The measures taken by the government to tackle climate change so far will only achieve half of its own targets by 2020, according to environment organisation Stichting Natuur en Milieu.

The reduction in carbon dioxide emissions will fall 14 megatons short of the government’s 164 megaton target which is the equivalent of the annual exhaust fumes of over four million cars, says the organisation.
It also says that green power production will only account for 7% of total power generation rather than the 20% envisaged by the cabinet. The environmental organisation’s calculations are based on figures from the energy research agency ECN and the national statistics office CBS.
In a reaction in today’s Volkskrant, environment minister Jacqueline Cramer says that although the government’s target for CO2 reduction shows a shortfall of between eight and 18 megatons, this will be remedied by the €800m that has been allocated for innovation during the current administration.
‘On top of this we are preparing reserve measures,’ the minister is quoted by the paper as saying. High on this list is the introduction of the so-called kilometre tax for drivers (‘dirty’ vehicles will pay more than energy-efficient ones), the construction of off-shore wind parks and stricter insulation standards for new and existing buildings.