Improvements have been made in recent years in certain areas, such as renewable energy and air quality. However, progress is insufficient on important issues such as housing, nature, and raw materials. Achieving environmental goals can only be done by setting priorities and demonstrating decisive policy. Furthermore, the current geopolitical situation increases the need to be less dependent on other countries for energy and raw materials. This also presents opportunities for the Netherlands.
The major environmental issues can no longer be solved solely with simple measures and new technologies; they require more fundamental choices that will lead to a redistribution of benefits and burdens and possibly significant interventions in our daily lives. Likewise, further postponement of choices will have serious consequences. In all cases, a distribution perceived as just by citizens must be the starting point.
