SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL
SUSTAINABILITY INTRO WITH ARNO BONTE We kick off this first issue of 2022 with a special feature on sustainability. Sustainability is an important topic at both the individual and the organizational and business levels, and the interviews in the following pages get you up to speed on developments in our district. The man who knows all the sustainable ins and outs of this city is Arno Bonte, Vice Mayor for Sustainability, Air Quality and Energy Transition. Coming from 12 years as a Municipal Council member, his position as Vice Mayor presents an opportunity to implement his ideas for greening the city – and pursue his lifelong passion to make the city, where he was born and raised, even healthier and more beautiful. 30 ARNO, CAN YOU TELL US HOW SUSTAINABLE
transport network even better. These elements can be linked
ROTTERDAM CENTRAL DISTRICT IS?
to greening the district, which in turn ties in with the Munic-
“Compared to how it was ten years ago, there has been a tre-
ipality’s seven urban projects to make Rotterdam greener,
mendous improvement in the Central District. Weena was the
three of which are in or adjacent to the Central District – such
dirtiest roads in the Netherlands, with really terrible air qual-
as Hofplein and Hofbogenpark.”
ity. Fortunately, that’s changed, and these days the square in front of the station is the city’s calling card. It’s sleek, open,
WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE ROTTERDAM A
green and there’s much less traffic than there used to be.”
SUSTAINABLE CITY RIGHT NOW?
TEXT Céline Boute
PHOTOGRAPHY Gemeente Rotterdam
“Air quality has improved considerably. Four years ago, multi-
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE TO BE TAPPED?
ple city streets were consistently exceeding European health
“The Central District has the potential to be absolutely incred-
standards for air quality. By specifically targeting efforts at
ible, but there are still some gaps in terms of optimizing and
those streets they all meet the standards now. Twenty hect-
creating a denser mesh of public transport links. There are also
ares of green space have been added throughout the city,
a number of residential and office construction projects in the
and Coolsingel now has the country’s widest bicycle lane. In
pipeline. And the area lacks attractive green spaces. It’s most-
addition to that, we have launched the largest project of this
ly stone, so there are still some gains to be made. The quality
decade: the energy transition from fossil to renewable fuels.
of the station area could be extended outward to the rest of
Rotterdam is making tremendous strides with this, conserv-
the neighbourhood. Also, a climate team has been set up with
ing a million tonnes of CO2 altogether, which is incredibly mo-
a number of businesses in the Central District and they’re
tivating and encouraging.”
exploring further opportunities to make it more appealing, green and climate adaptive.”
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH READERS OF RCD MAGAZINE?
AND WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?
“I urge everyone in the Central District to stay active and work
“The main challenge is how we can best harness opportunities
on enhancing this district themselves. There’s nothing better
for greater sustainability. Think circular construction, ensur-
in the end for all residents, users and businesses than to make
ing all new buildings are climate neutral and adaptive and
a dream district come true. And the Municipality is eager to
also making this ultra-connected part of the country’s public
contribute.”
