On Sunday, November 10, 2024, as part of the National Climate Week, I organized a live radio talk show on Salto Radio Recogin. The program was produced in collaboration with WOON Amsterdam, where I work, Radio Recogin and St. EGK in my role as Climate Mayor of Amsterdam Zuidoost.
Purpose
The goal of the broadcast was to inform residents of Amsterdam Zuidoost, especially the West African community, about the city’s ongoing energy transition and the Amsterdam Warmte Program. This group is often harder to reach through conventional communication channels, so radio was chosen as an accessible and engaging medium.
About the Warmte Program
The City of Amsterdam aims to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions and phase out the use of natural gas. Together with residents, housing corporations, and other partners, the municipality is exploring sustainable alternatives for heating homes, providing hot water, and cooking.
The Warmte Program is an updated version of the city’s Warmte Transition Vision and is revised every five years.
Questions from Listeners
The program was interactive, with listeners calling in to share their thoughts and concerns.
Key questions included:
- Affordability: How will the city ensure that low-income households can afford the switch to sustainable heating?
- Housing conditions: One listener noted that their home had not been renovated in over 30 years, making it difficult to install new heating systems.
- Solar energy: Another caller asked why the government is not doing more to promote solar panels, especially now that the compensation for feeding surplus electricity back to the grid has been reduced.
These discussions highlighted the need for clear, inclusive communication and practical support to help all communities participate in the energy transition.
Outcome
The live broadcast successfully reached a diverse audience in Zuidoost and encouraged community dialogue on climate action and sustainable energy. It demonstrated the importance of local, culturally sensitive communication when engaging residents in the transition toward a greener Amsterdam