Dutch government ordered to cut CO2 emissions

For the first time in history, a national government has been told to implement a more rigid climate policy, writes De Volkskrant. On June 24, a court in The Hague summoned the Dutch state to reduce its carbon emissions by at least 25% compared to 1990 levels within the next five years. That is “much more than planned” – the government only anticipated 14-17%.

Environmental organisation Urgenda, which brought the suit, has argued for years that the government should do more to avoid crossing the 2°C maximum target for global warming. Their legal counsel says in The Guardian: “This is the first a time a court has determined that states have an independent legal obligation towards their citizens. That must inform the reduction commitments in Paris because if it doesn’t, they can expect pressure from courts in their own jurisdictions.”

According to De Volkskrant, the judge stated that –

The state should not hide behind the argument that the solution to the global climate problem does not depend solely on Dutch efforts. […] Any reduction of emissions contributes to the prevention of dangerous climate change and as a developed country the Netherlands should take the lead in this.

The Dutch governement will probably appeal to the decision.