nrc.nl
Netherlands and EU Fall Short of Climate Goals Amid Shifting Public Priorities
The Netherlands is highly unlikely to meet its 2030 climate targets, and EU climate plans lack widespread support, while public concern over climate change has significantly decreased, overshadowed by immediate concerns like the war in Ukraine, housing shortages, and inflation.
- What strategies could potentially reignite public engagement with climate change and foster more effective action?
- To re-engage the public, climate advocacy needs to shift from fear-mongering to offering positive visions and concrete solutions, emphasizing collective action and tangible benefits. Examples include promoting technologies like cultured meat and affordable green transportation, creating a sense of shared purpose and hope, rather than focusing solely on individual sacrifices and abstract future threats. Constructive plans and collaborative efforts between activists and policymakers are crucial for achieving this.
- What are the key findings regarding the Netherlands' progress toward its 2030 climate goals and the broader European context?
- The Netherlands' Planning Bureau for the Living Environment deems it "highly improbable" that the nation will achieve its 2030 climate objectives. Simultaneously, European Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra faces significant resistance from numerous EU countries regarding his proposed climate plans. This demonstrates a concerning lack of progress at both national and European levels.
- How has public attention and activism surrounding climate change evolved in the Netherlands and beyond, and what factors contribute to this shift?
- Public concern over climate change in the Netherlands has dropped considerably, with only 16 percent of respondents citing it as a top-three issue in 2025, down from 36 percent in 2021. Activist groups like Letzte Generation and Extinction Rebellion have also seen a significant decrease in participation, reflecting a broader shift in public priorities towards more immediate concerns like economic hardship and geopolitical instability. This is further supported by a decline in climate concern across all age groups, from 71 percent in 2022 to 61 percent in 2025.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article presents a balanced overview of the decline in climate activism and public concern, acknowledging both the objective decrease in attention and the subjective reasons behind it. While the author expresses personal opinions, the inclusion of diverse data points (e.g., polls, news events) prevents a one-sided narrative. The framing is more analytical than alarmist, focusing on understanding the shift in public priorities rather than solely emphasizing the urgency of climate change.
Language Bias
The language used is mostly neutral and descriptive. While the author employs some figurative language (e.g., "so last season"), it's used for illustrative purposes and doesn't overtly skew the reader's perception. There is no use of loaded terms or emotional appeals to manipulate the reader's opinion.
Bias by Omission
The article could benefit from including perspectives from climate scientists or policymakers, offering expert insights on the current state of climate action and the long-term implications of decreased public concern. However, given the focus on societal shifts in attention and the author's personal reflections, this omission is understandable and doesn't significantly distort the analysis.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article directly addresses the lack of progress on climate action goals in the Netherlands and the EU. It highlights the decreasing public concern about climate change, the reduced effectiveness of climate activism, and the weakening political will to implement climate policies. This directly impacts the achievement of climate action targets (SDG 13). The declining public support and political inaction impede progress towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change impacts.