DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

14 October 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Election 2025
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Election 2025
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Dutch central bank calls for switch to sustainable fuels

March 4, 2016
Photo: Pbech via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Pbech via Wikimedia Commons

The Netherlands is not doing enough to switch to sustainable energy sources and the agreements made between industry and officials need to be sharpened up, according to the Dutch central bank.

A new report published by the bank on Friday warns of the risk of the ‘carbon soap bubble’ and says the Netherlands is trailing behind in making the transition to green energy.

‘We are lagging behind when it comes to introducing sustainable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,’ central bank director Job Swank says in the NRC.

This is mainly due to the Netherlands’ reliance on the petrochemical industry, road transport and greenhouse-based food production, all for which rely heavily on fossil fuels, he said. In the interview, Swank went on to mention the agreements reached at the climate summit in Paris last year, in which economies are to be ‘climate neutral’ by the middle of the century.

There is a carbon bubble hanging over the market at the moment even though it is currently manageable, Swank said. Pension funds face the greatest risk, he said. Some 5.4% of their assets are invested in fossil fuels.

Central bank president Klaas Knot will discuss the climate issue with MPs at a special hearing next Tuesday.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Economy
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Heineken slashes 400 jobs at Amsterdam headquarters
MEPs push back against suggested curbs to air passenger rights
Energy prices are going to increase, let’s try to profit from it
Most capped international Sherida Spitse to call it a day at 248
Minister to brief parliament on “historic” takeover at Nexperia
NewsHomeEconomyElection 2025Art and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you with up-to-date news about this month's Dutch general election.

Our thanks to everyone who donates regularly to Dutch News. It costs money to produce our daily news service, our original features and daily newsletters, and we could not do it without you.

If you have not yet made a donation, or did so a while ago, you can do so via these links

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now