The Netherlands has taken major steps towards a more sustainable energy system. At the same time, much more action is needed to achieve the climate goals: We are now heading for a 39 to 50 percent CO2 reduction in 2030, instead of the target of 60 percent. The Netherlands has thought itself rich for too long and postponed matters. "The rose-colored glasses must be taken off and the construction helmet must be put on," said NVDE chairman Olof van der Gaag. The government is already taking steps in the right direction with a number of proposals to compensate for the withdrawal of production limits for coal-fired power stations. However, these still need to be properly developed. The Dutch Sustainable Energy Association (NVDE) makes ten additional proposals that represent an additional ten percent reduction: in this way, a large part of the gap in climate policy can be closed.
It is clearer than ever how urgently we need to move towards a sustainable, independent and affordable energy system. People, companies and politicians are doing more to achieve this than ever. At the same time, the Netherlands will still have about 2030 to 10 percent too many emissions in 20, according to PBL. Now 2030 will be over in 100 months. The normal time required for this much additional CO2 reduction has unfortunately now passed.
The government's additional proposals with new obligations in all sectors are moving in the right direction. These will ensure a better score if they are worked out properly. The lead time is extremely tight and more will be needed. With the way of working that the Netherlands has had until now, the climate goals of this cabinet are no longer achievable. The decisiveness that government and society showed during the corona crisis is now necessary to actually achieve climate goals. The NVDE hopes that the many successes that have now been achieved will give the courage to break the trend.
The NVDE proposes the following:
- There will be a time standard of two years for all procedures in energy transition projects: from generation to infrastructure and industry. Governments are given one year to issue a permit, after which the initiator automatically has a permit.
- The government sets clear standards: for energy savings, for new sales of cars and heating installations and for existing 'chimneys', such as power stations and factories. The Draft Climate Memorandum provides good guidance for this.
- To meet those standards, companies must make exciting investments at breakneck speed. With a 'contract for difference' they get certainty that these investments are sufficiently profitable, while they pay back money when the projects prove to be very profitable.
- The government is doing everything it can to ensure that energy coaches and fix teams visit half a million homes and SMEs this winter to help them save energy. The ISDE subsidy (for home sustainability) remains full so that no one is disappointed.
The NVDE has listed ten policy proposals for the various sectors that together ensure an additional 10% CO2 reduction: more than 20 Mton extra reduction in 2030.
Source: NVDE
