Policy profile: how Dutch environmental policy contributes to meet European environmental standards; Dutch environmental balance

Abstract:

In the Dutch environmental balance the effectiveness of Dutch environmental policy in meeting European environmental standards is evaluated. Major themes in the environmental balance are eco-efficiency, climate change, manure policy, air quality and urban environment, and the general developments in Dutch environmental policy in the past 15 years.

Main conclusions are that European policy results in a considerable emission reduction, however not enough to meet EU environmental quality standards. Compared to other EU member states, The Netherlands is densely populated and built, resulting in high emissions per square kilometre. Moreover, The Netherlands has a substantial contribution of contamination from abroad, although it is itself a net exporter of pollution. Therefore, additional national measures are necessary to meet the EU quality standards.

The wish to have a level playing field for industry may conflict with the wish to protect citizens equally against a low environmental quality. Spatial solutions are frequently chosen as additional measures, by separating sources of pollution from citizens or nature. In this way, additional national emission reduction measures on top of European emission policy are avoided. However, this spatial separation is not always effective.