News item | 14-03-2025 | 15:45
The government has mapped out how the Netherlands can use carbon removal in the future. Carbon removal is a method to safely remove emissions that causes climate warming from the air and to store it for a long time. This is necessary to become climate neutral and offers opportunities for green growth of our economy and society.
Negative
The Netherlands and Europe have done a lot in recent years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but that alone is not enough to combat climate change. That is why CO2 will also have to be removed from the atmosphere. For example, the collected carbon is stored under the ground, for example in empty gas fields or with crops and trees. It can also be used as a raw material for industry or construction.
In order to provide carbon removal in climate policy and to offer investment security, the government takes into account an annual contribution of 20 to 25 megaton carbon removal per year in the Netherlands between 2040 and 2050. That is about 10% of the Netherlands emissions in 1990, also comparable to the current emissions of the entire mobility sector.
Carbon removal becomes an indispensable track in national and international climate policy. It helps to lower emissions, reach climate neutrality and remove more CO2 than to emit after 2050 (net negative emissions). Reducing emissions remains important.
New technology, new opportunities
The technology of carbon removal is relatively young, which requires new and creative techniques. This offers opportunities for entrepreneurs. Innovative Dutch companies are already working on developing, testing and selling these techniques. Think of large filters that remove CO2 from the air or carbon storage in building materials, such as concrete.
Roadmap
With the carbon removal route map, three phases are distinguished:
- Up to around 2030: the start -up phase with emphasis on innovation and the development of regulations.
- From around 2030: the scaling phase with emphasis on upscaling through a carbon market.
- From around 2040: the internationalization phase with emphasis on an adult carbon market that is becoming increasingly global and prepares for net negative emissions.
In line with the three phases, the Dutch carbon removal policy is developed in three simultaneous traces: i) strengthening international accounting rules, II) creating a European carbon market, and III) preparing Dutch companies for this carbon market through national innovation and knowledge development.
Climate Plan 2025 – 2035
The carbon removal route map stems from the 2025 – 2035 climate plan, which is simultaneously offered with the roadmap to the Upper and Lower House. In the climate plan, the road to climate neutrality in 2050 is outlined and it contains a policy agenda for the period 2025-2035. In addition to greenhouse gas reduction, the plan also pays attention to the question of how this transition can be fair. At the end of 2024 an internet consultation took place on an earlier version of the climate plan. The Council of State has also issued an advice. The cabinet response to both the consultation and the advice of the Council of State have been added to the climate plan as appendices.