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**By APD writer Aditya Nugraha **
**AMSTERDAM, Nov. 1 (APD) ** - The Netherlands agency said on Friday that the nation is likely to face uphill to reach its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 49 percent by 2030 despite a tough package of measures agreed upon in June.
The government’s climate accord will reduce emissions only by 43 to 48 percent compared with benchmark 1990 levels, the Environmental Assessment Agency said in a report.
Reaching the top of that range will require “maximum effective implementation” of the measures and better-than-expected behavior by key players affected by the changes, the agency warned.
Developments including expected lower prices for natural gas and higher car sales are pushing the target out of reach, the report said.
The government’s measures to tackle climate change was carried out by driving down carbon emissions, including policies to apply carbon tax and plans to ban coal-fired power stations.
Environmental groups have lauded parts of the June package, but also warned that it was insufficient and let big industry off lightly.
The government acknowledged Friday that a court-ordered goal of cutting carbon emissions by 25 percent by next year is likely hard to comply with.
That target stems from a landmark case in 2015 brought by an environmental group on behalf of 900 Dutch citizens.
In a reaction to the report, the government said that it will provide more incentives for homeowners and businesses to accelerate their transition to renewable energy and speed up the placement of solar panels on government buildings and schools.
“In addition, the Cabinet will continue to actively seek measures to meet the 2020 goals,” the government said.
The future consequence of the government’s failure to meet the court-ordered reduction target was still dark at present.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
