Climate emergency Netherlands: GroenLinks-PvdA's rescue plan

The Netherlands will soon be electing a new parliament. One of the major challenges we face is climate change. The chances of the Netherlands achieving its climate targets are very slim. How can we become greener without overloading the energy grid or burdening businesses and households with costs and regulations? In our series ‘The Hague Innovation Check’, we examined voting behavior in the House of Representatives. GroenLinks-PvdA scored highest in the area of Climate and sustainability. Party candidate Wimar Bolhuis: “We will stop subsidizing fossil fuels and polluters will pay for their emissions.”

The figures don't lie. Our climate targets are going disastrously badly. According to the latest surveys, the chance of us achieving them is less than 5%. Our industry is the largest CO₂ emitter: in 2024, 33% of greenhouse gases came from this sector, followed by the mobility sector (20%).

The Hague Innovation Check

Sustainability is the only way for the industry to remain competitive in the long term. That is the conclusion of Mario Draghi in his report on European competitiveness. GroenLinks-PvdA is one of the parties that wants to focus fully on climate measures during the coming term of office. For example, the election program states that the CO₂ tax must be retained and that we must completely phase out gas from Groningen and Russia.

Our Hague Innovation Check shows that these are more than just nice plans. We looked at votes between July 2, 2024, and June 3, 2025. We examined motions, amendments, and legislation, among other matters. A pro-innovation score was calculated for each political group by weighing the votes and the sentiment of the motions against each other.

For the subcategory Climate and Sustainability, we analyzed voting behavior around innovations that accelerate the transition to clean energy, a circular economy, and sustainable industrial practices. These include solar and wind energy storage, energy-efficient production technologies, material reuse, smart recycling processes, and CO₂ reduction solutions.

GroenLinks-PvdA scored highest in this category (78.3%), followed by ChristenUnie and Volt (both 77.9%). FvD (23%) and PVV (27.6%) scored lowest.

Tackling major polluters more rigorously

Voting behavior in the House of Representatives and the election program show that GroenLinks-PvdA wants to tackle polluters in the Netherlands more rigorously. One of the largest industrial polluters is Tata Steel Nederland, which emits 8.5 million tons of CO₂ annually. Member of Parliament Joris Thijssen co-sponsored a motion to conduct an independent and transparent baseline measurement of emissions on and around the Tata Steel site. The motion was rejected; PVV, BBB, and VVD, among others, voted against it.

Ending fossil fuel subsidies

In order to achieve climate targets, not only Tata Steel, but the entire Dutch industry must quickly become greener. This will be difficult as long as fossil fuels remain cheap. Many parties, therefore, want fossil fuel subsidies, a major obstacle to a climate-neutral society, to disappear completely by 2030.

Member of Parliament Suzanne Kröger, together with Christine Teunissen (PvdD), submitted a motion to include that date in the Climate Act and to make annual progress reports mandatory. The motion was passed. PVV, FvD, BBB, and JA21 voted against it.

“We want to get rid of excise tax exemptions on kerosene, diesel in shipping, and similar benefits,” says Bolhuis, who, in addition to being a party candidate, is also director of TNO Vector. One of the themes this branch of TNO focuses on is the Netherlands' industrial policy. Abolishing such subsidies could give clean technologies a better chance, such as hydrogen for aviation or sustainable fuels in shipping.

Tackling polluters more rigorously

In addition to ending fossil fuel subsidies, there is another lever that can be pulled: the CO₂ tax. A majority in parliament recently expressed its desire to abolish this tax, which requires companies to pay per ton of CO₂ emitted. Eight parties voted against the abolition.

The abolition of the tax is a missed opportunity, because the revenue from the CO₂ tax could be used to support companies in their sustainability plans, according to Bolhuis. “Currently, tax is levied on emissions, but too little is invested in concrete programs to actually accelerate the sustainability of that industry.”

“We are at a crossroads.”

The above measures help, but it is essential that we make tough choices for the long-term policy of the industry, Bolhuis believes. “We are at a crossroads. Do we want to hold on to polluting industrial sectors, or do we opt for a transition and a future with high-quality technology and green innovation? For us, it is clear that the Netherlands must go for the latter. We excel in the chip industry, quantum technology, and artificial intelligence—sectors that cause less climate damage than traditional industry.”

Collection of electronic waste: well organized

Even if the Netherlands focuses more on the high-tech industry in the future, there is still much to be done in the area of sustainability, such as further reducing CO₂ emissions and reusing raw materials in production. "Introducing a blending obligation for bioplastics, for example, could help significantly, similar to the obligation for bioethanol in gasoline. The Netherlands can certainly play a pioneering role in the green chemical industry," said the party candidate. Other parties also support a circular economy for plastics. Member of Parliament Marieke Koekkoek (Volt) recently submitted a motion for bridge financing to support circular plastic producers until the blending obligation comes into effect.

Bolhuis: “With a wealth of knowledge and innovative companies in our country, such as Avantium, we have the resources at our disposal.”

Whether the Netherlands can truly play a pioneering role depends on whether ambition goes hand in hand with feasible implementation – that will become clear during the coming term of office.