This Climate Plan, prepared on the basis of the provisions of the Climate Act, outlines the Netherlands' legal and policy framework for transitioning to a climate-neutral society by 2050, thus providing a long-term strategic vision and a policy agenda for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions through 2025-2035, in compliance with European Union and global climate targets, such as the Paris Agreement. Inspired by the right to live in a healthy and safe environment and the green economy approach in working and doing business, this Plan describes the government's goals to: 1) lead to equitable outcomes; 2) offer an economic perspective based on climate neutrality and green economy; 3) provide scope for social initiative; and 4) take into account the interconnections that must occur simultaneously to achieve climate neutrality. The Plan is structured as follows: Chapter 1 outlines the principles for developing climate policy in the coming years. Chapter 2 describes the most important new insights since the previous 2020 Climate Plan, with new societal, technological, scientific, and policy developments. Chapter 3 describes the transition path to climate neutrality and its translation into policy directions and the design of the 2025-2035 policy agenda, both at the European and national levels, and across sectors. Chapter 4 addresses the economic and financial consequences of the policy. Chapter 5 describes governance and implementation. Chapter 6 addresses how climate policy is monitored and evaluated. Concerning the foundation principles of this Plan, the most relevant are: equity and fairness, recognising differential ability to bear costs and benefit from transition among income groups, companies, and regions; economic innovation; strengthening importance of local and civil society initiatives such as energy cooperatives, public institutions; improving interdependencies between climate, circular economy, food system, and digital transitions.
The Plan focuses on the following topics: emission reduction pathways; carbon removal and unavoidable emissions compensation; enhancing circular economy practices; supporting vulnerable groups through proper subsidies and social funds to prevent energy poverty; strengthening governance, stakeholder involvement, evaluation mechanism and monitoring measures; careful consideration of climate effects on household incomes, energy costs, and societal welfare. This Climate Plan addresses sectoral transitions specifically for energy, agriculture, and food, as follows: aiming at a fully CO2-free electricity sector by 2035, with expansion of renewable production capacity, deployment of hydrogen in industry and heavy mobility, and nuclear energy as stable component; focusing on emission reductions in agriculture, with protein transition, a shift from animal to more plant-based proteins to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions, and follow healthier dietary patterns; increasing circular agriculture practices and innovations in farming practices; improving levels of food loss and waste reduction; promotion of nature-based solutions to enhance ecosystems while sustaining agriculture; improving innovation in alternative foods, such as cultured meat and fermentation technologies.