The Environment

Scientists consider the main cause of climate change and rising sea level is the continued increase in CO2 emissions. In an effort to reduce CO2 emissions, measures are being taken to cut energy consumption and to use more energy from renewable sources. 

As a low-lying country, the Netherlands is subject to the consequences of extremes in weather such as peak rainfall and river discharges, and rising sea level. Government policy is directed to making water management an integral part of spatial planning and strategic land areas are reserved for this purpose. The river dikes and coastal defences are constantly being strengthened and improved to prevent flooding.

The Netherlands is committed to tackling climate issues on a global scale and participates in international negotiations and agreements. 

EU Climate and Energy package
The starting point for policy development on climate change is the EU regulations. As a Member State, the Netherlands is working towards meeting the EU goal of limiting temperature increase to no more than 20C by 2050. Targets are set for the Member States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 by reducing energy consumption and by using a higher proportion of renewable energy. 

EU 20-20-20 targets for 2020 are:
• 20% reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels
• 20% of EU energy consumption from renewable resources
• 20% reduction in primary energy use compared with projected levels to be achieved by improving energy efficiency.

In 2009, these targets were incorporated into the Climate and Energy Package by the European Parliament and Council with targets for Member State for:
• A single EU cap on emission allowances under the Emission Trading System (See: www.emissieautoreit.nl), reducing annually for companies to 21% below the 2005 level in 2020.
• The Netherlands has a binding national target to reduce emissions in sectors not covered by the EU ETS, such as transport, housing, agriculture and waste, by 16% in 2020. The overall target for emission reduction from non-ETS sectors is 10% in 2020 on 2005 levels.
• The Netherlands has a binding national target of 14% in 2020 for renewable energy which will contribute to lifting the average share of renewable energy in the EU to 20% by 2020. This will decrease dependence on imported energy and will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• The EU stimulates underground storage of CO2 – carbon capture and storage especially from electricity generation from fossil-fuels.

The Netherlands is working to meeting the 16% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy consumption, using more energy from renewable sources, and by emission trading with other countries.

International treaties
The Netherlands is a signatory to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) with agreements on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Kyoto Protocol
The Netherlands has signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by on average 5.2% in 2012. The Netherlands pledged to reduce CO2 emissions by 6%, which effectively means a drop in greenhouse emissions of 200 megaton per year between 2008 and 2012. 

In meeting these targets, the Netherlands makes use of provisions under the Kyoto Protocol to compensate for emissions by purchasing credits and emissions rights under the Emission Trading System (ETS), Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI). Emission rights can also be purchased from other countries. It is estimated that the Netherlands will need approximately 5 megatons of credits and emission rights.

Clean Development Mechanism
By investing in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), the Netherlands and other countries can purchase credits by contributing to projects to reduce emissions in developing countries that are not part of the Kyoto Protocol. The Netherlands purchases credits in a wide range of projects in Latin America, Africa and Asia. This is done through mediation of the Rabobank, World Bank, International Finance Corporation and Andes Regional Development (CAF) and AgentschapNL.

Joint Implementation
Joint implementation (JI) is an agreement between two countries with emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol. The Netherlands purchases emission credits from projects in New Zealand, Middle East and Eastern Europe. This is done through mediation by the World Bank, International Finance Corporation and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and AgentschapNL.
 
Emission Trading
The Ministry via the Netherlands Emission Authority (NEA) allocates emission rights to companies in the Netherlands. A company with emissions higher than allocated can purchase rights from another company with emissions less that allocated. The purchase and sale of emissions is monitored by the Netherlands Emission Authority. See: www.emissieautoriteit.nl. In 2013, emissions rights will be allocated according to criteria set by the EU.

New agreements
New agreements need to be formulated for effective and balanced international response to climate issues. The Netherlands supports new climate agreements for the period after 2012 that encompass more countries including the USA and China. 

The Netherlands is proactive in initiatives to reduce emissions. The Copenhagen Accord changed little for the Netherlands because as an EU Member State, the country has a commitment to 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020 on 1990 levels. Sectors in the Emission Trading System (ETS) are required to reduce emissions by 21% on 2005 levels in 2020. For those sectors not in the ETS, the Netherlands target is 16% reduction on 2005 levels in 2020. The Netherlands Government has set higher targets to reduce emissions by up to 30% in same time period.

At the Cancun Conference in December 2010, the Netherlands presented The Hague Action Plan in which 80 countries have agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the agriculture sector.
 

Ensuring sufficient water, food, energy, and other natural resources for a world population of nine billion in 2050, while maintaining the quality of the environment, preventing climate change and reducing further loss of biodiversity. This is a global challenge. The Netherlands is participating in international forums for the sustainable use of natural resources, both in the context of the EU and in that of the United Nations.

Demand for raw materials continues to increase with population growth, economic prosperity, and globalisation; it is expected to grow fourfold in the coming 40 years. Without international agreements, global commons are under serious threat. 

With increasing global pressure on natural resources, current patterns of resource use are not an option. Solutions such as recycling and more efficient use of resources only go part of the way in curbing the growing demand for raw materials. Changes will need to be made in production and consumption patterns, and technological breakthroughs are needed to enable this.

European Union
The Netherlands is contributing to specific initiatives in sustainable management of natural resources. Within the EU framework, the Netherlands is active in:

Flagship Resource Efficiency in the framework of EU2020 Strategy. One of seven flagship initiatives, Resource Efficiency aims to deliver smart, sustainable and inclusive growth through the coordinated efforts of the EU and national authorities. Smarter use of scarce resources will support the shift towards a more effective and low-carbon economy and thus ensure Europe's economic and ecological security. It will open new opportunities, improve productivity, and create growth and jobs for Europe's citizens.

EU Raw Materials Initiative is an endeavour by the EU and Member States to secure sufficient access to raw materials at competitive prices. This is becoming a major factor in EU competitiveness and thus crucial to the success of the Lisbon Partnership for growth and jobs. The Raw Materials Initiative aims to agree an integrated raw materials strategy which would include:
• Access to raw materials on world markets at undistorted conditions
• Sustainable supply of raw materials from European sources
• Increased resource efficiency and promotion of recycling.

EU Action Plan on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP)
The Netherlands participates in the EU Action Plan on Sustainable Production and Consumption and sustainable procurement policy. The Action Plan is a package of actions and proposals to improve the environmental performance of products and to stimulate demand for more sustainable goods and production technologies. The plan encourages EU industry to take up new opportunities and innovation to ensure continued leadership in environmental performance. The Action Plan also explores means for promoting sustainable production and consumption internationally, beyond the EU. (See: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/08/507)

The Ministry develops policies for sustainability throughout the production chain by safeguarding the quality of soil, water and ecosystem services. Policy is developed on reducing and preventing waste streams by stimulating companies and organisations to make optimal reuse of waste through product innovation. As the national government is by far the largest procurer of goods and services in the Netherlands, the ministry is pursuing a policy of sustainable procurement as an impetus for both the public and private sectors throughout the country.

International forums
Through the Ministry, the Netherlands participates in various international forums and in particular:

United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). This high-level forum for sustainable development in the United Nations system reviews progress in implementing Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. It provides policy guidance to follow up the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) at local, national, regional and international levels.

UNEP Panel for Natural Resources. The Netherlands has an influential position in the steering committee of the Panel. While still in a preliminary phase, the Panel for Natural Resources has the potential to contribute to the scientific basis for policy on sustainable use and management of natural resources.

Use of biofuels can make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The EU Directive on Renewable Energy sets targets to stimulate the use of sustainably produced biofuels and these have been implemented in national legislation by the Netherlands Parliament. As biofuels are produced and traded on a global scale, international agreements are essential to ensure sustainability. The Netherlands is represented in the Global Bio-Energy Partnership by the Ministry of infrastructure and the Environment. 

EU Directive on Renewable Energy
In 2010, the Dutch parliament incorporated the provisions of the EU Directive on Renewable Energy into national legislation. The EU Directive sets ambitious targets for all Member States to increase the proportion of energy from renewable sources including biofuels to 20% by 2020 and in the transport sector to 10% by the same year. 

Target 
The Netherlands will implement the EU Directive by gradually increasing the proportion of biofuels. The aim is to build confidence that biofuels are a viable energy source and to move gradually towards the EU target of 10% share of biofuels by 2020 in the transport sector. The Netherlands is continuing to implement policy to meet the EU targets for the proportion of renewable energy of 4.25% in 2011, to 4.5% in 2012, to 5% and in 2013 and 5.5% in 2014.

Sustainability criteria
Biofuels to be included in meeting the renewable energy targets have to meet the sustainability criteria in the EU Directive for the production of biofuels and liquid biomass. For instance, sustainable energy cannot be produced on land that carries or has carried great biodiversity. 

Indirect change in land use
The Directive incorporates sustainability aspects on which strict requirements have not been placed. One such requirement is to reduce the negative consequences of indirect change in land use. The Netherlands is proactive in the EU in developing measures to reduce these negative impacts.

Global agreements
Much biomass is produced and used in countries outside the Netherlands, and international agreements needed to be made on sustainable production. The Netherlands is working with other countries on developing policy for sustainable production of biofuels and liquid biomass. Specific attention is given to preventing indirect change in land use stemming from the production of biofuels and liquid biomass. For instance, use of new areas reclaimed for agriculture such as rainforest and grassland with consequent loss of biodiversity. This can result in extra CO2 emissions while the goal for using biofuels is to reduce climate change. The Netherlands Government wishes to pursue a cautious stepwise approach between 2008 and 2014.

Global Bioenergy Partnership
The Netherlands is represented in the Global Bio-Energy Partnership (GBEP) by the Ministry of infrastructure and the Environment. GBEP is a global cooperation of governments, international organisations, and companies to advance sustainable use of bio-energy.

The Gleneagles Plan of Action (July 20050, the G8 +5 - Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa) included the launch of the GBEP to support wider, cost-effective biomass and biofuels deployment, particularly in developing countries where biomass use is prevalent. GBEP has since been expanded with other countries including the Netherlands. GBEP works on developing sustainability criteria for bio-energy and indicators for national use. These criteria can be applied in national bio-energy policy on a voluntary basis. 
 

As the production, trade and use of chemicals increases worldwide so too does concern about their harmful effects. In an effort to limit these risks to human health and the environment, United Nations and EU have been developed various regulations. 

The Netherlands is a signatory to a number of international conventions and actively contributes to UN Conventions and EU regulation on limiting the effects of hazardous substances. An important part of the process is establishing synergy and preventing overlap between the various conventions.

Global agreements
The Netherlands is a signatory to the Rotterdam Convention which is a legally binding obligation to implement the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure for certain hazardous chemicals. The Convention bans or severely restricts the use of certain pesticides and industrial chemicals. The Netherlands is contributing to the secretariat to the convention and is actively working to stimulate compliance with the provisions of the convention. 

See: www.pic.int/home.php
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/environment/cooperation_with_thirdcountries

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) concerns non-degradable chemicals of serious risk to man and the environment that accumulate in the food chain. Currently, the Convention has banned production worldwide of eight pesticides, and supports developing countries in meeting this obligation. The EU and the Netherlands as a Member State are working to extend the list of banned chemicals and so to contribute to achieving the Millennium Development goals. See: http://chm.pops.int. The Convention is closely allied with the Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air pesticides. 
See: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.dohttp://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/environment/water_protection_management/l28059_en.htm

The Helsinki Convention on Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents includes some 40 companies in the Netherlands. In 2010, the Netherlands was the chairman of the Convention and is working in cooperation with neighbouring countries to implement the provisions of the Convention. See: http://www.unece.org/env/teia/
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/environment/water_protection_management/l28059_en.htm

Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM)
The Netherlands strives for political commitment to this policy framework developed by the United Nations Environment Programme to promote chemical safety worldwide. The goal is to manage chemicals throughout their life cycle directed to minimising adverse impacts on human health and the environment. The Netherlands want the EU to play a leading role in implementing the SAICM Global Plan of Action. See: www.saicm.org

The Netherlands supports the EU in a call for a global convention on mercury, a highly toxic metal causing large-scale pollution of forests and water resources and irreversible health problems. To reduce the risks posed by mercury pollution, the EU has established directives and regulations. 

See: www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/mercury
  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/mercury/

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety concerns the international trade and transport of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Although not yet ratified by the major exporting countries and negotiations are ongoing about the global legal liability for damage to biodiversity, the protocol is in line with EU directive on environmental liability. The Netherlands is actively contributing to this process and to capacity building. EU has regulations on GMOs, however, the Netherlands considers the decision to grow GMOs should be made by the Member States themselves. 

See: http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/enterprise/interaction_with_other_policies/l28120_en.htm
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/environment/nature_and_biodiversity/l21170_en.htm

European Union
In addition to the Global Agreements, the EU has various directives that contribute to reducing environmental risks. The most significant are the REACH regulations (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical Substances). The Netherlands has been proactive in the Committee in preparing and evaluating the REACH regulations. ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/

The Netherlands has played an active role in developing the directive on fireworks which incorporates the safety and sale of fireworks in the European Union. See: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32007L0023:EN:NOT

In the same way, the Netherlands has participated in the preparation of the Seveso II directive to reduce the risk of major accidents with hazardous substances in companies by preventing and by limiting the consequences of such accidents. See ec.europa.eu/environment/seveso