Urgendas

Urgendas is a Dutch organization that advocates for more ambitious climate policies. Founded in 2009, it originated from a group of concerned citizens who felt that the Dutch government's climate targets were insufficient. The organization focuses on lobbying politicians, raising public awareness, and initiating legal action to pressure for stronger climate action.

The core of Urgendas's strategy involves legal proceedings against the government. Their most prominent case, the "Urgendas Case" (or "The Hague Climate Case"), resulted in a landmark court ruling in 2015. The court ordered the Dutch government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25% by 2020, compared to 1990 levels, deeming the government's existing policies inadequate to protect citizens from dangerous climate change. This ruling was upheld on appeal.

Urgendas draws its support from a broad base of individuals and organizations in the Netherlands. They emphasize the urgency of the climate crisis and the ethical responsibility of governments to protect their populations. Their work has influenced climate policy discussions in the Netherlands and has inspired similar climate litigation efforts in other countries. The organization continues to monitor the government's progress on emission reductions and engages in ongoing advocacy to ensure compliance with the court's mandate and to push for further climate action.