publicaties

Digitally Sustainable

Rli - february 2021
February 2021
Digitally Sustainable
Teasertekst
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. How can we create a society that is both digital and sustainable?
Advies bestand
Digitally Sustainable14.06 MB
Adviesnummer
Rli2021/02

Background and request for advice

Behind the living environment that we see and experience lies a digital world of data, platforms and online services. Increasingly, the digital world is defining the ways we live, travel, spend our leisure time, consume, and so many other aspects of our daily lives. The digital transformation of our society has brought a great deal of convenience and prosperity to our lives. Digital technology and data can have positive effects for sustainability, for example by making production processes more efficient and by enabling us to integrate solar and wind power into our existing energy system. But digitalisation does not automatically make our society more sustainable. It is also a driver of increasing consumption, creates growth in resource-intensive industries and increases greenhouse gas emissions.

The question behind this advisory report is: how are digitalisation and sustainability transitions related, and what possible, necessary and effective role can government play to ensure that digitalisation contributes to the necessary transition to a sustainable society?

Explanation

The government is actively pursuing policy to make the living environment more sustainable, and is taking a number of steps in the physical living environment to achieve targets relating to greenhouse gases, the climate and resource consumption. However, the digital side of the living environment has yet to be given sufficient attention. The focus in the government’s digitalisation policy on the economic opportunities digitalisation presents, fair competition and the protection of civil rights is clear; yet the sustainability effects of digitalisation are conspicuously underemphasised. Likewise, in sustainability policy insufficient attention is being given to the indispensable role of digital technology and data in the achievement of the sustainability goals. Focused interventions by the Netherlands and the European Union in the digital world are clearly necessary and justified. The government is responsible for a sustainable living environment, and digitalisation is changing the starting points for achieving it. Digitalisation is creating new opportunities for government intervention.

Digital platforms are a vital element of the digitalisation of society, and this makes them the best point of reference for the measures intended to further the green transformation of the living environment. In the living environment, digital platforms connect supply and demand for a huge variety of goods and services. In the process, they generate, analyse and process large amounts of data on that environment, from the supply and consumption of energy to travel patterns to consumer goods. This puts digital platforms in the position to increasingly dictate the rules in the market for things like mobility, leisure time, energy and raw materials, with all the impact on the living environment that this implies. Accordingly, the Council considers it of essential importance for the public sector to understand this, and set requirements on digital platforms in the interests of sustainability. This is why the Rli also believes that there is a need for a European regulation that will make it possible to set sustainability requirements on these platforms. In addition the Dutch government must investigate the options to, through the platforms, factor the negative environmental impact of products and services into prices.

The Rli makes three primary recommendations for active government intervention:

  1. The government has to more consistently apply digital technology and data towards its sustainability policy
  2. In its digitalisation policy, the government must ensure that the digitalisation of society is sustainable.
  3. Governmental agencies must be better prepared for developments in the digital realm.

Essays

It is clear that the process of digitalisation is proceeding at varying speeds, intensities and phases in different domains within the living environment. Because the green transformation is not a single, unified and coherent process, in preparing for this advice the Rli asked a number of experts in different areas to reflect on the relationship between the digital and green transformations in three separate domains: energy, mobility, and the circular construction economy. What changes is that relationship giving rise to? What does this mean for the achievement of the sustainability goals? Is the government’s current toolkit going to be sufficient to achieve these goals or protect and promote other public interests?

The authors all address current developments in the digital domain and their impact on the living environment and what this means for the green transformation. The essays address topics such as the development of digital platforms, the changing impact and role of the government, and the protection of the public good. Each author bears the responsibility for the content of his or her submission, and the essays do not necessarily reflect the position of the Council.

Read the essay ‘High-value digitalisation for the energy transition’ - Eef Masson, Romy Dekker & Rinie van Est - Rathenau Institute

Read the essay 'Digitalisation and the transition to a sustainable society - Perspective from the mobility domain' - Carlo van de Weijer Eindhoven - AI Systems Institute

Read the essay 'The digital potential in creating a circular construction economy' - Paul W Chan, Catherine De Wolf and Alexander Koutamanis -TU Delft

Publication

This advisory report was presented to the State Secretary for Infrastructure & Public Works, the State Secretary for Internal Affairs & Kingdom Relations and the cabinet members for Economic Affairs and Climate on 9 February 2021.

More information

For more information about the advice, please contact Bart Swanenvleugel, project manager, bart.swanenvleugel@rli.nl, +31 6 5201 2691.

 

Illuminated motorway with imaginary wire structure of digital connections and urban buildings in the background
sitecontent
publicaties
Adviestype
Advisory report
Raad
Rli

Towards an integrated accessibility policy

Rli - february 2021
February 2021
Towards an integrated accessibility policy
Teasertekst
More and more solutions for accessibility issues are being advanced. Policy choices regarding accessibility are increasingly linked to other challenges in the living environment. How do we arrive at an integrated accessibility policy?
Advies bestand
Advisory report 'Towards an integrated accessibility policy' (Rli 2021/03)531.39 KB
Adviesnummer
Rli 2021/03

Background and question to be addressed

The Dutch House of Representatives asked the Council to advise on how to achieve a more integrated approach to the accessibility issue in practice. The questions that the House has put to the Council are: What institutional obstacles exist within government organisations and how can these be removed? Are there different obstacles in relation to national, regional and cross-border mobility challenges? How can a comprehensive assessment be guaranteed in the various assessment instruments? How can the House of Representatives influence this process?

This is the Council's response to the request made by the House, with the following key question:

How can a more comprehensive assessment of accessibility challenges and solutions be achieved in policymaking? What are the main obstacles that stand in the way of such a comprehensive assessment for institutions in general and the House of Representatives in particular and how can these obstacles be overcome?

Explanation

There is a growing realisation that an "integrated" approach to accessibility policy is desirable. An integrated approach goes beyond enabling efficient travel by car, bicycle or public transport. This approach is alive to new possibilities and innovations in the field of mobility. Consideration is given to spatial planning solutions and the idea of spreading mobility throughout the day. The policy involves keeping an eye out for digital alternatives to physical travel. An integrated approach also takes account of other challenges in the living environment, such as urbanisation, safety and climate. In our advisory report to the House, the Council makes a number of recommendations to government and parliament on how to achieve an integrated, balanced accessibility policy.

The three main recommendations are:

  • Aim for broad welfare: as a benchmark throughout the entire accessibility policy cycle, including visions and assessment instruments. The Council recommends that facilitating mobility should no longer be regarded as the dominant principle of accessibility policy. A well-considered vision, backed up by political decision-making, is needed to set the goals of accessibility policy and determine how they can best be achieved. As far as the Council is concerned, the impact on broad welfare should be the benchmark throughout the entire policy cycle, from vision development to implementation. This means updating the assessment instruments and the way they are used. The conceptual framework and system of social cost-benefit analyses should be used at an earlier stage and more consistently in decision-making processes. The new national market and capacity analysis, to be published in the summer of 2021, must take account of all aspects relevant to broad welfare. It is important to prevent this analysis from acquiring the status of a priority list for infrastructural solutions, as has been the case in the past.
     
  • Take a broad view: on all available solutions for accessibility issues. The Council calls on government and parliament to include all available solutions for improving accessibility when considering policy. Changing social preferences and technological developments make this necessary. Besides "classic" infrastructural measures aimed at tackling traffic capacity problems, other promising solutions, such as influencing behaviour, spreading mobility over time, finding digital accessibility alternatives and encouraging smart spatial design, should be considered as equivalents when making policy choices. The rapid development of digital alternatives to physical travel, such as online working from home or education, must be taken into account in policy without delay, in cooperation with private partners. In addition, national spatial policy can be used to focus more strongly on the impact of urbanisation on accessibility.
     
  • Adopt a common view: nationwide and with the regions, based on a multi-year programmatic approach and the funding of accessibility policy. In order to make choices based on a comprehensive assessment, the three ministries involved must view accessibility policy as a joint, coherent challenge at national level: Infrastructure and Water Management (for the mobility theme), Interior and Kingdom Relations (for the urbanisation and spatial design theme) and Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (for the digital accessibility theme). A shared strategy and policy agenda is needed to form a basis from which to allocate responsibilities and financial resources for the accessibility policy. The implementation of carefully coordinated urbanisation and accessibility strategies must not be hampered by a sectoral project approach or by the interests of individual organisations. The Council believes that area-specific programme management linked to joint programme funding will form the basis for improving ways of embedding the integrated approach in the collaboration, both nationally and between the national government and the regions. This will also require a broadening of the financial basis for the integrated accessibility policy over the coming period.

The House of Representatives has an important part to play throughout the policy cycle in achieving a more integrated accessibility policy. The Council has two specific recommendations:

  • Make more use of the available parliamentary options for influencing policy.

The House can make better use of its options for influencing policy by closely questioning the government and focusing its debate on the comprehensive nature of the principles and proposals for accessibility policy. If required, the House can also play an initiating role, for example by issuing an initiative memorandum. The effective use of these scrutiny options requires the House to form an opinion about the role that accessibility policy can play in promoting broad welfare. It also requires the House to ensure that the assessment frameworks and decision-making instruments used are properly geared towards making comprehensive assessments.

  • Parliamentary attention should be more focused on the relationship between the impact, possible solutions and the administrative organisation of accessibility policy.

When exercising its scrutinising role, the House should focus less on the results of individual projects and measures and concentrate more on the impact and achievement of the goals of accessibility policy as a whole.

This also means: assessing government policy more explicitly in terms of the connections it makes with other relevant substantive policy areas, such as spatial policy, urbanisation and digitalisation, and in terms of cooperation between ministries and tiers of government. The Council believes that a more integrated accessibility policy would also benefit from the regular organisation of joint meetings of the standing committees for the Infrastructure and Water Management and Interior and Kingdom Relations ministries.

Publication date

On 10 February, the Council presented its advisory report, "Towards an integrated accessibility policy", to the Dutch House of Representatives . Member of Parliament Rutger Schonis (D66) accepted the advisory report on behalf of the House of Representatives online.

Further information

If you would like to comment on this topic or require more information, please contact Luc Boot, project leader, at luc.boot@rli.nl or on +31 (0) 6 1057 7495.

Photo: man sitting before his bike with laptop on his lap - Ollyy
sitecontent
publicaties
Adviestype
Advisory report
Raad
Rli

Access to the city

Rli - october 2020
Subtitel
How public amenities, housing and transport are key for citizens
October 2020
Teasertekst
More and more people are unable to participate sufficiently in urban life. How can we combat unjustified differences between groups of citizens?
Advies bestand
Advisory report Access to the city: how public amenities, housing and transport are key for citizens 4.53 MB
Adviesnummer
Rli 2020/06

Background and request for advice

To have access to urban life, you need to be able to live in the vicinity, make use of public amenities and be mobile. For more and more people this is becoming an increasing problem. Living in the city is becoming increasingly expensive, this applies to both rental and owner-occupied housing. Substantial cuts have been made to public amenities such as health care, libraries, sports and welfare centres. And transport, for getting to work, school or the hospital, for instance, is too expensive or time consuming for many people. As a result, more and more people are losing access to the city.

The Council wishes to use this advisory report to put the issue of city accessibility on the agenda and outline ways in which the government can ensure that cities are and remain accessible to everyone. 

Students by In Holland Hoge School

Explanation

Key functions public amenities, housing and transport

Three functions in the living environment are central to the accessibility of cities in this advisory report: public amenities, housing and transport. These functions are a precondition for work, education, health care and encounters and are therefore called key functions by the Council.

In order to identify the conditions that must be met in order to better guarantee citizens' access to the city's key functions, it is necessary not only to look from the perspective of the policymakers, but also (and above all) from the perspectives of individual citizens. What are their limitations and possibilities? Are their personal circumstances and capacities taken into account sufficiently and what problems do they encounter in their environment? Availability, affordability and accessibility is what matters, but also, for example, the comprehensibility of rules and digital information systems. 

More and more people facing problems

Cities are becoming more inaccessible for three groups of people. The first group consists of vulnerable people with, for example, a low income or a physical or mental disability. In addition, there are the 'new vulnerable people': people on middle incomes who are self-reliant but still have difficulty accessing urban life. This applies, for example, to flex workers who cannot get a mortgage and have to pay higher rents or have to make increasingly longer trips to combine work and family. The third group consists of people who would like to develop an initiative together in the city, but who cannot find a location or encounter all kinds of rules.

Recommendations to the government and municipalities

The Council has formulated a number of recommendations to the government and municipalities on how to bring about easier accessibility to cities with a greater focus on the citizen.

1. Increased focus on the citizen through an accessibility assessment

The Rli advocates that both the government and municipalities should, more than at present, base their policy on the position of different groups of people in society. They have to ask themselves the question: what influence do our plans and policies have on the accessibility of the city? How much money and time do people need to be able to participate in urban life? The Council therefore proposes to carry out an accessibility assessment for new urban policy.

2. Create scope for civil initiatives.

The government and municipalities should provide more room for civil initiatives that improve access to urban society. That can be accomplished by experimenting and relaxing regulation. The government could support building initiatives by establishing a guarantee fund, by empowering housing associations to provide financial support for cooperative groups and by making land available for an appropriate price.

3. Improve access to all three key functions

Access to each of the key functions of the city needs to improve:

• Public amenities: the Rli recommends that all cities draw up an ‘investment strategy for public amenities’, which covers the access to urban society of different groups of people. The national government must also make a financial contribution to this.

• Housing: the Rli recommends making better use of the existing housing stock, e.g. by revising the cost-sharing standard for welfare recipients and by facilitating more efficient use of space in owner-occupied and rental housing. The council also advises against uncontrolled price increases in the rental sector by adjusting the tax rules for private landlords.

• Transport: the Rli recommends that the basic principle of transport policy should be that everyone in Netherlands can make all of their desired journeys at a reasonable cost (in terms of money, time and effort). That translates into the goal of amenities being reachable within fifteen minutes on foot, by bicycle or with public transport. This means that measures will be needed to improve the proximity of amenities and the density of the mobility network.

Publication

On 1 October 2020, the Council presented its advisory report ‘Access to the city’ to the Dutch Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Kajsa Ollongren, and the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Cora van Nieuwenhuizen.

More information

If you wish to respond or would like more information, please contact project leader Douwe Wielenga, Douwe.wielenga@rli.nl

sitecontent
publicaties
Raad
Rli

Stop land subsidence in peat meadow areas

Rli - september 2020
Subtitel
The 'Green Heart’ area as an example
September 2020
Teasertekst
Land subsidence is leading to increasing problems in peat meadow areas. What choices have to be made to counter the negative effects?
Advies bestand
Advisory report Stop land subsidence in peat meadow areas: the 'Green Heart’ area as an example14.79 MB
Adviesnummer
RLi 2020/05

Background and main question

The land in rural peat meadow areas is subsiding. This is mainly a result of the water level being lowered to make the land suitable for agricultural use. Lowering the water level results in peat oxidation, which in turn causes the land to subside. Land subsidence leads to mounting problems, such as CO2 emissions and a deterioration in the quality of the water and the natural environment. It also increases the costs of water management. Continuing on the path of dewatering, resulting in continuous land subsidence and CO2 emissions, is economically, ecologically and socially irresponsible in the long term. In view of the need to counter climate change and reduce CO2 emissions (including emissions from peat), reducing land subsidence is actually unavoidable. The question to be addressed in this advisory report is: what choices have to be made to counter the negative effects of land subsidence in rural peat meadow areas and who should make those choices?

In this advisory report, land subsidence in peat meadow areas is discussed using the example of the ‘Green Heart’, an area of open countryside situated between the Netherlands’ four largest cities. However, many of the findings and conclusions in the advisory report are also applicable to peat meadow areas outside the Green Heart.

 

Peat meadow areas Stolwijk Krimpenerwaard

Explanation

The Council is of the view that the downward spiral of lowering water levels, peat oxidation and land subsidence must be stopped. Countering land subsidence requires a transition in the water management of peat meadow areas, from lowering water levels to raising them. The national government must provide clear direction for this transition – something it is currently doing insufficiently. The recommendations are as follows:

National policy framework and national goals for reducing land subsidence

The Council recommends a mandatory 50% reduction in land subsidence by 2030 and an indicative target of a 70% reduction in land subsidence by 2050. These targets derive directly from the obligations under the Dutch Climate Act. The Council believes that the targets should be part of a national policy framework on land subsidence, to be drawn up as part of the National Strategy on Spatial Planning and the Environment. The targets should also be laid down in legislation based on the Environment and Planning Act. In 2030, it will be possible to consider more closely whether the indicative target for 2050 needs to be adjusted and which instruments are necessary in order to reach that target.

Area-based implementation

The Council advocates a regional, area-based approach for implementing policy on land subsidence. In consultation with interested parties, provinces should draw up zoning maps to set priorities for different areas. The actual implementation can best be carried out in the areas themselves. For this reason, the Council proposes that regional implementation assemblies be established. These assemblies can be aligned with existing cooperation initiatives. It goes without saying that the water authorities have a key role to play in this implementation.

Funding the transition
For farmers in the peat meadow areas, a rising water level can have far-reaching consequences, as it will inevitably lead to ‘rewetting’ of their land. In many cases, they will have to adapt their business operations to the new situation, for example through extensification, with fewer head of livestock per hectare and/or different crops. They must be supported in this by the government, both financially and with know-how. The Council recommends the creation of a financing system in which farmers can be paid, for example by companies, for the reductions in CO2 emissions that they achieve beyond the current climate agreements for peat meadow areas. The Council also advises the national government to make a conversion premium available to farmers and to provide an implementation budget for restructuring peat meadow areas.

Investing in a knowledge base, monitoring and information
Finally, a solid knowledge base on land subsidence is essential. The Council therefore advises the national government to continue investing in research on land subsidence and to create a national information service. In addition, a national monitoring network is needed to monitor the national target for reducing land subsidence. Furthermore, the Council thinks it is important for the national government to set up an information centre where farmers can obtain information and advice on adapting their business operations.

Research report

In preparation for the advisory report, the Council commissioned a study of rewetting in the Green Heart area, in relation to the cost price of milk and the CO2 price. The research was carried out by Wageningen Economic Research (Daatselaar & Prins, 2020). The final report by WEcR can be downloaded here (pdf) only available in Dutch.

Publication

On 3 September 2020, the Council presented its advisory report ‘Stop land subsidence in peat meadow areas’ [‘Stop bodemdaling in veenweidegebieden’] to the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Kajsa Ollongren, and the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Carola Schouten.

Further information

If you wish to respond or would like more information, please contact project leader Lianne van Duinen, at Lianne.vanduinen@rli.nl

sitecontent
publicaties
Adviestype
Advisory report
Raad
Rli
Overige bijlagen
WEcR study: a study of rewetting in the Green Heart area, in relation to the cost price of milk and the CO2 price - in Dutch555.62 KB

Green recovery

Rli - july 2020
July 2020
Teasertekst
The Council for the Environment and Infrastructure calls for a green recovery from the corona crisis in which the economy, employment and a sustainable physical environment go hand in hand.
Advies bestand
Advisor letter Green recovery1.48 MB
Adviesnummer
Rli 2020/04
photo of station traverse with large sticker on the ground with text 'Care for eachother, keep a distance of 1,5 m '

In its advisory letter, 'Green Recovery', the Council for the Environment and Infrastructure (Rli) discusses the concurrence of economic recovery policy and the transition towards a sustainable society, which is an important aspect of the choices to be made.

Over the past five months, the coronavirus has changed social interaction and the way people live, affecting their appreciation of what is important in life and their expectations of the future. It is still uncertain if these changes are permanent or whether many aspects can go back to how they used to be, once a vaccine or medicine has been developed. What is certain, according to the Council, is the fact that choices can be made about how to bring the economy back on track. In its advisory letter, 'Green Recovery’, the Council discusses the concurrence of economic recovery policy and the transition towards a sustainable society, which will have an important impact on the choices to be made. The advice centres around the following question:

Which government investments or policy measures on the physical environment would initiate economic recovery, while also structurally supporting the transition towards a sustainable and vital economy, in the longer term?

In this advisory letter, the Council argues in favour of a green recovery from the corona crisis, in which economy, employment and a sustainable physical environment go hand in hand. According to the Council, increasing the sustainability of the economy and physical environment is, as yet, not adequately incorporated into considerations about economic recovery policy. The Council offers an assessment framework that can help policymakers and political parties in designing green recovery policy, when drafting election manifestos or drawing up the next Coalition Agreement. The Council also presents numerous concrete suggestions for green recovery measures. In some areas, where the experiences of past months put into doubt whether ‘business as usual’ is still the best course of action, it may be wise to pause measures and revisit previous decisions.

Urgent policy tasks regarding the physical environment

The transitions in energy, food and circular economy remain urgent, as do matters such as climate adaptation, also during the economic recovery after COVID-19.

Like COVID-19, these unavoidable sustainability challenges will also have a far-reaching impact on the economy, perhaps even more so. Therefore, recovery policy requires an inspiring government vision on the future, in which economic, ecological and social objectives are linked in a way that encourages and challenges citizens and entrepreneurs to put their shoulders to the wheel together.

Options for green recovery

The Council mentions various possibilities for society to emerge ‘green’ from the crisis. For example, immediate implementation of the Climate Agreement and the transition towards a carbon-free economy will have to be given full priority in government policy. However, much more is needed, across many areas, to ensure a healthy, safe, vital, accessible and sustainable physical environment. The Council makes suggestions for green recovery measures in the following policy areas:

  1. Making the built environment more sustainable
  2. Accelerate new housing construction
  3. Future-proofing energy infrastructure
  4. Making rural areas more sustainable
  5. Zero-emission mobility and transport
  6. Zero-emission aviation and shipping
  7. Climate adaptation

Publication date

On 10 July 2020, the Council issued its advisory letter, which was presented to the Ministers and State Secretaries of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW), Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK), Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) and the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK).

More information

For more information on the advisory letter, please contact project leader Bart Swanenvleugel, bart.swanenvleugel@rli.nl, +31 (0)6 52 01 26 91.

sitecontent
publicaties
Adviestype
Advisory letter
Raad
Rli
Gerelateerde adviezen
Accelerating housing production, while maintaining quality
Aviation Policy
Better and different mobility
Beyond Mainports
European Agricultural Policy
Soils for sustainability
The Sum of the Parts - study
Towards a Sustainable Economy
Warmly recommended

Soils for sustainability

Rli - july 2020
June 2020
Teasertekst
The quality of rural soils is in decline. What are the long-term requirements for sustainable soil management?
Advies bestand
rli_2020-02_vitale_bodem_eng_interactief.pdf4.14 MB
Omslagfoto
Soil, water Swamplike landscape, soil, water
Adviesnummer
Rli 2020/02

Background and request for advice

Rural soils perform many vital functions. They are crucial for agriculture, forestry and nature, and are responsible for water quality, and water and carbon storage. But despite international policies and directives, soils suffer from acidification, eutrophication, desiccation, compaction and a heightened vulnerability. As a result, internationally agreed objectives for soil, nature conservation, water and climate are not being met. Intensive use and hazardous substances are jeopardising soil health, leading to lower agricultural yields and a poor to inadequate ecological quality in protected areas. Water quality also fails to meet the required standards, soils retain too little water and greenhouse gas emissions from soils are too high.

These problems are exacerbated by climate change: organic matter is decomposing more quickly, which diminishes soil fertility and water retention capacity, as well as the storage of carbon and greenhouse gases. And all that in the face of extreme weather conditions resulting from climate change, which means we need soils that can actually store more water and carbon.

In this advisory report, the Council for the Environment and Infrastructure examines what the government can do to restore the health of rural soils in the Netherlands and make them most suited to supporting the activities that directly depend on them (agriculture, forestry, nature conservation, water quality and storage, including drinking water, and carbon storage).

Swamplike landscape, soil, water

Advice

The Council observes that rural soils in the Netherlands are in a poor state. In its report Soils for sustainability the Council argues for a more vigorous soil policy. Maintaining soil health is the responsibility of society in general, but the government also has a key part to play. The Council makes six recommendations.

As land is scarce in the Netherlands, the Council advises the Dutch government to encourage multifunctional use of soils, such as combining agriculture with carbon storage and forestry with water storage. The guiding principle is that the health of the soil determines what uses can be made of the land – ‘function follows soil’. The Council advises enshrining this principle in the National Environment and Planning Strategy and believes the responsibility for translating it into practice should lie primarily with the provincial governments.

Because the existing policy instruments do not ensure that policy objectives are achieved, the Council advises revising them. Again, the guiding principle should be soil health. To inform this process the Council suggests setting up a monitoring and knowledge system to collect and share more information.

In addition, the Council advises amending existing legislation to make soil health a dominant steering principle, and gives examples for the government’s agricultural tenancy, fertiliser and fiscal policies.

Landowners and land users can be encouraged to adopt good practices through targeted remuneration packages, for example via the common agricultural policy or regional branding. Finally, the Council advises the government to encourage ecological restoration in forests and nature conservation areas, for example by providing appropriate grant aid.

With these recommendations the Council aims to put soil health on the political agenda. The details will have to be worked out in practice by all stakeholders, with the government as pacesetter.

Publication date

On 29 June 2020, the Rli published its advisory report 'Soils for sustainability', and presented it to the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.

More information

For more information about the advisory report, please contact project leader Nicole van Buren, at nicole.van.buren@rli.nl

sitecontent
publicaties
Adviestype
Advisory report
Raad
Rli

Improving international passenger rail

Rli - july 2020
1 July 2020
Teasertekst
International rail services can make a major contribution to greening the transport sector and realising sustainability goals. But how can international passenger transport by rail be stimulated?
Advies bestand
Advisory report Changing Tracks, towards better international passenger transport by train7.18 MB
Extra adviesbestanden
Letter Improving international passenger rail547.47 KB
List of endorsements134.43 KB
Infographic: Recommendations639.54 KB
Recording livestream 18 September122.45 KB
Highlights online event 18 september 2020354.11 KB

Why improve international passenger rail services?

For the economic competitiveness of urban agglomerations in Europe it is crucial that international destinations are easily accessible. Although much has been invested in the construction of the European rail infrastructure during the last century, rail passenger transport has grown less rapidly than road and air. This is regrettable because compared with other modes of transport travelling by train is safer and better for the environment and climate.

So why do people not make more use of international trains? The Council has studied the many bottlenecks in the international rail system – not just from the viewpoint of the railway sector (infrastructure managers, train operators), but particularly from the perspective of the international traveller. The key question addressed in this advisory report is how to eliminate the factors that prevent better accessibility by rail. The advisory report focuses on the Netherlands.

Letter to the European Commission

Given the international element of the advisory report, the Council considered the relevant EU regulations and governance arrangements. In a letter to the European Commission on ‘Improving International Passenger Rail’ five European advisory councils call for a major boost to stimulate a shift to rail for international travel.

The letter addresses the lack of international cooperation due to the priority given to domestic needs, the need to improve travel information, ticketing and passenger rights, and the need for a corridor authority for cross-border train services. The advisory councils urge the Commission to link the post-pandemic recovery plans for the transport sector to the goals of the European Green Deal.

The letter, which was sent to the Commissioner for Transport, Adina Vălean, is available for download on this page.

high speed train moving through the city

Advisory report

Bottlenecks for the international rail passenger

The Council’s analysis shows that although an extensive international rail network is available, in practice international rail passengers experience various constrains that discourage international train journeys.

Much more can be done with the existing infrastructure

The construction of new rail infrastructure is a way of improving accessibility by train within Europe. However, this is costly, difficult and time-consuming. It is something politicians are all too keen to talk about, but shy away from when it comes down to it. Moreover, the Council contends that much can be achieved with cheaper and quicker measures that make it possible for the existing rail infrastructure to be used more intensively, more efficiently and by more international services. Adaptation and changes to the rail infrastructure will eventually be needed, but then as part of a comprehensive approach.

Improve mobility services: information provision, ticketing and passenger rights

The international rail passenger will benefit from better information services, such as apps that give access to the services provided by all operators. Travellers will also benefit by making it easier to find and book international train tickets. Moreover, the Council feels that these tickets should be available earlier than is currently the case (often no more than three months before departure). Improvements are also needed in passenger rights, for example in the event of a missed connection.

Improve transport services: new international services and the train as an attractive option

It is important to encourage the introduction of new international transport services. The Council advises the government to actively seek out operators that are willing to run cross-border services. Further, the Council considers it essential to make international trains an attractive travel option that can compete better with other transport modes. This can be achieved by providing comfortable, rapid, direct services between the main metropolitan areas at fair and competitive prices.

Improve traffic services: more efficient capacity allocation and more use of information technology

Under the existing principles for capacity management it is very difficult to find room for international services. However, the Council thinks that more room can be found if the existing capacity is used more intelligently. For example, within the ‘basic hour pattern’ scheduling that is operated on the Dutch railway network there is room to increase the frequency of services on all international routes in the Netherlands. The introduction of information technology applications will also help to make more intensive use of the rail network.

Improve the infrastructure: invest in one eastward corridor

In the longer term, adjustments to the infrastructure will be necessary. The Council urges the government to invest in one eastern corridor. What the Council has in mind are adaptations to the existing tracks that will permit trains to travel at speeds from 160 to 200 km/hour. Unbundling regional, national and international rail transport can improve access to destinations in the Netherlands via international train services. Station capacity also needs to be looked at in connection with this.

International corridor approach

Providing international passenger services by train requires close cooperation, not only between countries, but also between the many parties working in the rail sector. The Council has attempted to provide insight into this complexity. There is a clear need for an improvement in international governance and a corridor approach for the main international connections. In the long term, the Council believes that efforts should be made to towards establishing a European authority for cross-border rail traffic.

Date of publication advisory report

The Council’s advisory report ‘Changing Tracks: Towards better international passenger transport by train’ was published on 1 July 2020 and presented to Stientje van Veldhoven, State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management.
The English translation of this advisory report will be made available on this webpage.

Contact

For further enquiries about the advisory report or the letter to the European Commission, please contact Tim Zwanikken, project lead: tim.zwanikken@rli.nl or +31 (0)6 5287 4404.
 

sitecontent
publicaties
Raad
Rli

A grip on hazardous substances’

Rli - march 2020
11 March 2020
A grip on hazardous substances’
Teasertekst
Current chemical policy is not sufficient to adequately control the risks to people and the physical environment. What steps would be necessary to ensure a safer handling of hazardous substances?
Advies bestand
a-grip-on-hazardous-substances.pdf2.95 MB
Adviesnummer
Rli 2020/01
Vista of nature, seen through a water drainage pipe; photograph: EyeEm GmbH / Hollandse Hoogte

Rationale and central question

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. New policy is needed if we are to get a grip on hazardous substances.

Over the course of several decades, government policy successfully reduced the occurrence of hazardous substances in the physical environment, but of late this development is stagnating. The number of hazardous substances is increasing, as is the number of products that contain them. As a result, these substances are accumulating in the physical environment, giving rise to new risks and incidents. Examples of such risks and incidents include PFAS, plant protection products, microplastics and pharmaceutical residues.

The advisory report centres on the question of whether safer handling of hazardous substances in the physical environment is necessary and what steps should be taken to this end.

Explanation

In this advisory report, the Rli makes 10 recommendations to effectuate a better grip on the dispersion of substances within the environment, reduce the adverse effects of cumulative exposure and move towards a safe circular economy by 2050. The recommendations are partly aimed at involving social parties more actively in assessing the usefulness and necessity of chemical substances. This requires greater transparency. Knowing which substances are in which products and what risks are involved is crucial to achieve safe closed-loop systems.

Transparent information and more knowledge needed

To prevent further increase in the risks related to hazardous substances, first more knowledge is needed about the extent to which they end up in the physical environment. This applies to the various phases of production, use, reuse and waste processing. The Rli, therefore, advises the Dutch Government to compel companies to keep track of the routes travelled by these hazardous substances throughout their lifecycle, using a track & trace system. In addition, government policy capacity and knowledge must be enhanced to improve policy implementation, enforcement and supervision. This calls for additional budget being allocated to this purpose.  

Limit the risks of cumulative exposure, for both people and the environment

As increasing numbers of hazardous substances are used more often and in larger quantities, this also increases the risk of simultaneous exposure to multiple substances. Previously, risks to humans and the environment mainly were caused by exposure to individual substances. Today, however, there are many more diffuse mixtures of substances, each in low concentrations, but together they may have an equally harmful effect. The Rli recommends that the effect of this simultaneous exposure is taken into account when setting national environmental standards. This may also be necessary in specific areas, for which government will need to support municipalities and provinces.

Safe product reuse and recycling calls for new European regulation

The transition towards a circular economy poses new challenges. A circular economy has closed-loop cycles, which also means that hazardous substances can accumulate within those cycles. Prior to the production and reuse of such substances, specific attention should be paid to ensuring their safe reuse. The Rli, therefore, calls on the government to promote rules and regulations, on a European level, which incorporate such reuse into the risk assessments of substances. In addition, information should be readily available on the substances contained in all products. In this context, the possibilities for introducing a material passport for the chemical composition of each product should the investigated. Such passports would offer insight into the possibilities of reuse for the producers and users of those products.

On-line debate session and publication date

On-line debate session 8 june 2020

The Dutch Council for the Environment and Infrastructure (Rli) organized an on-line debate session with live presentations, on Monday, 8 June 2020 (10:30–12:45 hrs). At this meeting, the Council presented and discussed its advisory report concerning national and EU policy on hazardous substances. With the discussion and reflection involving experts, stakeholders and NGOs, the Council contributed to the debate on a European level. Diederik Samsom, Head of Cabinet of the European Commissioner Timmermans, gave his reflection on the discussion.

Watch the livestream of the debate session

Publication date 11 maart 2020

On 11 March 2020, the Rli published its advisory report, ‘A grip on hazardous substances', and presented it to Minister Van Veldhoven for the Environment and Housing.

More information

For more information about the advisory report, please contact project leader Yvette Oostendorp, at yvette.oostendorp@rli.nl, T +31 (0)6 27020642.

sitecontent
publicaties
Raad
Rli
Overige bijlagen
Infographic - Ten recommendations125.94 KB

Work programme for 2020-2021

11 february 2020

In the coming years, the Council’s aim is to help accelerate the necessary transitions in the wider domain of the physical human environment. Because the associated challenges are closely intertwined, most of the Council’s advisory reports will transcend the boundaries of the four ministries responsible for the physical domain. 

A number of the topics addressed in prior work programmes will continue in 2020:

-    Hazardous substances (work programme for 2019-2020)
-    Healthy soils (work programme for 2019-2020)
-    Digitisation (work programme for 2018-2019)
-    Conference on inclusive transitions (work programme for 2019-2020)

The Council’s five new topics are:
-    The social city
-    International accessibility of the Netherlands by rail
-    Peat meadows: the Green Heart case study
-    Biodiversity recovery in public spaces
-    The hydrogen economy

See for up dates of the topics 'In preparation'

Werkprogramma
work_programme_for_2020-2021.pdf465.49 KB
Te bestellen
nee
gear wheels
sitecontent
publicaties
Raad
Rli
10 december 2019
Topics work programme for 2020-2021
Homepage Teasertekst
The work programme summarises the advisory topics, the latest status, and the schedule going forward.
Subscribe to publicaties