Press

42 press releases

Use growth fund to target sustainable growth

14 October 2021 - The National Growth Fund (Nationaal Groeifonds) was instituted to raise the Netherlands' future gross domestic product. The Council for the Environment and Infrastructure (Rli) concludes in its advisory report "Investing in sustainable growth" that this goal can only be achieved by investing exclusively in activities aligned to the transition to a carbon-neutral, low-resource, nature-inclusive…

Accessibility policy focuses too much on expanding infrastructure

Rli 10 February 2021 - In accessibility policy, the focus is too one-sided, concentrating on eliminating traffic congestion and investing in new infrastructure projects. Other solutions, such as spreading traffic throughout the day, digital alternatives or smart urbanisation policies, should be given more consideration in decisions to improve accessibility. Government and parliament could also respond more actively to…

Government must focus policy on sustainable digitalisation

Rli 9 February 2021 - Digital technology and data use are changing our society in fundamental ways. These changes are having a major impact on the sustainability of our living environment. Although digitalisation and sustainability are inextricably connected, government policy fails to recognise this connection. In its advisory report about ‘digitalisation and the transition towards a sustainable society, the Dutch…

Hydrogen: an indispensable part of a sustainable economy

Rli 25 January 2021 - Climate-neutral hydrogen is an indispensable link in the future supply of energy and feedstocks. However, a market for climate-neutral hydrogen will not simply materialise automatically. It requires the government to build infrastructure, finance new technology and stimulate demand for hydrogen with targeted measures. These are the conclusions of the Council for the Environment and Infrastructure…

City accessible to fewer and fewer people

Rli 1 October 2020 - Fewer and fewer people are unable to participate sufficiently in urban life. They can no longer find or pay for a home and many amenities in the city are inaccessible to them. Furthermore, fewer people have transport to reach work or medical facilities. This is the conclusion reached by the Council for the Environment and Infrastructure (Rli) in its advisory report ‘Access to the city’ that was…

Opting for a green recovery, after the corona crisis

10 July 2020 - After the corona crisis, the Dutch Government will have to assist the process of economic recovery. The most effective recovery measures would be those that boost both the economy and employment, in the short term, while also contributing to a sustainable economy in the longer term. This is the conclusion by the Council for the Environment and Infrastructure (Rli) in its advisory report, ’Green…

European sustainability councils call for a boost in the post-pandemic shift to rail for international travel

Rli 1 July 2020 - Europe can and must do more to improve international passenger travel by rail. This will contribute towards the EU’s environmental goals, will enhance the economic competitiveness of agglomerations and stimulate sustainable tourism. Moreover, the transport sector will need support from the EU to prevent decline in the wake of the current COVID-19-crisis. This support can be used as an incentive…

More vigorous soil policy needed

Rli 29 June 2020 - The health of rural soils in the Netherlands is in jeopardy, but current soil policy provides an inadequate response. Objectives for nature, water and climate are not being met and agricultural yields are under threat. The government must do more to ensure soils are suitable for multiple uses, but also that activities take place where the soil is able to support them. Amendments to the…

Dutch Cabinet to increase their grip on hazardous substances

11 March 2020 - Current policy on hazardous substances is not sufficient to adequately control the risks to people and the physical environment. The use and number of hazardous substances is increasing, as is the reuse of products containing such substances. This is why new policy is needed, according to the Council for the Environment and Infrastructure (Rli), in its advisory report ‘A grip on hazardous…

Tourism growth requireschange in policy

Rli 6 September 2019 - 6 September 2019 – The number of tourists visiting the Netherlands has grown exponentially in the past ten years and will continue to do so in the years to come. Tourism now generates as much revenue as the construction sector and more than double that of agriculture. The rising pressure of tourism is also causing ever more problems and inconvenience, however, a situation that is harmful to the…