We regularly answer climate questions from readers. This time: why does the small Netherlands pursue an active policy to combat climate change, when large countries such as China emit by far the most? Does that make sense?
Dat we deze vraag vaak tegenkomen op ons reactieplatform NUjij, snappen experts. In eerste instantie is het een redelijke vraag, vindt klimaatonderzoeker Detlef van Vuuren van het Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving (PBL). “We kunnen niet in ons eentje de uitstoot terugdringen: dat moet op mondiaal niveau gebeuren. Maar ons beleid heeft wel effect.”
Nederland zet de komende jaren in op verduurzaming van de industrie. Er komen flink wat windmolens en zonneparken bij en we gaan langzaam van het gas af. Het is een greep uit de maatregelen die het kabinet neemt om ervoor te zorgen dat Nederland in 2050 klimaatneutraal wordt en de aarde minder snel opwarmt.
Clingendael-onderzoeker Louise van Schaik analyseert al decennialang internationaal klimaatbeleid. Volgens haar is het duidelijk dat Nederland nu de druk opvoert door hoog in te zetten op zonne- en windenergie en waterstof. “Dat komt na jarenlang onderaan bungelen in de Europese Unie”, zegt zij. “De vraag is wat mij betreft niet of wij onevenredig veel doen, maar of we wel genoeg doen.”
The Netherlands is one of the largest CO2 emitters in the EU
The Netherlands is a relatively large CO2 emitter, says a report by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL).PBL). After Germany, Italy, France and Spain, we are the leader in the EU in producing CO2. Together with these countries, the Netherlands emitted more than 70 percent of the total in 2020.
Yet our emissions seem dwarfed by those of China. That country is responsible for 26 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. China still has the largest coal reserves in the world and, according to the PBL, emitted around 14 billion tons of CO2 in 2020. For comparison: the emissions of the entire European Union count 9 percent and come third. The United States comes in second, accounting for 13 percent.
China is the factory of the world
Yet you cannot compare those figures with ours, says Van Vuuren. He co-wrote reports for the IPCC climate panel and regularly collaborates with Chinese climate researchers. “Assuming: China has about 1.4 billion inhabitants,” he says.
According to the climate researcher, it is better to look at emissions per capita. “The footprint of the average Chinese is smaller than that of a Dutch person,” he says. “Both are above average in size.”
Van Schaik agrees. “Moreover, China is the factory of the world. We also buy many products from China, where a lot of CO2 is released during production and import,” she says. “It is logical that China also has a higher energy consumption.”
China aims to become climate neutral by 2060
Both researchers state that China is now taking steps towards ambitious climate policy. For example, the country is the largest producer of solar panels and wind turbines. Bloomberg recently calculated that in 2022 one in five solar panels in the world will be installed on a Chinese roof.
Van Vuuren: “China is still dependent on the use of coal, but also makes significant investments in renewable fuels, which should eventually replace the fossil industry.”
The country has set the ambition to become climate neutral by 2060. That this target comes ten years after our deadline of 2050 is not surprising, according to Van Vuuren.
He even calls it logical for several reasons that climate change seems to be higher on the agenda here than in Beijing. “Historically, we have emitted more and are richer. We also have a great interest in the Netherlands due to our location and the threat of sea level rise.”
Europe can take the lead, China will follow
Van Schaik: “Ultimately, it is cheaper for everyone to switch to sustainable energy, because we don’t have to extract it from the ground.” The Clingendael researcher currently sees a competition between China, the US and Europe for who develops the best green technologies.
And according to Van Schaik, China is watching European policy with great interest. “If we pick up pace in the EU with hydrogen or new battery technology, I expect they will want to buy it from us in China or copy it themselves.” In this way, Europe can take a leading role and China will follow, she predicts.
“We have to get to work, and so does China,” concludes Van Vuuren. “Eventually we all have to go to zero.”
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