Abstract

The National Dialogue in the COOL project aimed at developing insights and recommendations for Dutch long term climate policy, both on content and process. The dialogue was carried out in four dialogue groups, which addressed four sectors of the Dutch economy: housing & construction, industry & energy, agriculture & nutrition and traffic & transport. Forquestion: What is needed to realise reductions up to 80% by 2050 (as compared to 1990 levels) for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in The Netherlands? The general picture that comes from the stakeholder dialogue was that emission reductions up to -80% by 2050 are imaginable. Not all dialogue participants are (equally) optimistic on the feasibility of such reductions, though. There is considerable doubt as to whether these reductions will be possible without causing or aggravating other problems than climate change here or elsewhere. This leads to the conclusion that -80% may come in reach for The Netherlands in a socially acceptable manner if, next to overcoming many social, institutional and psychological barriers, in specific areas major technological breakthroughs will be realised. European and Dutch governments are supposed to take a leading roll in this respect, but it is doubted if they can do this. This conclusion indicates on the one hand to a mild optimism, on the other hand to persistent doubts and concerns related to the desirability of certain options and the capabilities of government.