German-Dutch Climate Cabinet
The major climate-related issues were on the agenda in the Hague. The Dutch-German Climate Cabinet focused on how the climate crisis can be jointly addressed, with CO2 pricing, greenhouse gas reduction and cooperation plans discussed.
Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, greets the Chancellor
Photo: Bundesregierung/Kugler
Chancellor Angela Merkel and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte met in The Hague to discuss climate policy. The aim was also to identify potential joint climate and energy projects and cooperation arrangements, as well as coordinating positions in advance of the next UN Climate Change Conference, which is to be held in December in Chile.
The national plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 in Germany and the Netherlands were discussed in depth. One issue examined was how the states can put a price on CO2 emissions in order to achieve climate targets. Emissions of CO2 are to become more expensive, to give genuine incentives to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas.
The Chancellor said she would be happy to support the Dutch proposal that emissions of greenhouse gases in the European Union be reduced to 55% of the 1990 levels by 2030.
EU – a role model for ambitious climate policy
Angela Merkel and Mark Rutte also agreed to work together to advance climate action at EU level. They both support the goal of the new President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to make the EU climate neutral by 2050. The EU is also to be a role model for ambitious climate policy around the world.