Overall assessment
The 2010 version of the Climate Policy Tracker gave the Netherlands a rating of E. Developments over the last 12 months show a weakening of policy in several areas. The Netherlands lowered its ambition by selecting EU targets instead of its previously formulated and more far-reaching national targets. A new government has not developed a vision or strategy that looks beyond 2020. Plans for a green deal, published in October 2011, contain no new steps in the transition towards a low-carbon economy. The stability of the renewable energy policy also remains a point of concern, with a lack of clarity about the scale of future support.
Recommendations on most urgent actions
- The Netherlands lacks an ambitious, long-term and binding national target to provide long-term certainty to all stakeholders (See for example UK, Ireland).
- The stop-and-go policy for renewables needs to be replaced by a stable, long-term system, as the ongoing discussion about replacing instrument creates investment uncertainty. Removing budget restrictions from the current support system SDE+ would be an important step in the right direction (see Germany for example).
- The recent change in taxation for new vehicles and continued support for electric vehicles are steps in the right direction, but the ambition level for for energy efficiency in existing fuel-based vehicles need to be increased.