Climate policy

We combat climate change with European collaboration and policies that focus on actual CO₂ savings.

 

TNO: Import tax on waste leads to more CO₂ emissions

The import tax on waste was introduced as a measure arising from the Urgenda judgment to save 0.2 megatonnes of CO₂ emissions. Unfortunately, the measure backfired. TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research) calculated that the import tax will lead to 0.9 megatonnes more CO₂ emissions in Europe because more residual waste will be landfilled and less renewable energy will be produced. Afvalvergroeners, a Dutch sustainability advocacy group, are pushing to have the import tax reversed.

View the TNO report www.afvalvergroeners.nl

CE Delft/Prognos: European collaboration will save 150 megatonnes of CO₂ emissions

If we meet the European targets for reducing landfilling of combustible waste (only 10%), more recycling (65%) and converting the rest to energy, we will save as much as 150 megatonnes of CO₂ emissions in Europe, according to a CE Delft/Prognos study. The researchers call on policymakers to use all the recycling and waste-to-energy capacity available in Europe for this purpose. Dutch capacity is desperately needed in a European perspective to combat climate change.

Report

IPCC: Waste-to-energy plants can achieve 60 to 70 megatonnes of negative emissions

According to the latest UPCC report, waste-to-energy plants are a costly way to produce renewable energy as opposed to energy from fossil sources, but the environmental benefits outweigh the high costs. Moreover, if waste-to-energy plants in Europe are equipped with CO₂ capture technologies, then 60 to 70 megatonnes of negative CO₂ emissions can be realised, according to IPCC, because more than half of the CO₂ emissions are biogenic CO₂ emissions. Policy should focus on seizing this opportunity.

Report

United Nations: Greatest opportunity for European methane reduction lies in waste policy

Methane emissions have accounted for half of today's global warming. The United Nations Global Methane Assessment states that Europe's greatest opportunity for reducing methane emissions lies in better waste policies. Much of the waste that ends up in landfills in Europe could have been used for recycling or energy production. By signing the Global Methane Pledge, the Netherlands pledged to work together to reduce global methane emissions. Optimising access to the Dutch waste management infrastructure should be an essential part of this.

Global methane assessment Global methane pledge