Climate Minister Rob Jetten’s climate package is under discussion in the House of Representatives today. The government’s ambitions are great, but many additional measures are still needed to actually achieve those ambitions.
In total, Jetten wants to introduce 83 new measures to realize climate ambitions. What is striking is that most of the measures are served with a huge amount of grants from the Climate Fund. “Think, for example, of the subsidy for second-hand electric cars,” explains climate and energy reporter Mark Beekhuis. “Probably 600 million euros will be allocated for this.”
“Many millions are going over the table today”
Furthermore, according to Beekhuis, it is a question of making houses in neighborhoods more sustainable with low energy consumption and solar panels in the rental sector, for which 425 million and 100 million euros have been reserved respectively. “There are also things that aren’t paid for through grants,” Beekhuis says. ‘Companies, for example, have an obligation to invest in energy savings if they can recover it within a certain period of time. This rule will be tightened up and will be supervised. Many millions go over the table today.’
Enthusiastic
But the measures have not yet generated much enthusiasm. Not even with left and green parties, political journalist Leendert Beekman knows. “Today they enter the debate with sharp knives,” he says. “They say climate plans should be greener and more social.”
Furthermore, left-wing parties are questioning the package – as it stands now – whether the goals can actually be achieved. Earlier today, PvdA MP Joris Thijssen said that while it is good that a large fund is being allocated for this, there is uncertainty as to whether everything should be done with a subsidy.
Source: BNR
Fernando Dowling is an author and political journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. He has a deep understanding of the political landscape and a passion for analyzing the latest political trends and news.
