Background The climate targets of the Municipality of Nijmegen focus on scope 1 and scope 2 emissions. These include direct emissions to air within the municipal boundaries and emissions related to energy use. The Municipality of Nijmegen has asked CE Delft to also identify the scale of scope 3 emissions (see figure) in Nijmegen. These are indirect greenhouse gas emissions: emissions that occur outside the municipal boundaries, or even outside national borders, but are caused by activities that take place within the municipality. These indirect emissions also have a significant climate impact.
Research Questions This study addressed the following questions: • What are the scope 3 emissions associated with municipal procurement? • What are the scope 3 emissions of residents of the Municipality of Nijmegen? • Which measures is the municipality implementing through its circular implementation agenda, and are any impactful measures still missing?
Recommendations To reduce the scope 3 emissions of residents, we recommend that the municipality focus on reducing overall consumption and extending the lifespan of products, as well as on the transition from animal-based to plant-based proteins. Within municipal procurement, particularly in the civil engineering and infrastructure sector, the climate impact can be significantly reduced through lifetime extension and the use of recycled and biobased materials.
In its circular agenda, the Municipality of Nijmegen already includes effective measures in the area of waste management (such as pay-as-you-throw schemes). In addition, Nijmegen could consider introducing “reversed waste collection” (omgekeerd inzamelen). In the field of sustainable food, signing the Plant-Based Treaty is seen as a promising first step. Subsequent steps include increasing the share of plant-based food in municipal canteens, supporting the hospitality sector in the protein transition, and engaging in dialogue with supermarkets.
In the construction and public space sector, there is still substantial potential for improvement, for example by applying circular criteria in procurement processes. The municipality can also take further steps in the manufacturing sector by supporting circular entrepreneurs.