Sustainability

Healthy Urban Living is the central theme of the city and region. Utrecht’s sustainability and health care ambitions are exceptional. The city wants to be entirely energy-neutral by 2030 and is making solar energy mandatory for all new housing development. The inner city will soon only be accessible for electric cars and even the city buses will soon be electric. In a global Arcadis survey (2016), Utrecht received the highest score for ‘Planet’ and the highest overall score for ‘People-planet-profit’ out of all large cities in the Netherlands.

The largest knowledge institutes, educational institutes and specialised companies, focusing on sustainability and climate can be found in Utrecht. Such as Deltares, the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), the National Institute for Publlic Health and the Environment (RIVM), Utrecht Sustainability Institute and Utrecht University. There are various hubs in the city that focus on innovative sustainability, such as Eneco Energy Campus, Jaarbeurs Innovation Mile, the Social Impact Factory and Utrecht Community (UCo).

These companies are already established in Utrecht

“The cooperation with the city’s municipality was decisive in the choice to locate the main office of Except and UCo in Utrecht. Their input was essential for the initial set up. With their ongoing support, dedication and effort UCo is now a reality and Europe’s first energy neutral, healthy, sustainable office in a monument.”

– Tom Bosschaert, Initiator und Founder UCo

“Utrecht is increasingly developing into ‘health valley’. It offers a productive base for collaboration, research and innovation. Also in the areas in which the St. Antonius Hospital is specialized. This is good news for patient care.”

-Douwe Biesma, CEO St. Antonius Hospital Utrecht

“Utrecht is also one of the largest student cities in the Netherlands, with many students from home and abroad. The city is not only commercially appealing, it is also rich in history and culture, such as the Dom Tower and the Central Museum.”

-Rien Braakman, General Manager and lawyer at Nexa Velo Advocaten

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