Our milestones

40 Leuven cultural organizations commit to climate action

On 19 May, 40 cultural organizations from Leuven endorsed the ten guiding principles for climate action within the Leuven Climate Contract. By doing so, they committed themselves to actively working towards a future-proof way of operating in the coming years, with a focus on climate, well-being, and societal impact. They follow in the footsteps of 29 Leuven-based organizations, companies, and institutions that had already made this commitment.

Through their pledge, the cultural organizations also emphasize another important point: the climate transition is not only about technology, energy, or infrastructure. Culture also plays a key role in shaping how people perceive societal change and envision the best possible future for our city.

Launch of survey: how can we make our city more resilient?

We launched a large-scale survey aimed at making Leuven more resilient and less dependent on external supplies of energy, materials, raw materials, and food.

The survey maps the knowledge, locations, expertise, and partnerships that already exist in Leuven around themes such as energy, food, heating, circular construction, and green and blue spaces. By connecting local needs with local solutions, we can identify new opportunities for collaboration and strengthen our city.

More than 200 Leuven residents, companies, and organisations completed the survey. The results will serve as the starting point for several future initiatives.

Leuven's climate transition as insurance for our city

In March, Leuven 2030 and the City of Leuven once again brought together around sixty Leuven decision-makers at De Hoorn. The central question was: how can we make our city stronger and more resilient in a rapidly changing climate?

Luc Bas outlined the concrete climate risks facing Belgium, from heatwaves and drought to impacts on the economy and public health. Bas Smets demonstrated how nature can function as infrastructure that cools and protects. Babs Dumont highlighted how climate action can also create opportunities for businesses through innovation and strategic development.

Leuven's climate transition is about:

• limiting damage;
• protecting our security and prosperity;
• recognising and seizing opportunities;
• preparing our city for the future.

The climate transition is not a cost, but a form of smart risk management. It is insurance for our city, one that only works if we all contribute.

Lawyers get to work on the Leuven Climate Fund

The Leuven Climate Fund is taking increasingly concrete shape. Together with the City of Leuven, investors, and project partners, Leuven 2030 is working towards a robust and future-proof framework for collaboration.

The first pilot project is being prepared for investment and is expected to demonstrate the viability of the fund. At the same time, legal and financial experts are being engaged to design the fund’s legal structure.

Leuven 2030 brings partners of the Leuven Climate Contract together

In October, Leuven 2030 will once again bring together the partners of the Leuven Climate Contract for an afternoon of knowledge exchange and in-depth discussion. During a series of thematic sessions, participants will explore topics such as Leuven’s heat transition, mobility, solar energy, building renovation, and sustainable food systems. The connection between these themes and Leuven’s ambition to become a European Capital of Culture will also be discussed.

Participants will return to their organizations with new insights, practical examples, and valuable connections that can help them advance climate action and sustainability initiatives within their own work.

Leuven 2030 signs the Green Deal 'Protein Shift on Our Plate 2.0'

Together with around 60 partners, we are taking further steps towards increasing the share of plant-based proteins in our diets.

The goal is that by 2030, 60% of our protein intake will come from plant-based sources such as soy, beans, and peas, up from 40% today. This is beneficial both for public health and for the climate.

“From now on, we will place an even stronger emphasis on supporting the protein shift, because it is the fastest path towards a healthier and better future with lower emissions,” said Marie.

A new board!

At the General Assembly on 29 September, the members of Leuven 2030 overwhelmingly approved the organisation’s new Board.

Six new leadership trios began their mandate, each bringing together people with different backgrounds and expertise. Together, they will guide the organisation, set its strategic direction, and immediately take on an important task: developing Leuven 2030’s new five-year strategic plan.

‘Impact Estimator’ to calculate the societal benefits of Leuven climate projects

How much value does a euro invested in climate action generate? With the Leuven 2030 Impact Estimator, we make the real benefits of climate investments visible. These benefits go beyond reducing CO₂ emissions and include improvements such as healthier air, greater energy independence, climate resilience through heat mitigation, and job creation.

The tool helps us better assess which breakthrough projects within the Leuven Climate Contract create the greatest societal value. It provides a powerful decision-making instrument for policymakers and investors alike, while also serving as an inspiration for other European cities.

In the coming months, we will focus on putting this tool into active use.

Health takes centre stage at Leuven Climate Contract partner event

On 4 June, Leuven 2030 brought together thirty business leaders, policymakers, and changemakers from Leuven around the theme of health.

Three speakers demonstrated how a healthy city and a successful climate transition reinforce one another:

• Professor Jan Verbakel (Vice-Dean of Medicine, KU Leuven) explained the impact of climate change on health and healthcare.
• Professor Paul Herijgers (CEO, UZ Leuven) discussed how the hospital has embedded sustainability into its operations, with particular attention to plastic and medical waste.
• Geert Vaes (werecircle ally) highlighted the CO₂ reduction potential of circular solutions and their social and technological added value.

Open letter to KU Leuven rector candidates urging climate leadership

In 2025, KU Leuven selected a new rector. Leuven 2030 addressed an open letter to all three candidates, Professors Tine Baelmans, Peter Lievens, and Severine Vermeire, urging them to make climate action a strategic priority in their leadership agenda. All three candidates responded to the call.

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Shift Your Mobility campaign records a 44% reduction in car kilometres

The Shift Your Mobility campaign, a breakthrough project within the Leuven Climate Contract led by Leuven 2030, Mobiel 21 and Scone, recorded an average reduction of 44% in car kilometres travelled among employees of participating organisations including Materialise, imec and Arvesta.

Leuven 2030 Urban Lab focuses on the Leuven Climate Contract

As one of Europe’s 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030, Leuven is pursuing an accelerated climate transition.

To achieve this ambitious goal, we need bright minds and innovative ideas. That is why the Leuven 2030 Urban Lab is now focusing on a number of cross-cutting themes within the Leuven Climate Contract, including social justice, communication, impact monitoring, and financing.

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A step closer to a Leuven Climate Fund

On 11 June, we brought together 46 investors, financial institutions, and fund managers at De Hoorn in Leuven. The aim was to explore a new type of fund that intrinsically links financial and societal returns. This initiative was organised in collaboration with the City of Leuven and Impact Finance Belgium.

Many financial players have been working on their sustainability strategies for some time, but this was the first occasion on which so many organisations actively took up the challenge of jointly exploring how such a new model could be made possible. It marks another important step towards the establishment of a Leuven Climate Fund.

More than 20 participants signed a declaration of intent to support the creation of the fund, sending a clear signal that there is strong enthusiasm to move from ambition to concrete action.

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Leuven receives Climate Contract label as first Belgian city

Following the evaluation of the Leuven Climate Contract, Leuven has been awarded the Mission City Label by the European Commission. The Leuven Climate Contract passed the review process with flying colours.

The label serves as a strong mark of confidence, particularly towards the financial sector, demonstrating that Leuven has a credible and robust plan to achieve climate neutrality through broad stakeholder collaboration and concrete action.

Leuven 2030 celebrates its 10th anniversary

For the past ten years, Leuven 2030 has brought together everyone in Leuven around the shared ambition of creating a climate-neutral city. The way we do this has evolved significantly over the past decade.

On 7 December, we invited our members, partners, founding organisations, current and former colleagues, and everyone who has helped shape Leuven 2030 over the past ten years to join us on a journey through time. From our very beginnings to our latest shared milestone: the submission of the groundbreaking Leuven Climate Contract.

And we are happy to add another ten years to that story. With ambition. With commitment. With vision. With you.

The first Leuven Climate Contract

On 23 November, Leuven 2030, shoulder to shoulder with the City of Leuven and in the presence of 400 key Leuven stakeholders, presented the first Leuven Climate Contract to the European Commission.

The contract includes:

• 86 breakthrough projects aimed at achieving an 80% reduction in CO₂ emissions
• 10 guiding principles that serve as a framework for ensuring CO₂ reduction remains central to future initiatives
• more than 30 partners that have committed to taking concrete action

In addition, the Climate Contract contains a financial chapter that provides insight into the financial mechanisms and leverage points needed to fund these breakthrough projects and support Leuven’s broader transition.

“Never before have we connected so many different perspectives. Never before have we brought barriers, concrete commitments, and the financial dimension together in this way,” said Katrien Rycken, Director of Leuven 2030.

Among those who joined us for the presentation were Patrick Child and Thomas Osdoba of the European Commission, Federal Minister Caroline Gennez, Leuven Mayor Mohamed Ridouani, former Executive Director of the European Environment Agency Hans Bruyninckx, Alderman for Climate David Dessers, City of Leuven CEO Geertrui Vanloo, and Leuven 2030 board member Simon Sterck.

#LECH2030 as a catalyst for sustainability

Leuven has submitted its bid to become European Capital of Culture 2030. Curators Sarah Bekambo, Lore Baeyens and Stijn Devillé have developed a shared vision for Leuven’s candidacy. The core idea is that #LECH2030 will serve as a catalyst for addressing the city's sustainability challenges, rather than functioning as a standalone cultural programme.

Leuven 2030 colleague Sven Rosius was invited by the City of Leuven’s Culture Department to lead an inspiration session on the opportunities this presents for our city. And those opportunities are considerable, because we need the transformative power of arts and culture more than ever.

Europe supports Leuven's district heating ambitions with a €1.5 million grant

In line with the Roadmap towards a climate-neutral city, the City of Leuven, Leuven 2030, and energy cooperative ECoOB are joining forces to accelerate the rollout of district heating networks across Leuven.

Europe has announced its support for these efforts through a grant of no less than €1.5 million. The funding was secured thanks to a strong grant application jointly submitted by Leuven 2030 and the City of Leuven at the end of 2022. This support will significantly accelerate the development of sustainable heating solutions in Leuven.

Kick-off of FEAST: sustainable and healthy food

Food systems that support transitions to hEalthy And Sustainable dieTs, aims to make healthy and sustainable food choices more accessible, particularly for vulnerable groups. Thirty European partners are collaborating on this initiative.

In Leuven, a Living Lab is being established to explore how greater collective action around food can be created and how healthier and more sustainable eating habits can be encouraged. Leuven 2030 is leading this project together with SAAMO and UCLL.

Minister Khattabi explores Leuven's socially inclusive climate approach

In October, Belgian Federal Minister for Climate, Environment, Sustainable Development and the Green Deal, Zakia Khattabi, visited Leuven.

The minister was introduced to Leuven’s socially inclusive climate approach through a series of project visits and discussions with members of the city administration, municipal services, and the Board of Leuven 2030.

Leuven hosts a 40-member European delegation

At the end of September, around 40 senior representatives from the European Commission, various Directorates-General, and European network organisations came to Leuven to exchange ideas on how different European initiatives can be better aligned and connected to support ambitious climate cities such as Leuven.

It was a valuable agenda and a privilege for Leuven to act as host. The visit also provided us with a direct opportunity to share our insights and experiences with key European decision-makers.

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Leuven 2030 wins 'Best Non-Profit Organisation' at the Leuven Innovation Awards

Together with a wide range of partners, Leuven Value Network organises the Leuven Innovation Awards. In the very first edition of the awards, the jury selected Leuven 2030 as the winner in the category Best Non-Profit Organisation.

Given the many outstanding non-profit organisations in Leuven, this recognition makes us particularly proud. More importantly, it gives us an extra boost of energy to continue working, alongside all these innovative organisations, towards a more sustainable future for our city.

Leuven 2030 gets a fresh new look

Since day one, Leuven 2030 has brought together the people and organisations of Leuven on the path towards a climate-neutral city. That mission has never changed. The way we work, however, has evolved considerably. That is why it was time to refresh our website.

One that clearly explains who Leuven 2030 is and how we work:‍

• with our Roadmap as a guide

‍‍An ambitious goal requires a strong plan. Together with numerous Leuven experts, we developed the Roadmap towards a climate-neutral Leuven.

• through breakthrough projects

‍Together with partners, we develop and test innovative solutions to the climate crisis through breakthrough projects.

• with a committed Network 2030

‍To achieve the goals of our Roadmap and fulfil our European mission as a pioneering city, we ask Leuven organisations, companies, public authorities, and residents to make concrete commitments. These commitments are brought together in the first Leuven Climate Contract. This living network of ambitious actors forms our Network 2030.

And we are proud of our new virtual home.

Europe selects Leuven as a climate pioneer city

Inspired by the Apollo 11 mission to land a man on the moon, Europe aims to foster mission-driven innovation and provide concrete solutions to one of the world’s greatest challenges: climate change.

Leuven is one of the 100 cities selected by the European Commission from nearly 400 applicants for the mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030.” Through this initiative, Europe supports the selected cities with expertise and financial resources on their path towards climate neutrality by 2030.

For Belgium, Leuven was selected alongside Brussels, Antwerp and La Louvière.

Launch of the Urban Lab

On 23 March, KU Leuven, UCLL, and imec, together with the City of Leuven and Leuven 2030, officially launched the Leuven 2030 Urban Lab at OPEK.

The Urban Lab aims to accelerate the local climate transition by harnessing the power of research and education. The initiative strengthens collaboration between the knowledge and educational institutions KU Leuven, UCLL and imec, the City of Leuven, and Leuven 2030.

The Leuven 2030 Urban Lab seeks to use Leuven, and by extension the wider region, as a living laboratory where education, research, and civic engagement come together to tackle sustainability challenges.

The Urban Lab also serves as a platform for building, sharing, and exchanging knowledge among researchers, lecturers, policymakers, civil servants, and local stakeholders.

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A new Board takes over

A new Board, the third already, takes over. Anne Van Oudenhove takes up the chairmanship for KBC. After stad Leuven (first Board) and KU Leuven (second Board) took on this responsibility for the membership categories of governments and knowledge institutions, a business member now takes on this commitment. As of this term, the board members' responsibilities are further expanded and they're more closely involved in our work. At the same time, the number of board members increases from 15 to 18, as the membership category of citizens and civil society organisations is split into two separate categories with their own representation.

The ELENA L.E.U.V.E.N. - project comes to an end

What started in December 2017 as a collaboration of 18 organisations culminates this month in a network of 24 partners who retrofitted 100 buildings together. This represents 150,000 retrofitted square metres and 1,000 kilowatt-peak of renewable energy generated. By pooling their investment budgets, the project received a EUR 1.6 million grant from the European Investment Bank. We brought the partners and their investment portfolios together and secured the European subsidy. We also guided the partners in the realisation of their building projects and supported them in the sharing of knowledge and expertise.

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City of Leuven launches Leuven Future Fund

The city of Leuven launches the Leuven Future Fund as a recovery measure after the Corona lockdown. With an initial investment of EUR 2.5 million, it promises to give sustainable entrepreneurship in Leuven a big boost. We were instrumental in the creation of this fund by launching exploratory studies with, among others, Bankers Without Boundaries and BrightWolves. We also continue to support the implementation of this financial lever.

Vorm 3010 sets off

Together with the City of Leuven, we launch Vorm 3010, an extensive participation process with the inhabitants and other stakeholders in Kessel-Lo on how to reshape their neighbourhoods, streets and squares in an attractive and sustainable way.

The process will result in a new mobility plan for Kessel-Lo, but we are also seizing the opportunity to meet other sustainability challenges concerning greening, depaving and improving quality of life. Vorm 3010 is thus also the start of the strategic experiment in Kessel-Lo that arose from the collaboration with EIT Climate-KIC.

Leuven wins iCapital Award and can call itself European Capital of Innovation

A new recognition for Leuven: our city can call itself European Capital of Innovation! Leuven 2030, together with the city of Leuven and Leuven MindGate, submitted the winning dossier. Our unique and ambitious climate approach, including an extensive city-wide collaboration, is cited by the European Commission as one of the decisive arguments.

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Launch of School 2030

The city of Leuven, the province, Leuven 2030, SOM and partners such as Rikolto, Mobiel 21, EcoWerf, Djapo and GoodPlanet join forces in School 2030. This structural partnership offers Leuven's education sector a framework to put their plans, commitments and measures in a wider context. And that's important, because the Roadmap also focuses on involving youngsters as an important pivotal generation in making the transition to a fossil-free society.

Four strategic experiments see the light

The collaboration with EIT Climate-KIC translates into four strategic experiments within the non-profit association: Project Kessel-Lo, Project Wijk Energietransitie, Project Bedrijventerrein Haasrode and Project Growth Hacking. These strategic experiments intersect the various programmes of the Roadmap to connect complex challenges and thus arrive at innovative strategies and solutions.

The start of breakthrough projects

To focus on the projects that test new solutions or represent a major step forward within the Roadmap, we launch our breakthrough projects. For each of the Roadmap's programmes, the programme manager launches at least one breakthrough project.

At the table with Leuven's entrepreneurs
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To implement the Roadmap towards 2050, we need innovative ideas and entrepreneurs we can count on. That is why we bring together almost 80 entrepreneurs in Leuven's M museum to work on specific climate challenges. It's the first time we involve industry and business so explicitly and this event is the start of a path that is increasingly followed in the coming years

Leuven selected as one of ten icon cities by EIT Climate-KIC

Leuven, with Leuven 2030, is selected as one of the partner cities in the ambitious 'Healthy, Clean Cities' - programme of European expertise centre EIT Climate-KIC, alongside cities such as Copenhagen, Vienna, Amsterdam, Madrid and Milan. The main objective is to research and develop more radical ways to take faster and bigger steps in the context of urban climate transition.

The expertise and financial support of the EIC Climate-KIC partners will help us delimit and realise a number of complex projects in as little time as possible. Katrien Rycken, director Leuven 2030

The Leuven 2030 team expands considerably with programme managers

In addition to the existing project team, at least one programme manager is appointed for each programme in the Roadmap to translate the plan's steps into concrete actions. These are often experts who are made available by partner organisations on a part-time basis to work on the Roadmap, sometimes free of charge, sometimes for a fee.

Very first ambassador of the European Climate Pact

Leuven declares itself as the very first ambassador of the European Climate Pact, thus explicitly responding to Europe's ambition to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050. As always, we express this commitment together with various partners: in addition to Leuven 2030, the city of Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven MindGate and imec also declare themselves to be ambassadors during a well-attended Facebook Live.

A new board takes up the baton

The third one already. Anne Van Oudenhove takes on the role of Chair on behalf of KBC. After the City of Leuven (the first Board) and KU Leuven (the second Board) assumed this role representing the government and knowledge institution member categories, a business member has now also taken on this commitment.

From this board term onwards, the responsibilities of board members have been further expanded, and they will be more closely involved in our work. At the same time, the number of board members has increased from 15 to 18, as the member category representing citizens and civil society has been split into two separate categories, each with its own representation.

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The ELENA L.E.U.V.E.N. project comes to an end

What began in December 2017 as a collaboration between 18 organisations has grown into a network of 24 partners that have jointly renovated 100 buildings, representing 150,000 square metres of renovated space and 1,000 kilowatt-peak of renewable energy generation.

By pooling their investment budgets, the partners secured a €1.6 million grant from the European Investment Bank. We brought the partners and their investment portfolios together and obtained the European funding. We also supported the partners in implementing their building projects and facilitated the exchange of knowledge and expertise among them.

City of Leuven launches the Leuven Future Fund

As part of the post-coronavirus lockdown recovery effort, the City of Leuven launched the Leuven Future Fund. With an initial investment of €2.5 million, the fund aims to give sustainable entrepreneurship in Leuven a significant boost.

We helped lay the foundations for the fund by conducting exploratory studies together with organisations such as Bankers Without Boundaries and BrightWolves. We continue to support the development and deployment of this financial instrument.

Together with the City of Leuven, we launched Vorm 3010, an extensive participation process through which residents and other stakeholders in Kessel-Lo collaborate to shape attractive and sustainable neighbourhoods, streets, and public squares.

The process will contribute to a new mobility plan for Kessel-Lo, while also addressing broader sustainability challenges related to greening, removing paved surfaces, and improving quality of life. Vorm 3010 also marks the beginning of the strategic experiment in Kessel-Lo that emerged from our collaboration with EIT Climate-KIC.

Leuven wins the iCapital Award and is named European Capital of Innovation

A new recognition for Leuven: our city has been named the European Capital of Innovation.

Leuven 2030 submitted the winning application together with the City of Leuven and Leuven MindGate. The European Commission highlighted our unique and ambitious climate approach, including our strong city-wide collaboration model, as one of the decisive factors in Leuven's success.

Launch of School 2030

The City of Leuven, the Province of Flemish Brabant, Leuven 2030, SOM, and partners such as Rikolto, Mobiel 21, EcoWerf, Djapo, and GoodPlanet joined forces to launch School 2030.

This structural partnership provides Leuven’s educational community with a framework to place their plans, commitments, and actions within a larger collective effort. This is important because the Roadmap also emphasises involving young people, as a key transitional generation, in the shift towards a fossil-free society.

Today, information about the network, as well as School 2030's contact details, can be found on the Leuven voor Scholen website.

Four strategic experiments are launched

Our collaboration with EIT Climate-KIC resulted in four strategic experiments within the organisation: Project Kessel-Lo, Project Neighbourhood Energy Transition, Project Haasrode Business Park, and Project Growth Hacking.

These strategic experiments cut across the different Roadmap programmes to connect complex challenges and develop innovative strategies and solutions.

Getting started with breakthrough projects

To focus our efforts on projects that test innovative solutions or represent major advances within the Roadmap, we launched our breakthrough projects.

Bringing Leuven entrepreneurs together

Implementing the Roadmap to 2050 requires innovative ideas and entrepreneurs willing to take bold action. That is why we brought together nearly 80 entrepreneurs at M Museum Leuven to work on specific climate challenges.

It was the first time we involved the business community so explicitly, marking the beginning of an approach that we would continue and expand in the years that followed.

Leuven selected as one of ten flagship cities by EIT Climate-KIC

Alongside cities such as Copenhagen, Vienna, Amsterdam, Madrid, and Milan, Leuven and Leuven 2030 were selected as partner cities in the ambitious Healthy, Clean Cities programme of the European innovation and knowledge centre EIT Climate-KIC.

The programme’s primary objective is to explore and develop more radical approaches to accelerate and scale up urban climate transitions.

“The expertise and financial support of the EIT Climate-KIC partners will help us define and implement a number of more complex projects in the shortest possible timeframe.” Katrien Rycken, Director of Leuven 2030

The Leuven 2030 team expands with programme managers

In addition to the existing project team, at least one programme manager was appointed for each programme within the Roadmap to translate the plan into concrete action.

These programme managers are often experts who are seconded part-time by partner organisations, sometimes voluntarily and sometimes on a paid basis, to contribute to the implementation of the Roadmap.

First-ever ambassador of the European Climate Pact

Leuven became the very first ambassador of the European Climate Pact, explicitly aligning itself with Europe’s ambition to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050.

As is customary, this commitment was made together with a broad coalition of partners. Alongside Leuven 2030, the City of Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven MindGate, and imec also publicly endorsed the pledge during a widely attended Facebook Live event.

The Roadmap towards a climate neutral Leuven in 2050

Interim measurements show that emissions in Leuven are not going down fast enough to achieve the goal of a climate neutral city by 2050. That is why we draw up a unique plan together with several Leuven-based experts: the Roadmap towards a climate neutral Leuven in 2050. The ambition is also immediately increased as well: not only are CO₂ emissions from within Leuven's city limits included as was the case in the scientific report of 2013, but the Roadmap also adds emissions for which inhabitants of Leuven are responsible outside the city boundaries. Key players in the city sign the Roadmap during the sold-out 'Road to 2050' conference and undertake to change their policies accordingly. From this moment on, the Roadmap constitutes our guide and gives direction to everything we do.

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Leuven is named European Green Leaf 2018

The prestigious award is recognition for the efforts of Leuven 2030 and the city of Leuven in the are of sustainability and quality of life.

The ELENA L.E.U.V.E.N. project is launched

18 large and small Leuven-based organisations undertake to making their buildings significantly more sustainable. Leuven 2030 brings the partners and their investment budgets together and successfully submits the grant application to the European Investment Bank to help fund the study work. It is the start of an impactful project by Leuven 2030 to significantly reduce emissions from primarily non-residential buildings, which account for no less than 28%* of Leuven's  CO₂ emissions.

*Leuven-based CO₂ emission can be broken down into three different scopes. This figure (28%) only takes into account direct emissions released within the territory of greater Leuven (Scope 1) and indirect emissions as a result of imported energy (Scope 2).

The second Board takes over

After four years of chairmanship of the Board by the city of Leuven, it is now transferred for four years to KU Leuven in the person of Stefaan Saeys, Director of Technical Services. This transition symbolises the strong commitment from various corners of society to making Leuven a sustainable city.

The 'Leuven Switcht' campaign is launched

Celebrities from Leuven make a commitment to switch to a green energy supplier and call on the people of Leuven to do the same. A year later, Leuven has almost 800 registered switchers, which accounts for an estimated 320 tonne reduction of CO2.

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A second air quality measurement

A second air quality measurement by Leuven 2030, Vito and Straten Vol Leuven indicates a strong link between the implemented circulation plan and the evolution of air quality. This shows - in addition to the traffic counts of the city of Leuven - its added value for the people of Leuven.

The non-profit organisation changes its name: Leuven 2030 is born

the same time, we also shift up a gear in terms of communication and develop, among other things, a new logo, the baseline ‘minder uitstoot, meer toekomst’ (less emissions, more future) and a clear visual identity. This is based on the awareness that we must be able to reach the entire Leuven community if our mission is to succeed.

A zero measurement of the air quality

Together with civic platform 'Straten Vol Leuven' and Vito, Leuven 2030 carries out an extensive zero measurement of the air quality. In the summer of 2016, the city of Leuven implements the first phase of the new circulation plan for the city centre. An ambitious plan that reserves a larger part of the public space for pedestrians and cyclists.

The very first 'yard assembly' takes place

A total of 120 engaged citizens, experts, policy makers and planners, employees and entrepreneurs join forces at Het Depot for a whole day and evening to discuss concrete challenges for a climate neutral city. This meeting is a major step in the operation of Leuven 2030. From now on, we also explicitly connect partners and citizens around concrete projects, guide them along the way, help them find financial resources and help tell their stories.

The first climate campsite

Together with four neighbourhood campsites, the first climate campsite on Leuven's Vismarkt is organised: Camping Zero Emission is a fact. In the following years, mainly Leuven-based schools jump on the bandwagon. In collaboration with the city of Leuven and Het Depot, 15 schools take part in the 2018 edition. They combine camping with an extensive programme around sustainable activities to inspire students, teachers and management.

The official start of our non-profit organisation!

On November 9th 2013, 60 inhabitants, businesses and organisations establish vzw Leuven Klimaatneutraal 2030 (non-profit organisation Leuven Climate neutral 2030). The city of Leuven and KU Leuven are the driving forces. From the start, stakeholders from all parts of Leuven's society can become members of our organisation and representatives of these stakeholders are jointly at the helm. The members are divided into five member categories that are equally represented: citizens and civil society organisations, businesses, knowledge institutions, local authorities and semi-public authorities. This unique cooperation is maintained to this day because we believe that a climate neutral city is only possible if everyone works together and feels ownership. Our current mayor, Mohamed Ridouani, then alderman for the environment, is the first to take the chair.

A detailed scientific report on emissions on Leuven's territory

KU Leuven draws up a scientific report that maps out CO₂- emissions across Leuven's territory in detail, the so-called 'Scope 1' and 'Scope 2' emissions. For over a year, several experts worked closely on this measurement based on the emissions in 2010. The report also comprises a list of possible scenarios for achieving a climate neutral city. It is officially presented in a sold-out event at Leuven's STUK-Arts Centre.