Stronger Together in Permit Issuance
On September 11, more than 250 professionals from government and business, primarily from the port area, gathered at De Kuip in Rotterdam for the Chain Day Environmental Law. A day full of knowledge sharing, meetings, and collaboration aimed at improving permit issuance for companies subject to environmental permit requirements in the Rijnmond region. The Province of South Holland organized this day together with the municipality of Rotterdam, DCMR Environmental Service Rijnmond, and the Port of Rotterdam.
Collaborating for a Future-Proof Region
The central message of the day: the major challenges in the region, such as the energy transition and sustainability of industry, require close collaboration between government, business, and society. Only together can we accelerate. By seeking early contact, engaging in conversation, and shaping plans in co-creation, not only a better permitting process emerges, but also a stronger foundation for sustainable and innovative development.
Environmental Law as an Opportunity and Challenge
The new Environmental Law requires a different way of working: more integrative, more digital, and more in partnership. This offers opportunities, for example, to achieve a living permit through digitization: a constantly updated permit based on real-time data. Such a permit provides flexibility and strengthens the information position of both companies and regulators.
At the same time, the law also brings challenges. Consider the quality of what needs to be submitted with a permit application, or how to organize community participation effectively. During the breakout sessions, these bottlenecks were discussed, and concrete tools were shared, including the launch of the Guideline for Participation by Companies.
Bottlenecks in Permit Issuance Affect the Transition
South Holland, and particularly the Rotterdam port area, face significant, urgent challenges: sustainability, energy transition, and space for new economic functions. However, factors such as grid congestion, nitrogen issues, and limited space complicate execution. Additionally, the industry in our region faces an uneven European playing field and high energy prices.
Timely and predictable permit issuance is crucial to make the transition feasible. The province plays an active role as the competent authority for complex permit applications. By bringing together chain partners, addressing bottlenecks, and sharing knowledge, South Holland works towards a faster, better-aligned permitting process. The Chain Day demonstrates that this works in practice.
What Did the Chain Day Achieve?
- New connections between businesses and governments
- Clarity on shared bottlenecks and opportunities in the permitting process
- Insight into the functioning of the Environmental Law in practice
- Concrete tools, such as the new guideline for participation
- A stronger joint ambition for accelerating the energy transition
Next Steps: Building Trust and Acceleration
The Province of South Holland continues to invest in knowledge sharing and collaboration in the permitting chain. Not only through meetings like this but also by promoting regional consultations, developing uniform working methods, and further improving the digital system.
The core is clear: a future-proof region begins with well-organized collaboration. The Chain Day Environmental Law has shown that the will and energy for this are present.
