty of plans exist to prepare for it or even reverse the process. But what can you contribute as an alderman of a medium-sized city in the Netherlands? What is the impact of climate action at the local level? Rik Thijs, Alderman for Climate, Energy, Land, and Greening in Eindhoven, takes us through his dilemmas, choices, and ambitions once a month.
Climate neutral in 2050. What will the world, our country, Eindhoven look like then? Will it still be livable? Then I am 64 years old and I think: have we all worked hard enough to combat climate change? Have I done enough as an alderman, as an inhabitant of this planet or as a resident of Eindhoven? It’s a case of looking at the bigger picture. But it is 2024 and we still have 26 years to go.
Every month alderman Rik Thijs writes about the climate.
Read previous installments in this series of columns here.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of my work as an alderman is visiting elementary schools, and actually I always come back from such a visit happy. The children are very intentional about ways to make the world a little better. For example, they participate in a race to save energy. Not only at home or at school, but they also try to make neighbors or family members aware to use energy economically. There are also schools that participate in the e-waste race. They collect as many broken or discarded electrical appliances as possible to have them fixed or recycled. They understand very well why this is necessary, and are very concerned about the world.
When I come into a classroom, many fingers go up from kids who have ideas or questions about what else they can do or what the municipality is doing. They sometimes come up with very creative solutions to small and big problems.
Then, there are more and more schools that want to green their schoolyards together with the children. In this way, the children come into contact with nature, which gives them more respect and care. For example, they can water the plants, prune, and pick fruits.
Talisman
Recently, I visited De Talisman Elementary School. Over the past four years, they have worked hard in all areas of sustainability and were the first elementary school in Eindhoven to receive the Green Flag from Ecoschools. Ecoschools’ program encourages students to think and act sustainably. How inspiring it is to have a representation of children at school actively thinking about sustainability.
I believe that children take the knowledge and their feelings about green, climate, and energy conservation into their adult lives and to their parents, neighbors, babysitters, and grandparents. And that in doing so, the earth will be a little better when we hit 2050. They are the future, and that enthusiasm and commitment to climate makes me hopeful. A challenge to you: start a conversation with children about sustainability and the climate in your private life or within your company. It can just lead to surprising insights.
