Reaching 2030 climate goal becomes extremely unlikely; extra policy with rapid effect is needed
It is extremely unlikely that the Netherlands will reach the legal climate goal of a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 2030. With current implemented policy (‘proposed and adopted’)...
Climate researcher who bridges different disciplines
Spinoza laureate Detlef van Vuuren: “May the future be not only sustainable, but also just” The “greenhouse accountant of the world,” Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant has called him. A deserved...
The importance of understanding differences in climate policy scenario outcomes
To understand the consequences of climate policies, scientists use scenarios to explore the future. These influential scenarios are based on complex models of the global energy system. Between these...
Sizeable global emission gap in 2050 remains for net-zero pledges
The Paris agreement implies that greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced significantly. To limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees, global CO 2-emissions must reach net-zero around 2050...
‘Fingerprints’ provide new insights into energy models
Climate policy is often based on complex energy models. A new paper in Nature Energy proposes ‘model fingerprints’ as a new method to better compare the behaviour of these models. These snapshots of...
Net zero targets require implementation to meet climate goals
Without further implementation net zero targets will not deliver their intended climate mitigation. Many countries have promised to cut their greenhouse gas emissions to almost zero around mid-century...
Achieving the Paris climate goals critically depends on reducing non-CO2 greenhouse gases
Achieving the stringent global climate target of the Paris agreement, limiting global temperature change to well-below 2 or even 1.5 degrees, requires unprecedented emission reductions of CO 2, as...
Environmental challenges around the Rhine and Yangtze rivers are very similar
The river basins of the European Rhine and the Chinese Yangtze feature similar challenges: environmental pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, urbanisation and climate adaptation. The...
A circular bioeconomy can dramatically rein in the fast-growing plastic sector’s climate, pollution, and resource consumption impacts. Under current policies, global plastic production will likely...
Inadequate progress on climate action since Glasgow
Since the Glasgow climate summit (COP26) governments have made little progress in terms of strengthening short term policies, a new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) finds. Last year all countries...
PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
