Netherlands announces €28 billion package to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Announcing the package at a press conference in The Hague, Dutch Climate and Energy Minister Rob Jetten said the plan will meet the government’s goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. , said it could even exceed 60%.

“It is inevitable that our country, our landscape and our economy will change,” Jetten said.

“We are working towards a fully climate-neutral circular economy in 2050. This will require 100% elimination of fossil fuels and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,” he said. said.

Jetten presented over 120 bars. This includes closing all gas- and coal-powered power plants by 2035, subsidizing the purchase of second-hand electric vehicles, and setting aside his €65 million for research on the construction of small-scale nuclear power plants. was included.

The Dutch government has already announced that it will build two nuclear power plants in the south of the Netherlands by 2035.

Gasoline prices are set to rise to encourage future car users to switch to electric vehicles, Jetten said, making about €600 million available to subsidize the purchase of second-hand electric vehicles. It is said that it will be

The government will also increase the number of charging points for electric vehicles, Jetten said.

“By working hard on our own renewable energy, we can reduce our dependence on fossil energy from questionable regimes,” Jetten said.

“We will have our own clean and sustainable energy supply and we won’t have to be intimidated by Putin-like types,” Jetten said, referring to Europe’s previous dependence on Russian gas. rice field.

Jetten’s announcement comes as EU lawmakers this week adopted legislation to expand the bloc’s carbon trading market and introduce a carbon border tax on imports.

These measures will support Europe’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as it moves towards the goal of a net carbon neutral future.

The 27 countries of the EU are together the third largest carbon emitters in the world.

The Netherlands is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, especially nitrogen, in Europe.

In 2019, environmentalists won a landmark case when a Dutch court ordered the government to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25% by the end of 2020.