Klimaatakkoord

Klimaatakkoord is a Dutch national policy package aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and guiding the country toward its climate goals. It was agreed in 2019 after negotiations led by the Sociaal-Economische Raad (SER) and involving government, employers’ organizations, trade unions, and other stakeholders. The accord outlines a set of measures across sectors intended to achieve a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by about 49 percent by 2030 relative to 1990 levels, with the longer-term aim of climate neutrality by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement.

Content and sectors: The plan covers a broad range of sectors, including electricity and energy supply, buildings and housing, transport, industry, agriculture, and waste and land use. Measures include expanding renewable electricity, improving heating through insulation and heat pumps, electrifying transport, developing hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) options for heavy industry, and increasing energy efficiency across sectors.

Implementation and financing: The package is implemented through national and local policies, subsidies, and regulatory changes, with funding from government budgets, European funds, and private investments. The agreement is supported by a governance framework to monitor progress and adjust measures as needed.

Reception and impact: The Klimaatakkoord has been described as a comprehensive plan with broad political support, though it has faced scrutiny over cost, pace of implementation, and whether all promised measures will be sufficient to meet the targets. It remains a central reference point for Dutch climate policy and its evolution through subsequent legislation and sectoral plans.

Follow-up: The Klimaatakkoord served as a basis for climate legislation and policy in the following years, including legally binding targets anchored in climate law, and it continues to guide updates to sector plans and financing strategies.