The outgoing senate on Tuesday backed the government’s controversial plans to tackle climate change – with 62 of the 75 senators voting for the new legislation.

The legislation requires future cabinets to set clear targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 95% by 2050, when compared with 1990.

In addition, electricity generation must be entirely carbon dioxide free by the same date.

The anti-immigration PVV and fundamentalist religious party SGP voted against, as did the pro-animal PvdD, which said the plans did not go far enough.

The plans would also pass in the new senate, despite the ruling coalition not having a majority, because of GroenLinks support.