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The Dutch Parliament passed a new Climate Act in May 2019, which mandates the Netherlands to reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 49% in 2030 compared to 1990 levels, and by 95% in 2050. The National Climate Agreement, adopted in June 2019, translates this national target into sectoral objectives for 2030. In order to accelerate and support the decarbonisation of the industry, the Dutch government is planning to introduce new policy instruments by the end of 2020, including a carbon levy and enhanced subsidy programmes such as the Sustainable Energy Transition Incentive Scheme (SDE++).
Dr. Louis Meuleman will strengthen the EU proposition, with governance questions regarding the implementation of the Green deal as a spearhead.
2020 was certainly an eventful year for Europe, with the Green Deal, corona and Brexit. And 2021 will be just as eventful, judging from the interviews conducted by our colleagues with five eminent EU experts.
Against the backdrop of an expected rise in redundancies and stagnating recruitment, HR professionals believe that digitalisation will play an even greater role in improving employability in the workforce. This is the conclusion of the 'HR Trends 2020-2021' survey of almost 2,000 HR professionals in the Netherlands.
The European Commission’s Green Deal set an ambitious target to make Europe the first continent to become climate neutral in 2050. By 2030 it wants to reduce CO2-equivalent emissions by at least 55% (relative to 1990 levels), a significant step up from its previous 40% reduction target. In a new research report we look at the costs of developing and improving new energy sources to achieve the 2030 target and indicate the total costs to society to attract sufficient green investments.
The energy transition involves radical changes for the energy system. Berenschot and Kalavasta developed four climate-neutral energy scenarios for the Dutch energy system in 2050. These scenarios are based around different governance pathways to achieve the energy transition. We distinguished a regional, national, European and international pathway, with each pathways resulting in carbon neutrality. During this webinar, Bert den Ouden (Berenschot) will explore these scenarios and the energy system (including renewables, electricity, heat, storage).
Berenschot and Kalavasta have developed four integrated climate-neutral scenarios for the Dutch energy system in 2050. This study was commissioned by Gasunie, TenneT and the regional energy network operators in the Netherlands and produced in close cooperation with the Dutch ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate. Key findings of this study have been presented by the energy and climate policy minister to Parliament.
International security cannot be taken for granted. The balance between peaceful cooperation and stability is fragile – as we know only too well in Europe. The United States is shifting its attention (and defence spending) from Europe to China and in the meantime, Russia is seizing ever more power. In its 2019 annual report, the Netherlands Defence Intelligence and Security Service notes that digital espionage by state actors such as the Russian Federation and China is one of the greatest threats facing the Netherlands and its allies.
The hyperloop is a new mode of transport to be watched, as it promises better, faster and more sustainable mobility. As development of the technology is ready to test, we have to think about the introduction of this new modality into the existing infrastructure and society. This requires, among other things, the development of cross border infrastructure, compliance to international technological standards, new (inter) national legislation and of course huge investments. Big challenges which can only be met when both public and private parties are aligned.