As Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, Cramer (PvdA) had been appointed as the plan coordinator of the National Air Quality Cooperation Programme. ‘When I took office in 2007, the cabinet was faced with a nitrogen and particulate matter problem. One of the threats was the halt of the works due to CO2 emissions. It was my job, together with other responsible ministers, to ensure that the plans could be implemented immediately on the one hand, but could also be approved by Brussels on the other,’ says Cramer in BNR’s Big Five.
“That plan covered traffic and transportation, agriculture and industry. The construction sector was not included, but traffic had to become cheaper and cleaner. That plan was complete, there was agreement with all parties, including VNO-NCW and also the European Commission agreed in 2009 or early 2010, it has been fully finalized,’ says Cramer, currently Professor of Innovation sustainability at Utrecht University.
However, the plan has disappeared into a drawer. «The first thing that happened after my departure as minister was the increase in the speed limit to 130. Milk quotas were also abolished, allowing farmers to expand. This was a direct result of lobbying by industry organizations on the new cabinet.’
According to the former minister, something similar happened with the climate plans. ‘The then applicable target of a 30% CO2 reduction by 2020 was fully defined and coordinated with the European Commission. Subsequent cabinets, however, paid no attention to this, as these issues were not considered important.’
Opportunism in politics
According to Cramer, politics has become too opportunistic. “I kept my mouth shut for a long time because it’s not polite to criticize one’s successors. But why were politicians unable to implement a coherent policy in the areas where this was needed? I just can’t reach it.’
Cramer says he already feared the consequences of not implementing the plans. ‘I was sure that the Netherlands would come to a complete stop. And if you know that these issues will bring problems and will still be ignored despite the legally established cooperation, then the policy has proved too opportunistic.’
Leading role for the government
According to Cramer, politics should take on a more prominent role that also makes use of society. “Take citizens seriously in what they can do, investigate how they can help achieve the goals and not think endlessly.” According to Cramer, a major responsibility for the current construction and nitrogen crisis lies with lobby clubs. “It is the lobbies and political forces that are causing us the current troubles.” It is therefore very important that confidence in politics is restored. ‘How can we give people perspective again? It is an uncertain time and we cannot say exactly how we will become more sustainable, but it is certain that we must become more sustainable”.