Greenhouse gas targets still a long way off, traffic and power stations produce more

The government needs to do far more to cut greenhouse gas emissions in order to meet climate change targets, figures from the national statistics agency CBS show.

Last year, emissions were down 15% compared with 1990, but that is far off the target of a 50% reduction by 2030. Compared with 2017, emissions were down 2%.

While industry, agriculture and private households have reduced greenhouse gas emissions, power stations and traffic have become more polluting. In particular the energy sector faces a tough challenge to meet the targets. Its emissions must be cut by 75% in 2030.

The government published its finalised recommendations to reduce emissions in June, including a carbon tax on industry and the possible introduction of road pricing by 2026.

The government will also do more to encourage the use of electric cars, but will not give as big subsidies to electric car drivers as mooted earlier.

A special fund is being set up which will lend money cheaply to home owners so they can make their homes more energy efficient. And energy bills will go down by around €100 a year in 2020, following this year’s large increase.

Environmental groups said at the time the plans do not go far enough. And six different industry federations, ranging from the chemicals sector to technology, issued a joint statement saying that the carbon tax on industry will disadvantage firms based in the Netherlands.