Mobility sphere Interview Decarbonization

What measures can we take to ensure that all individuals are included in the energy transition?

Jilian Van Der Gaag, Senior Policy Advisor at the Municipality of Amsterdam Rédigé le June 20, 2024

Jillian Van Der Gaag: “It’s not easy, because if you want to drive zero‑emission vehicles, zero‑emission cars, for example, are more expensive. So it’s very important to have a dialogue with people about this. What we want is for people to first try to shift towards other modes of transport — but also, if they do need to travel, for it to at least be with a zero‑emission vehicle, which could also be a bicycle, an e‑bike — there are many transport options. And of course, there is also a cost factor, so we really take into account people with fewer economic means and we think about subsidies or other types of support to make the transition easier. We are truly reflecting on this, and we also listen to citizens to understand what the problems are and to look for solutions. I therefore believe that dialogue is very important to understand how we can support people through this transition, because it is not easy.”

Jilian Van Der Gaag, Senior Policy Advisor in Amsterdam, highlights measures to be taken for a more inclusive energy transition.

Making the energy transition more inclusive is no easy task. If you want to drive a decarbonized vehicle, zero-emission cars are often more expensive, for example. So it's important to build a dialogue around this subject.

What we want is for people to try and give priority to other modes of transport. But if they need to get around, we want them at least to favor zero-emission vehicles: bicycles, electric bikes... Of course, these choices entail significant costs. We are also thinking about people with more limited economic resources, and we are considering subsidies or other types of assistance to ease the transition. We are also listening to citizens to identify problems and seek solutions.