Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: The Dutch Employers' Federation (VNO-NCW) is broadly supportive of high-level action on climate change, but appears to take some negative positions on specific regulations, and the transition of the energy mix. However, the association has taken increasingly positive positions from 2024 onwards.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: VNO-NCW’s top-line messaging on climate policy appears to be broadly positive. The association supported IPCC aligned climate action on its corporate website, accessed in December 2023, and supported the EU’s 2050 net-zero emissions goal in a January 2024 joint industry statement. VNO-NCW appeared not to fully support climate change regulation in a May 2024 position paper, in which it advocated to complement the European Green Deal with an industry strategy to address overregulation. However, the association consistently supported climate change regulation in the Netherlands, for example in a July 2023 open letter to policymakers and an October 2023 news release. VNO-NCW seems to support the UN Paris Agreement, stating support for COP28 in a column in November 2023.
Engagement with Climate-Related Policies: VNO-NCW seems to mostly support specific climate regulations in the EU and in the Netherlands, although with some exceptions. The association has engaged positively with the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), for example broadly supporting the scheme in a May 2024 press release. It also advocated for the removal of free emissions allowances and a more stringent ETS ceiling from 2024 onwards in a January 2024 joint industry statement. This contrasts with a February 2021 position paper, in which the association did not support ETS reforms to increase the carbon price and effectiveness of the scheme, opposing a reduced number of free allowances. VNO-NCW supported the EU Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate and national policy to promote SAF production in a January 2024 joint industry statement.
VNO-NCW takes a mix of supportive and unsupportive positions on energy and resource efficiency legislation. The association broadly supported energy efficiency targets in a September 2023 news release and appeared to support a low-carbon modal shift from air to rail in a January 2024 joint statement of the Dutch airline industry. In a May 2024 position paper, VNO-NCW supported recycling of critical raw materials from relevant waste streams, but advocated for ‘targeted exemptions’ for single-use packaging.
Positioning on Energy Transition: VNO-NCW has generally not been supportive of transitioning the energy mix away from fossil fuels, although it appears to have taken increasingly positive positions from 2024 onwards. In a September 2023 press release, the association appeared to support fossil subsidies, emphasizing the cost of zero and low carbon technology, and suggesting efforts to decarbonize the energy mix should be moderated. President of VNO-NCW, Ingrid Thijssen, signed the November 2023 Brussels Declaration which supported the exploration and production of unabated fossil gas. In a July 2024 position paper, the association advocated for transitioning to a carbon neutral economy, supporting phase-out of fossil gas and the decarbonization of energy sector through the expansion of power grid. However, it also appeared to call for exemptions for companies from a higher energy tax on gas and a CO2 levy.
In May 2024, the association supported the decarbonization of the energy sector in a position paper. It also supported hydrogen produced from renewable energy or from fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage for the use in hard-to-abate sectors in another position paper. However, VNO-NCW has also consistently advocated for upscaling hydrogen without clearly aligning its advocacy with IPCC recommendations, for instance in a December 2024 column and an October 2024 press release.
VNO-NCW signed a joint industry statement in January 2024 which supported the introduction of a global kerosene tax on all flights, although the same statement did not support an increase in national air passenger duty tax. In a July 2024 position paper, the association advocated for transitioning to a carbon neutral economy, supporting phase-out of fossil gas and the decarbonization of energy sector through the expansion of power grid. However, it also appeared to call for exemptions for companies from a higher energy tax on gas and a CO2 levy.