Dutch animal rights party insists on spending 5% of GDP on climate, nature

The Dutch animal rights party, Partij voor de Dieren, wants to spend 5 percent of the Netherlands’ gross domestic product on nature protection and combating climate change. The party writes in its draft election program that this standard must be laid down in law. The percentage would amount to more than 50 billion euros a year.

The “climate standard” appears to be a reference to the 5 percent of GDP that, under new NATO agreements, will be allocated directly or indirectly to defense. Partij voor de Dieren opposes the NATO target but, unlike two years ago, now supports increased defense spending. This position sparked internal debate and even led to the breakaway of a new pacifist animal party.

To raise funds, the party proposes measures such as a “climate tax” on the wealthiest, a “progressive flight tax” for frequent flyers, and a “slaughter tax” to reflect the social costs of livestock farming. In addition, the CO₂ levy would be reinstated, along with the introduction of a plastic tax.

“Fossil subsidies,” which provide financial advantages for the use of fossil energy and materials, would be abolished immediately under the party’s plans. The previous Cabinet estimated these subsidies at around 40 billion euros a year, part of which is already regulated at the European level. It is uncertain how much of these tax benefits would actually flow into the state treasury if abolished.

Private jets would be banned from Dutch airspace under Partij voor de Dieren’s proposals. Additional bans would apply to the docking of commercial cruise ships and superyachts, to climate-harmful advertising, to disposable vapes, and to pesticides.

As in its previous election program, Partij voor de Dieren wants animal rights to be recognized in the constitution. The party aims to reduce the number of animals bred and slaughtered by 75 percent. Animal transport would be limited to a maximum duration of two hours.

It was also reported on Tuesday that the three MPs of the Partij voor de Dieren once again topped the provisional candidate list for the upcoming parliamentary elections in October. The top three remain unchanged from two years ago, with Esther Ouwehand, Ines Kostić, and Christine Teunissen in the lead.

Below the three sitting MPs, the draft candidate list has changed compared to the previous elections. In fourth place is Falco van Hassel, a policy officer for the parliamentary faction, followed by Zwolle alderman Debbie Mathijsen. Kjell van Wijlandt, an alderman in Almere and a member of the provincial parliament in Flevoland, is listed in sixth place.

In the Peilingwijzer, an average of polls by Ipsos I&O and Verian/EenVandaag, the Partij voor de Dieren is currently projected to win between four and six seats. The final candidate list will be determined at a party congress on September 7.