5.2 Required actions

For all these changes, there are actions required. Here we'll name each action, who should do the action and a short explanation on the results and effects. While the actions are divided in the four ideas, many of them are linked and almost all will affect each other.

1. 'Sustainable route'

Since the sustainable route is a non-guide touristic route the main action required is setting it up and maintaining/controlling it. The local VVV (tourist information) will be the most ideal organisation for this and the initiative should lie here. Setting up this themed tour requires (regular) controls to check whether the participating actors satisfy the requirements

Second is the creation of a 'sustainable pass'. Like the Rotterdam pass, or Iamsterdam pass, this pass will give discounts and other advantages for people buying the pass. This can be set up with an individual company organizing everything about the pass (like http://www.rotterdampas.nl/).

For local entrepreneurship the action will lie in making the business more sustainable. This way they can be involved in the plan and profit from the extended marketing. This can be done before implementation of the route and pass, to profit from the beginning, or later. But later entry might result in less participation in comparison with early entries.

With a more technology based society, an mobile phone application is a wise investment. When the initial route and pass is finished, an app should be developed to support the route and pass. Developing it afterward reduces development costs, since it will be known what the complete content will be.

2. Sustainable schools

For the more sustainable schools the action lies with the board of the schools, who make the program and the combination of the board and the municipality for structural changes of the school. The board should implement a sustainable program for students, which can be started right after the elaboration regarding the contents of this program.

For structural changes in the school buildings themselves, these should be initiated by the municipality and the board. Timings wise, it might be some trouble, since larger changes require more time and can only be implemented in the summer holidays. Smaller changes, like greywater reuse and PV cells, don't require a time without school and can be started as soon as the financing is done.

3. Sustainable leisure activities

For more sustainable leisure activities, these are little more actions required, from somewhat more parties. For a more efficient transition several steps should be taken.

First of all it will be helpful if there's some form of subsidies available for changes toward more sustainable leisure activities. These subsidies should come from the municipality and local funds (for example Duurzaam Texel and the Waddenfonds). These subsidies lower the (financial) bar for businesses to participate in the transition toward more sustainable leisure.

Next is the promotion and persuasion for this transition. With organisations like TOP, RECRON, the municipality and the financial incentive of the potential subsidies the bar to implement changes will be lower and changes are more attractive. For the entrepreneurs financial incentives will be strongest and this should therefore be the focus next to the intended results. The already named 'sustainable route' and pass will also be used as incentive, since they will provide additional advertisement and thus customers. Combined, this leads to the final action;

The final action is of the business owners itself. They should obviously start the changes, leading toward the more sustainable leisure businesses. Depending on the already existing level of sustainable initiatives these changes may vary from serious structural changes to a different habit for example of waste-treatment.

Finally the company of the sustainable pass should include the participating companies in the sustainable route and other promotional benefits.

4. The Center of Innovation

The biggest idea of all is the 'sustainable campus', of the Center of Innovation. There are a lot of different actions required and the combination will take the longest. Especially regarding EU regulations regarding public tender and state support.

First is taking the initiative to contact potential organisations who are the target to be in the center. Without their consent, it won't be a very successful center. If this step is positively taken, the construction of the center should be initiated. All necessary paperwork for building on the designated location should be performed, which will mainly be a task within the municipality and province. 

Regarding the design and construction of the center, European rules should be respected. This means a public tender must be addressed to the European Commission and should be made public. This must be done by the municipality and will take some time.

After tending the construction (and possibly the design), the construction can be started. The awarded company will start construction, which will most likely take quite some time. Afterwards the (departments of the) organisations which will be housed in the center will be transferred or set up.

Finally the center will be included in the sustainable route and pass and school trips will be available.