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With a lot of industry, greenhouse horticulture, and our densely populated province, we are one of the most energy-intensive regions in Europe. The transition to sustainable energy, mobility, and transport is very important to Zuid-Holland. Whether it is our world famous windmills or the petrochemical cluster in the port of Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland is constantly working on innovative ways to meet our energy demand. With the Paris Climate Agreement and the proposed national Climate Plan in mind, Zuid-Holland is working towards a sustainable society in multiple fields, including cross-border projects.

The role of EU Regions is crucial in designing the new industrial strategy for a greener Europe , the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) points out in an opinion drafted by Jeannette Baljeu (NL/RE) , Member of the Council of the Province of Zuid-Holland . The opinion calls for a reinforced place-based dimension in the new EU Industrial Strategy. This could allow regions and cities, as the governments closest to citizens and ecosystems, to take ownership of the twin green and digital transitions of their industry.

At the Connexxion bus depot in Heinenoord, Everfuel will establish a hydrogen fueling solution, which will be operational by the end of 2021. The Danish company has won the European tender issued by the province of Zuid-Holland.

The Province of Zuid-Holland, the housing corporation Woonplus Schiedam and the Municipality of Schiedam jointly symbolically kicked-off the project to make the Groenoord district free of natural gas. Over the next 10 years this district will be provided with more than 2000 rental properties with a new heating system. The subsidy of more that € 3.6 million provided for this purpose by the Province of Zuid-Holland and the European Fund for Regional Development was celebrated as well.

The Province of Zuid-Holland and partners will receive half a million Euro from the European Committee for the RH2INE-programme. The subsidy will be used for research into hydrogen-powered shipping between the harbours of Rotterdam and Genoa.

Regional Minister Adri Bom-Lemstra has opened Biobased Greenport West-Holland's pop-up show in the World Horti Centre (WHC) in Naaldwijk. This is where visitors discover which biobased and circular possibilities the horticulture offers: leather, thread and cardboard made from tomato vines.

To become climate-neutral by 2050, Europe needs to transform its energy system, which accounts for 75% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions.  The EU strategies for energy system integration and hydrogen, adopted today, will pave the way towards a more efficient and interconnected energy sector, driven by the twin goals of a cleaner planet and a stronger economy.

Leiden has been selected as one of the ten cities to take part in the European BioDiverCities project. It is a project to improve the quality of life in the cities, among other things by developing a green infrastructure and enhancing the biodiversity. The municipality of Leiden collaborates with Naturalis and Leiden University on this.

Green hydrogen plays an important part in the transition to sustainable industry and mobility. It is why the Province has developed a hydrogen vision for Zuid-Holland. Hydrogen enables the storage and long-distance transport of (sustainably generated) electricity and therefore has a key role in the future of sustainable energy and raw materials. This applies in particular to Zuid-Holland, with its intensive manufacturing industry, mobility, knowledge and its role as access portal to Europe

The measures that are taken in Zuid-Holland at the moment are mostly taken by the Dutch National cabinet. It focusses mostly on the health and safety of the Dutch inhabitants and keeping Dutch companies alive. The national government  has created a ‘disaster package’ for the support of enterprises. They want to make sure companies are able to continue to pay their staff wages, they provide money for self employed ensure their income and help enterprises maintain their liquidity. The fund reserved for this is over €100 mln. This is  for example by making tax arrangements easier, by providing compensation or providing extra credit opportunities.
The Dutch Chamber of Commerse created a CoronaDesk for entrepreneurs to guide them towards the instrument fit for their situation.