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Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The Dutch government is doing many things to prevent climate change. Goals and measures to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gasses within the Netherlands are laid down and agreed upon in the Climate Act and the National Climate Agreement.

Climate Agreement to achieve reduction goals

The Climate Act calls for a 49% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, and a 95% reduction by 2050. The National Climate Agreement contains agreements with the sectors on what they will do to help achieve these climate goals. The participating sectors are: electricity, industry, built environment, traffic and transport, and agriculture and land use.

Measures by sector

Built environment

  • Enhancing the energy efficiency of 1.5 million homes and a reduction of 1 megatonne CO2 for utility buildings.
  • New buildings will no longer be heated with natural gas; existing buildings need to be improved to enable fossil-free heating as well.
  • Municipalities take the lead in a local, participative approach, to make housing emission free, neighborhood by neighborhood.
  • Energy tax system improved with stronger incentives for energy efficiency and CO2-reduction.

Traffic and transport

  • All new passenger cars to be emission-free by 2030.
  • Incentives for electric vehicles through several taxation measures, including in support of the used car market; 1.8 million charging points by 2030.
  • Modal shift from car to bicycle / public transport.
  • Smart solutions will enable logistics to organise more efficient and sustainable transport.

Industry

  • Introduction of a targeted carbon levy, starting at €30 per tonne in 2021 and rises to €125-150 per tonne in 2030, including the Emissions Trading System (ETS) price, on every tonne emitted exceeding a fixed reduction path.
  • Renewable Energy Grant Scheme (SDE) and CO2-reducing options in industry, such as CC(U)S.
  • Funding for innovation aimed at hydrogen and other sustainable fuels.

Electricity

  • Phasing out coal-fired electricity generation by 2025/2030, first plant to be closed by 2020.
  • Accelerating offshore wind power, also growth of onshore wind and solar energy.
  • Subsidies for additional renewable energy capacity (wind and solar) until 2025; estimated 70% renewable share in electricity production by 2030.
  • Introduction of a minimum CO2 price for electricity production.

Agriculture & land use

  • Sustainable heating in greenhouse horticulture.
  • Reducing methane emissions from livestock through improved processing of manure.
  • Carbon storage in soil and vegetation through pilot programmes for climate-friendly land use.
  • Incentives for climate-friendly food consumption and reducing food waste.

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