Summer has finally arrived, which means the well-deserved holiday period and therefore a slightly different blog from me. We have often looked forward to our holiday for months. We plan our trip and dream of relaxation. Yet the moment of departure always seems far away. And then, suddenly, the holidays are over. I always have this strong feeling with the climate goals that we as a society have set for 2030 and 2050.
Just as we pack our bags at the last minute, we also postpone crucial climate decisions. We hold endless debates, organize conferences and make grand plans, but concrete action is often lacking. Ultimately, when we finally decide to act, it may already be too late. The consequences of our inertia are disastrous and irreversible.
Personally, I often find working during the holidays a relief. The peace and emptiness in the workplace gives me the opportunity to catch up on overdue work and find time for reflection. This period highlights for me how much we can actually achieve in a short time if we really focus. It begs the question: if we can do so much in two weeks, why do we complete so few of our major projects?
The Olympic Games are a perfect example of long-term planning and dedication. Athletes train for years for that one moment, that one chance to win gold. Just as they need thorough preparation to excel, we as a society need a thorough and timely approach to achieve our climate goals. Long-term planning, clear focus on the goal, adjustments where necessary, but never losing sight of the end goal. Dealing with disappointment to ultimately stand on the highest podium; it is here where I draw a parallel with global climate ambitions.
The ideas and solutions come and go and policy is made, often based on sentiment and public opinion, but not often does it last. We embrace innovations with sometimes too many expectations, but without enthusiasm we get nowhere. Nowadays in this society we want to see results too quickly, we no longer have the patience to wait for improvement or long-term results and that is where the problem lies. We stop doing something too quickly and put the next one on display and deviate too quickly from the path we set before. Imagine that an athlete decides to practice a completely different sport every two years, what chance does this athlete have of an Olympic medal?
Sustainable energy, the application of new raw materials in chemistry and the reuse of materials are long processes before you can achieve success. The Dutch industry has every potential to grow sustainably, but this requires cooperation, being open to new ideas and the courage to sometimes go against the wind.
The Dutch are known for their pragmatism and innovative power. We are a people who have learned over the centuries to work together and find solutions to great challenges. We also like to talk about everything and those opinions, you don't have to ask for them, you get them for free and unsolicited. What we also want is to be successful and we also encourage our athletes en masse with the Orange Army. This time let's not even go from left to right but a little more through the middle. We reach our goal faster. Maybe not as fun, but effective. The dedication of Olympic athletes can inspire us to pursue our climate goals with the same determination and discipline. It is time to take action and secure our future.
Unfortunately my holiday is already over, but I have enough energy to tackle it for the time being.
About the author
John Bouterse
Managing director Komercon BV and director of Platform Bio-Economie
John Bouterse is co-owner of Komercon BV, director of Platform Bio-Economy and member of various working groups that deal with various issues and policies regarding the use and sustainability of biomass. Based on his expertise, John works every day to give waste and biomass a new high-quality purpose and from this perspective he looks in these blogs at the special developments and possibilities that biomass offers and the challenges that come with it.
