For
Indeed, for many sectors, the Dutch climate targets are actually within reach. Implementing existing low-carbon technologies and other carbon-free measures will help companies make significant headway towards achieving the 2030 climate targets and climate neutrality in 2050. Today,
Over 80 percent of all Dutch greenhouse gas emissions are produced by businesses. That's why reducing these emissions across all sectors is the key to achieving the Dutch climate goals, says
One major obstacle is that many of these technologies require large investments. 'Not only in the technology, but also in the related infrastructure. For example, some large investments are still needed to arrange good, solid connections to the power grid. The government could help make this happen with its policy-making powers, so that investing in emission reduction becomes the most cost-effective strategy for these companies.'
Low-hanging fruit: existing technology already offers great opportunities
Many companies are only just getting started on reducing energy consumption and decarbonising their primary processes. 'However, the low-carbon technologies we already have can help companies to achieve great results in the short term. What you'd call low-hanging fruit,' Burgering explains. Quite a few industrial companies could make real strides this way - but there are huge differences between sectors. Certain industrial sectors, like construction materials, paper, chemicals, and electrical engineering, are well on their way to hitting their climate targets. But in highly energy-intensive industries, such as food, oil and base metal, change isn't so easily facilitated. For them, greenhouse gas emissions are falling only slowly. Meanwhile, many sectors outside industry are facing great difficulties to even get started, like the transport sectors, or water and waste management. Companies in these fields are less committed to applying disruptive technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is partly due to a lack of resources, and in some cases government policies are untransparent or not so strict.
The time for major strides is now, and it's urgent
Sandra Phlippen, Chief Economist at
Phlippen continues: 'This study will help SMEs make the transition by showing them in practical terms how to decarbonise. With the current technology, these companies can pick up the pace on their reduction goals. But they should pour their focus and their investments into the technologies with the biggest impact. It's important for the business world to leverage these available technological innovations across the board, as that will bring climate goals within reach and result in future-proof Dutch SMEs.'
The new
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