Amsterdam’s first Green party mayor — and the first woman to hold the position on a non-interim basis — Femke Halsema is keeping alive the city’s reputation as a pioneer for sustainable mobility and urban planning. Appointed to her current post in 2018, Halsema’s main priority is cracking down on organized crime, but she’s also pushed a host of green measures for a city already known for its comprehensive urban and smart mobility system.

Under Halsema’s watch, the city adopted a vision to become the “world capital of emission-free mobility.” To make that a reality, Amsterdam’s low-emission zones are being expanded, tightened and turned into zero-emission zones where no petrol, diesel or gas vehicles are allowed — the aim is to make all of Amsterdam’s transport  emissions-free by 2030. Additional green goals include slashing the city’s carbon emissions by 55 percent before 2030 and by 95 percent before 2050, compared to 1990 levels; phasing out natural gas by 2040 and adapting to flooding and extreme weather events by 2050.

The 56-year-old developed a green plan to help the city recover from COVID-19 and earlier this year joined forces with Ada Colau, the mayor of Barcelona, to limit overcrowding caused by tourism.

What to look out for this year? How well she manages to shield residents from skyrocketing energy prices in a city that’s already scrambling to rein in living costs.

What’s their superpower? Her city’s reputation precedes her — who wouldn’t take advice from a city known for getting urban planning right?

Influence score: 18/30