Dutch government is neglecting Bonaire climate change ruling

The government is not taking measures to address its legal obligations to protect the former Dutch colony of Bonaire from the ravages of climate change, according to an investigation by NOS.

A court in The Hague ruled in January the government had acted in a discriminatory manner towards Bonaire by excluding the Caribbean island from its climate plans.

Although the cabinet has appealed, ministers are still obliged to comply with the terms of the judgment, including providing an assessment of how much greenhouse gas that the Netherlands believes it can still emit without exceeding the Paris climate goals.

That report was due today and, according to the NOS, the government has not submitted it.

“Failing to provide insight into that scope is simply negligent,” climate lawyer Laura Burgers of the University of Amsterdam told NOS.

In response to questions from the broadcaster, climate minister Stientje van Veldhoven-van der Meer said that the cabinet will provide more information on Budget Day – 15 September – regarding how the Bonaire ruling will be implemented.

Eight people from the Caribbean island of Bonaire joined forces with environmental organisation Greenpeace to sue the Dutch government for failing to protect them against climate change.