Waterfront Alliance, Brussels Gas Station Converts to EV Charging, Dutch Minister Wants All Dutch Rental Fleets 100% EV by 2025, Listener Call to Action!

THE WATERFRONT ALLIANCE

The reality of climate change is that coastal communities will be affected by the twin devils of sea level rise and coastal storm surge with ever increasing storms, both in number and ferocity. Recognizing that fact, the Waterfront Alliance was forged into an independent organization in New York City in 2007. It’s charged with preparing NY’s coastal communities and waterways to adapting to that new reality; to becoming resilient, staying healthy and accessible and equitable. 

Over 1,100 organizations make up the coalition that is the Waterfront Alliance. In 2020, the alliance launched Rise to Resilience. It was launched in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the 2012 Superstorm Sandy, which swamped much of the Jersey Shore, flooded much of lower Manhattan, killed dozens, unhoused hundreds and caused billions in damage. 

The goal of Rise to Resilience is to affect policy from the US Army Corps of Engineers to local flood disclosure provisions for homeowners to neighborhood/development climate design guidelines. Here’s why Waterfront Alliance matters to us. They’re pushing for community-based adaptation and resiliency through the broad spectrum of economic, social and justice. All areas climate change is impacting the region. 

Another neat initiative of the Waterfront Alliance is their youth education program. According to its website, Many students in the New York–New Jersey metropolitan region have never visited their local waterfronts. They’re unaware of the water that surrounds them and the many benefits their coastlines and waterways provide, including those related to combating climate change. 

So it started Estuary Explorers. Thanks to hands-on field labs, multi-week residencies, and virtual programs, students learn about the scientific method and how they can apply it to their local shoreline. The program pairs waterway-based experiential learning with extension activities in the classroom. This helps enrich students’ understanding of coastal resilience, climate change, and water quality.

DEEPER DIVE: Waterfront Alliance, Rise2Resilience

BRUSSELS GAS STATION CONVERTS TO EV CHARGING STATION

Antwerp, Belgium  last week DEBUTED its first-ever gas station converted to an electric car “charging hub.” It’s a collaboration between G&V Energy Group and Allego, as reported by the Belga News Agency. It’s in what used to be an Esso gas station (Exxon in America).

In a joint statement released by G&V Energy and Allego, “This is the very first fast-charging location where the petrol and diesel pumps have been replaced by High Power Chargers.” The brand new converted charging hub includes four fast chargers with a capacity of 300kW. The charging stations themselves distribute exclusively green electricity.

This change comes as one of the first of 12 set to be completed this year by the two companies. All 12 locations – spread across six Belgian provinces – will receive financial support from the European Union. In total, they plan to convert 100 petrol stations into charging hubs in Belgium by 2024. The station also provides amenities such as coffee and free WiFi while owners of electric cars wait while charging.

Flemish Minister of Mobility Lydia Peeters praised the effort, but also wants to ensure a rapid expansion of public and private charging points in Flanders. In an interview with the Brussels Times, Peeters said, “By 2025, the counter should be at 35,000, that is, every 25 kilometers along the motorways and traffic axes there should be a charging infrastructure.”

Why does a gas station converted to an EV charging station in Belgium matter to us? Mostly because it’s embarrassing that a nation known for its waffles beat out the USA in this matter. Come on, man! How obvious a pivot is this?… Antwerp’s Alderman for Finance and Mobility Koen Kennis said, “These companies, together with our city, share the ambition to ensure mobility that respects the planet.”

DEEPER DIVE: Brussels Times

DUTCH MINISTER WANTS ALL DUTCH COMPANY/RENTAL FLEETS 100% EV BY 2025

According to an article in the Dutch newspaper, De Telegraaf, State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen (Infrastructure and Water Management) is preparing regulations to accelerate the greening of the Dutch business vehicle fleet. Her goal is rental fleets will only provide EVs to their customers beginning in 2025. 

As of 2021, the last year for which figures are available, The Netherlands had 273,000 electric cars on the Dutch roads, accounting for just 3% of the total Dutch fleet. Almost two thirds of them are company cars. Of that figure, more private owners bought fully electric cars than did companies and rental fleets, thanks in large part to additional government subsidies. 

Secretary Heijnen believes the measure is needed to reach carbon reduction targets and will also help cut nitrogen-based pollution, sources told the paper. Said the minister, ‘I want the Netherlands to be a country that is liveable and accessible for everyone and where we reuse more. I’m committed to reducing travel time in a sustainable way, with a particular focus on border regions, cities and our neighbouring countries.’ 

The measure is necessary to achieve the CO2 reduction targets. In addition, less combustion of fossil fuels also has a positive effect in the nitrogen reduction plans, the government argues. It’s an important step can be taken by accelerating the greening of the business car fleet

DEEPER DIVE: DutchNews, DeTelegraaf, Vivianne Heijnen

THE CLIMATE DAILY LISTENER CALL OUT CHALLENGE

Recently, one of our listeners shared her story of how listening to the climate daily helped her deal so well with her climate change overwhelm, that she got out and started working with the local community based group. Then she challenged us to ask you all to share any stories you might have of how listening to the climate daily might have inspired you into action, so we can share them with the world.

Remember, we’re all about sharing stories of people taking positive action to combat climate change. And that’s you listeners. You can hit us up on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at #wetheclimate or Jeffrey at The Climate dot org or Maude at The Climate dot org, also.