Leuven

Mobility is responsible for 25% of the city of Leuven’s CO2 emissions. Alongside its residents, the university and the companies based in Leuven, the city council is working on a climate plan that should make the city climate neutral by 2030.A baseline measurement revealed that Leuven is not a forerunner in decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. The largest bulk of energy is consumed by the city’s buildings, producing 60% of emissions. This is higher than in other Flemish cities. Traffic is the second-most important source of emissions (25%).Mobility is therefore one of the main 6 themes for the climate plan, next to energy, buildings, consumption, agriculture and participation. More than 200 representatives of companies, organisations and the Leuven University have exchanged ideas on these topics. A strategic vision about the future of the city was developed by the ‘G20 for a climate-neutral Leuven’, which comprises 22 decision makers from the municipality, business, university and civil society.Every Leuven resident is invited to become a ‘climate ambassador’. Ambassadors support the initiative and encourage other residents and organisations to submit their own version of a climate plan. From December 2012 onwards, climate ambassadors will convene in a Climate Parliament to start shaping Leuven’s climate plan.