Just like the Minister of Finance on Budget Day, the outgoing State Secretary for Climate Dilan Yesilgöz walked into the House of Representatives on Thursday with a large symbolic briefcase. This briefcase was made of wood, it had the letters ‘Climate Day’ on it. It included the calculation of whether the Netherlands will achieve the climate goals.
Back in her office at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, VVD member Yesilgöz, who has been State Secretary for five months, readily admits that the VVD took a long time to appropriate the subject of climate policy. Strange really, ‘because it’s about taking responsibility for the future’.
Also read this analysis: Rutte has started to adjust his language
It is a shame to leave that to other parties, says Yesilgöz, who also dealt with climate as a Member of Parliament. “Because it is very drastic. Climate policy is often or a technical story that most people don’t really follow. Or it is a sour story in which everything is no longer allowed. What frustrates me is that too little attention is paid to what it can deliver. A well-insulated house is more comfortable and hopefully your energy bill will go down.”
The VVD always says that climate policy must be ‘feasible and affordable’. Climate agreement chairman Ed Nijpels is annoyed by this. Achieving the targets is a legal obligation, and the Netherlands can afford it, he says.
“We don’t mean: otherwise we won’t do what is necessary. As a caretaker government, we have released seven billion euros for climate measures. that late commitment see. From the whole cabinet. Feasible is not self-evident. Every week I have a parliamentary debate in which dozens of motions are passed that take techniques out of my hands to achieve the goals. You cannot constantly exclude techniques such as biomass and set higher goals. This also applies to nuclear energy. The next government really has to choose whether that will become part of a healthy energy mix. For me, ‘feasible’ is exactly the opposite of we don’t do it.”
We will not achieve the goal of 49 percent greenhouse gas reduction by 2030. The expectation is that we will reach between 38 and 48 percent.
“I don’t think anyone would have thought two years ago that we would get this close to 49 percent. The 7 billion from Prinsjesdag provides some extra reduction. We’re closing the gap. But we’re not there, we can’t go and chill.”
The Council of State says: assume the worst scenario, 38 percent, and then come up with enough measures.
“If you see what we are already doing, I don’t know whether you can just do such substantial additional interventions. Even if you want to maintain employment, produce cleaner here and get everyone involved. I recently asked a European colleague: you have a much higher goal than the Netherlands, how are you going to do that? Oh, he said, that’s for the next minister, I don’t know.”
The Council of State believes that the Netherlands should want a 55 percent reduction by 2030.
“The European target of 55 percent by definition means that the Netherlands must do more. I don’t know whether that amounts to 52 or 55 percent, for example. That’s up to a new cabinet. I’m not into setting ever higher goals without knowing how I’m going to achieve them.”
This summer you were reminded of an old tweet of yours about “climate bullies.” You compared them in August to your four-year-old nephew who wants a second ice cream. Gerrit Hiemstra of the KNMI became angry.
“Yeah, that didn’t go well, did it. I have no regrets about that, although the question is what such a tweet adds. Nothing of course. But my ambition is not to sit here completely colorless. This heated discussion shows how people directly oppose each other when it comes to the climate. It quickly becomes about who is good and who is not. In my role, I shouldn’t really participate in that at all.
“I just don’t understand why scientists like Hiemstra felt attracted by my tweet. I was talking about calling people on the sidelines. In practice, I am completely guided by science, such as that of the KNMI.”
The next cabinet must really choose whether nuclear energy will become part of a healthy energy mix
According to the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, it is still doubtful until 2025 whether we will meet the Urgenda requirement of 25 percent less emissions. That remains a stone on the stomach of the cabinet.
“It was of course already clear that we met the Urgenda requirement in 2020, partly due to corona. That will not be self-evident in the near future. That is why we could not sit still around the Budget Memorandum. We will see if it is sufficient for the coming years. I don’t know whether there will be a new lawsuit from environmental organization Urgenda. I have regular meetings with Marjan Minnesma in the summer [directeur Urgenda] spoken. We haven’t been able to have any contact since August.”
Like Prime Minister Rutte, you are going to the UN climate summit in Glasgow. What will be the stake there?
“The most important thing is that Europe shows that it really is a CO2reduction of 55 percent. We are not yet sure how, but no one is questioning the ambition. I hope that with this we will make a strong fist against other countries. That we make it clear that, if necessary, we impose requirements on the sustainability of products at the European border.
“You can’t say to poor countries: you have to deliver extra without help. But against countries like the US and China. At the same time, developed countries must contribute to the $100 billion pledged for climate finance in poorer countries.”
A version of this article also appeared in NRC Handelsblad of 30 October 2021
A version of this article also appeared in NRC in the morning of October 30, 2021
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