2024 was a remarkable year for the Foundation for Climate Friendly Procurement and Business (SKAO) and the CO2 Performance Ladder.
Boaz Keurentjes, teammanager
A definite highlight was the publication of version 4.0 – the result of three years of intensive collaboration with businesses, contracting authorities and other stakeholders. It marks an important step towards zero emissions. The new version offers organisations greater guidance as well as increased challenges in structurally reducing their CO2 emissions, and it aligns more closely with current legislation and regulations.
2024 was also a milestone on the international stage. Whereas just a few years ago we spoke cautiously of interest from abroad, the Ladder is now being used in various tenders across five pilot countries: Ireland, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Portugal. In Belgium, where the Ladder had already been adopted earlier, the number of certificate holders grew to over 80.
In the Netherlands, the number of certified organisations continues to rise, as does their level of ambition. We are incredibly proud of this, because certified organisations are truly making a difference. On average, they reduce their emissions twice as fast as organisations without a certificate. We’re also seeing more and more public authorities not only using the Ladder in procurement, but also choosing to certify themselves.
In this impact report, we share – through both figures and stories – what has been achieved over the past year. I am incredibly proud of the many accomplishments delivered by the SKAO team, and I look forward to what the coming years will bring.
