Investment in climate change mitigation in the Netherlands nearly doubled between 2019 and 2023, new data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) has found.
In 2019, some €23 billion was invested in climate change mitigation, with this figure rising to nearly €41 billion four years later, driven by increased investment in electric vehicles, solar panels, improvements to the power grid, and heat pumps.
Increased investment
All areas of investment, including carbon-efficient mobility, renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy networks, and other climate-related initiatives, saw an increase over the four-year period, with the largest increase seen in carbon-efficient transport and energy networks, both of which saw their investments double compared to 2019.
Investment in renewable energy, meanwhile, rose by 77%, however investment in energy efficiency increased only slightly, CBS noted.
Some €18 billion was invested in climate-related transport measures in 2023, a significant increase on the €8.9 billion invested four years earlier.
Of that figure, some €12.2 billion was spent on electric and hybrid passenger cars by both households and businesses, while investment in public transport, rail, and inland waterway freight also contributed to the total.
More than €10 billion was invested in renewable energy production in the Netherlands in 2023, with investment in solar energy totalling €4.6 billion, wind energy €2.7 billion, and heat pumps €2.1 billion.
Household spend
Households accounted for over 30% of climate-related investment – mainly through the purchase of electric cars, solar panels, heat pumps, and home insulation – while business investment accounted for around 64%.
At the same time, ‘the role of the government as an investor is limited,’ Statistics Netherlands noted. ‘As an owner and investor, the government only has a role in transport infrastructure. It does play an important role in financing investment projects, however. For example, the government provides grants to businesses and households to encourage investment in heat pumps and solar panels, as well as grants for energy-saving measures.’ Read more here.
