Dutch environmental pollution reduced in past decade

In the past 10 years, environmental pollution caused by economic activity in the Netherlands has declined. Only emissions of greenhouse gases have remained unchanged.

Between 1995 and 2005, the Dutch economy grew by over 25 percent. Pollution declined because companies have moved to cleaner production. In general, households’ pollution has also come down, despite an increase in consumer spending, according to the 2005 Environmental Accounts published yesterday by the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS).

In 2005, proceeds from environmental taxes increased by 7 percent from 2004. Households pay about half of these taxes. The average household paid around 1,800 euros a year in environmental taxes in 2005. Of this, 400 euros was for purification of waste water and collecting and processing household garbage. Households also paid on average 1,200 euros in fuel excise duties, motor taxation and energy tax.

The transport sector makes a relatively large contribution to environmental pollution. In 2005, it was responsible for 12 percent of emissions of greenhouse gases and 35 percent of acidic substances. Shipping had a large share in this. The transport sector’s contribution to the economy in the Netherlands was 4 percent in 2005.

Glasshouse growing uses a lot of natural gas and electricity for growing plants and flowers. A relatively large amount of energy is also used in air travel. The airline sector is among the most energy-intensive sectors in the Netherlands, along with horticulture and basic chemicals.

In total, the environmental sector contributes 8.0 billion euros to added value in the Netherlands, or almost 2 percent of the total. This sector accounts for 1.4 percent of employment. “Environmental regulation and the need for a cleaner environment thus creates employment and added value for the Dutch economy,” the CBS concluded.

The environmental sector consists not only of companies that collect and process waste, but also of companies that produce environmental technology, environmental consultancies and government institutions that work on the environment.

Source: NIS News, ANP, 15 December 2006