About the council

The Council for the Environment and Infrastructure (Rli) is the primary strategic advisory board for the Dutch government and parliament in matters relating to the physical environment and infrastructure.

The Council operates independently and provides solicited and unsolicited advice on policy affecting the sustainable development of the human environment. The policy domains in which it is active are therefore those of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (I&W), the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK), the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) and the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK). The Council’s advice relates to matters of:

  • housing
  • spatial planning
  • environment
  • climate policy
  • water
  • agriculture
  • nature
  • food (quality)
  • traffic and transport
  • spatial-economic development
  • energy infrastructure
  • external safety

Through its integrated approach and strategic advice, the Council strives to provide greater depth and breadth to the political and social debate, and to improve the quality of decision-making processes.

The Council was formally established in February 2012 further to the provisions of the Kaderwet adviescolleges (Advisory Boards Framework Act).