Municipality of Tilburg
Tilburg wants to take the lead in combating climate issues and seizing opportunities created by climate change. However, the municipality cannot do this alone. Climate change impacts the region at many locations and in many ways. For that reason, the city has sought collaboration with companies, residents, and other municipalities. All these parties have joined forces in the Klimaatschap network organisation, in order to make Tilburg climate-neutral and climate-proof.
Results
The local realisation of climate ambitions requires the long-term and active participation of politicians, neighbouring municipalities, citizens, companies, and civic society organisations. Climate adaptation plans cover a term that exceeds the four years for which municipal administrators are often appointed. The city of Tilburg has developed a local arrangement whereby parties commit to the goals set. The “Klimaatschap” network plays a pivotal role in this scheme. It involves a coalition of various organisations (companies, government authorities, civic society organisations) that have signed a declaration on climate adaptation and are collaborating within various “climate adaptation alliances”.
Each alliance focuses on a specific climate issue. The scheme is supported by the Tilburg Climate Bureau, which is fulfilling a number of practical and coordinating tasks. In essence, the Tilburg Climate Bureau is not tied to the municipal organisation. However, the municipality is initially responsible for steering the Klimaatschap and the Climate Bureau. In due course, the parties involved will form a Board that will also steer the Climate Bureau.
In addition to this organisational innovation, the interaction among, and the diversity of, the parties in the Hotspot Tilburg project have generated new insights and ideas. For example, climate change appears to have positive effects as well, such as the increased number of days for outdoor recreation. This offers particular prospects for the Efteling theme park: Efteling would like to build more water attractions and, in anticipation of climate change, has also opened its doors during the winter. Furthermore, Hotspot Tilburg has provided inspiration for the current wave of plans for Local Sustainable Energy Companies.