Dutch think climate policy spares major polluters, want to contribute less: SCP

Most Dutch people consider climate policy unjust, and the willingness to contribute to combating climate change personally is declining, the Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP) found in a study. The agency warns: “People often feel that the bill is being placed too heavily on citizens while major polluters are being spared.”

A large majority still believes that the Netherlands must help combat climate change, although this support is steadily declining. Of the 3,200 people in the annual survey, 69 percent consider it important that the Netherlands contributes. A year earlier, this was 73 percent, and in 2022, it was 85 percent.

The proportion of respondents willing to take action against climate change themselves dropped from 71 to 64 percent in a year. “A large majority of people in the Netherlands believe that the costs of tackling climate change are unfairly distributed,” the SCP researchers wrote.

82 percent of Dutch find the cost distribution between citizens and businesses unfair, and 78 percent feel the same about the distribution between rich and poor citizens. “This perceived injustice can undermine support for climate policy,” warned SCP researcher Yvonne de Kluzenaar.

The Dutch strongly support principles such as “the polluter pays” and “the strongest shoulders bear the heaviest burden,” the SCP found. But policy often turns out differently. “There are various climate measures from which people with higher incomes benefit more than average,” the SCP wrote. This was the case, for example, with subsidies for making homes more sustainable and for the purchase of an electric car.

In general, there is more support for the “carrot” than the “stick.” Large majorities, for example, support investments in green hydrogen and public transport. Conversely, there is little enthusiasm for a meat tax, with only 29 percent in favor.

Small majorities support the aviation tax and an additional tax on gas consumption for people who use a lot of gas. Most respondents also agree on offshore wind turbines and heat networks. Opinions are divided on new nuclear power plants: just under 51 percent are in favor.

A much larger majority wants the industry to become more sustainable; about three-quarters support both investments in this area and tax increases for polluting companies.