SDG 13 Climate action
- Greenhouse gas emissions are high in the Netherlands compared with other countries in the EU, but most indicators are trending downwards. In 2023 greenhouse gas emissions were 34.5 percent lower than in 1990. Per capita greenhouse gas emissions are trending downwards. Emissions by companies with the highest emission levels, which are required to participate in the Emissions Trading System (ETS), are trending downwards, but only Bulgaria, Cyprus and Poland have smaller decreases. Methane emissions from the climate sector agriculture show a decreasing trend alongside a low position within the EU.
- Dutch economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions are now decoupled. The greenhouse gas intensity of the economy shows a decreasing trend: GDP volume is growing while emissions are falling.
- The amount of accumulated CO2 emissions in the Netherlands is rising steadily. Cumulative CO2 emissions give an indication of the Dutch share of global historical CO2 emissions. This is relatively high compared with other EU countries.
- In 2023 75.7 percent of Dutch adults were concerned or very concerned about the impact of climate change on future generations. Only in Sweden did a larger share of the population think that climate change was the greatest problem facing the world.
Dashboard and indicators
Resources and opportunities
Use
in EU
in 2021
in EU
in 2021
in EU
in 2021
in EU
in 2021
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2021
Outcomes
in EU
in 2021
in EU
in 2022
Subjective assessment
in EU
in 2023
| Theme | Indicator | Value | Trend | Position in EU | Position in EU ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resources and opportunities | Government expenditure on climate change mitigation A) | 0.2% of gross domestic product (current prices) in 2023 | |||
| Use | Greenhouse gas emissions (IPCC) per capita | 8.4 tonnes CO2 equivalents per capita in 2023 | decreasing (increase well-being) | 22nd out of 27 in 2021 | Low ranking |
| Use | Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (IPCC definition) | -34.5% change relative to 1990 in 2023 | decreasing (increase well-being) | 14th out of 27 in 2021 | Middle ranking |
| Use | Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from aviation bunker fuels | -15.5% change relative to 2008 in 2022 | 15th out of 27 in 2021 | Middle ranking | |
| Use | Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from maritime bunker fuels | -29.9% change relative to 2008 in 2022 | 6th out of 22 in 2021 | High ranking | |
| Use | Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from companies in ETS | -24.6% change relative to 2005 in 2022 | decreasing (increase well-being) | 24th out of 27 in 2022 | Low ranking |
| Use | Methane emissions climate sector agriculture | 0.8 tonnes CO2 equivalents, per capita, in 2022 | decreasing (increase well-being) | 24th out of 27 in 2021 | Low ranking |
| Outcomes | Cumulative CO2 emissions A) | 7.7 tonnes CO2 per capita since 1860 in 2023 | increasing (decrease well-being) | 13th out of 16 in 2021 | Low ranking |
| Outcomes | Greenhouse gas intensity of the economy A) | 0.23 kg CO2 equivalents per euro of GDP (2015 prices) in 2023 | decreasing (increase well-being) | 8th out of 27 in 2022 | Middle ranking |
| Outcomes | Greenhouse gas footprint A) | 15.7 tonnes CO2 equivalents per capita in 2022 | |||
| Subjective assessment | Climate change concerns B) | 75.7% of the population over 15 are concerned in 2023 | 25th out of 27 in 2023 | Low ranking |
Colour codes and notes to the dashboards in the Monitor of Well-being
SDG 13 aims to tackle climate change caused by humans. Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, countries committed to restricting global warming to below two degrees in 2050. To achieve this countries have set targets for resilience and climate adaptation, drafted national climate policies and made resources available to create awareness and support for climate change mitigation measures. Dutch policy is centred around the Climate Agreement and the resulting Climate Act. In addition, it has set up a Delta Programme, intended to protect the Netherlands against flooding and other consequences of extreme weather.
For the Netherlands, the reduction target for greenhouse gases is at least 55 percent from the 1990 level by 2030. The main way to accomplish this is by using less fossil and more renewable energy. Government policy also addresses the roles of circularity, circular agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure and mobility, urban development and water.
This dashboard focuses on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions include those from the climate sector land use (or LULUCF), as these count towards the 2030 reduction target. This climate sector plays an important part in the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere; this removal counts as negative emission, as carbon is absorbed and retained in biomass and soil (for example by planting extra forests).
Although trends for 2016-2023 present a predominantly positive picture, the Netherlands is trailing in the EU on several indicators. Only cumulative CO2 emissions are trending unfavourably from the perspective of well-being.
Three new indicators have been added to the dashboard. The first reflects methane emissions by the climate sector agriculture. The other two illustrate greenhouse gas emissions from marine and aviation bunker fuels.
Resources and opportunities concern resources used in the Netherlands to combat climate change and cope with its effects.
Use describes how the Netherlands is tackling climate change. The globally agreed target – global warming to be limited to well below 2 degrees Celsius and preferably 1.5 degrees – was set out in the Paris Agreement (2015) and was officially adopted in the Netherlands in its Climate Agreement of June 2019.
Outcomes concern all Dutch contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions.
Subjective assessment refers to climate concerns and the extent to which people see climate change as a problem. According to a CBS study conducted in 2023, over three-quarters of the population aged 18 years and older were concerned or very concerned about the impact of climate change on future generations.