Today the four coalition parties present their coalition agreement. The core of the coalition agreement is: offering perspective by tackling the major issues of this decade. Such as the future of agriculture, the problems in the housing market and the undermining of the democratic constitutional state. And of course the approach to the climate issue. In the coalition agreement, under the chapter 'Sustainable country', 5 pages are devoted to climate measures.
The coalition agreement contains good starting points for accelerated development of the bioeconomy. Sustainable biomass is also necessary for the transition to a low-CO2 economy. Less fossil, more bio.
In order to be climate neutral by 2050 at the latest, the government is tightening the 2030 target in the Climate Act to at least a 55 percent CO2 reduction. 'We are committed to this goal and will take additional steps to achieve this if necessary. In order to ensure that this goal is achieved, we agree to focus our policy on a higher target, which amounts to approximately 60 percent in 2030," according to the coalition agreement.
The government will allocate 35 billion euros for climate control over the next ten years. A so-called 'climate and transition fund' will be available for this, which will be used, among other things, for the construction of heat, hydrogen and electricity networks. Money is also spent on making buildings and the mobility sector more sustainable. This amount is in addition to the existing subsidy scheme for sustainable energy, the so-called SDE++ subsidy.
The coalition parties want certain procedures to be accelerated, because large energy infrastructure projects are currently moving too slowly. The new cabinet will therefore use an approach comparable to that of the Crisis and Recovery Act, a law that brings planned construction projects forward by shortening procedures.
Two new nuclear power stations
The coalition agreement also states that the arrival of two new nuclear power stations is being initiated. This plan could potentially represent a breakthrough in greening the energy supply. Generating nuclear energy produces virtually no CO2 emissions, making it less harmful to the climate. Coal and gas plants, on the other hand, are very harmful.
Minister for Climate and Energy
There will be a Minister for Climate and Energy who will direct policy and the climate fund. The government wants to strengthen the implementation power of the national government and local authorities in order to successfully implement the transition. An independent scientific advisory board – such as in the United Kingdom – assesses the policy and advises on it.
Henri Bontenbal, member of parliament for the CDA and spokesperson for climate & energy, also explains on his LinkedIn page what the coalition agreement entails in relation to the climate issue: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/regeerakkoord-ambitieus-%C3%A9n-realistisch-klimaatbeleid-henri-bontenbal/
