4 years of climate change denial’: Dutch
environmental groups react to far-right election swing
By Ian
Smith
Published
on 24/11/2023 - 06:00•Updated 12:50
The
far-right party PVV's election victory has raised fears over how it could
impact the country’s climate ambitions.
Environmental
groups have expressed shock and promised climate action in response to Dutch
election results. Wednesday night saw the historic victory of the far right
Party for Freedom (PVV).
The party,
led by Geert Wilders, is projected to win 37 seats in the 150 seat Dutch
parliament, putting it in the driver's seat to form a new government.
“We are
shocked,” Extinction Rebellion Netherlands says. “This outcome will likely mean
a rollback of climate measures, new fossil investments, exclusion of
marginalised groups, and more.”
Friends of
the Earth Netherlands spelled out what PVV’s rule could mean for Dutch society:
“A Wilders government will mean four years of climate change denial, exclusion
and a breakdown of the rule of law.”
Wij zijn geschokt. Deze uitslag betekent waarschijnlijk het
terugdraaien van klimaatmaatregelen, nieuwe fossiele investeringen, uitsluiting
van gemarginaliseerde groepen, en meer.
De toekomst
van alles en iedereen staat op het spel. Dus zullen wij in actie blijven komen.
— Extinction Rebellion Nederland (@NLRebellion)
November 22, 2023
What is the PVV’s position on climate change?
Environmentalists'
concerns are based on the PVV manifesto.
It
declares: "We have been made to fear climate change for decades... We must
stop being afraid."
“The
climate is always changing, for centuries,” the document goes on to say.
"When conditions change we adapt. We do this through sensible water
management, by raising dykes when necessary and by making room for the river.
But we stop the hysterical reduction of CO2, with which, as a small country, we
wrongly think we can "save" the climate.”
The
manifesto also calls for more oil and gas extraction from the North Sea and
keeping coal and gas power stations open.
Natuur
& Milieu, a Dutch environmental organisation, believes politicians need to
be honest about the challenges the Netherlands face because of the climate
crisis.
It says the
election shows that “some Dutch people did not feel sufficiently represented by
the incumbent political parties” and that “trust in politics and support for
policy is also crucial for climate and nature policy.”
Wilders’
extreme views and anti-Islam stance have made him an inflammatory figure. He
supports a vote on leaving the EU and has been found guilty in court of
insulting Morrocans.
Will the far right be able to form a government?
Despite the
record win there are still significant barriers to the PVV entering government.
On Friday
morning Dilan Yesilgöz, the leader of the VVD, who are projected to have 24
seats, said the party will not be entering into government with the PVV.
According to Dutch media she did say that the VVD would be willing to tacitly
support a center-right Cabinet.
Frans
Timmermans, the leader of an alliance of the centre-left Labor Party and
Greens, also ruled out entering government with his 25 MPs alongside the PVV.
Others may
be more willing though. The leader of the New Social Contract party, which was
only launched three months ago, said he would be open to talks with Wilders.
The party won an estimated 20 seats in the election.
Whatever
happens, a new government is likely going to take a long time to form.
How have climate activists responded to the election result?
In the
meantime environmental activists are sure to put pressure on their politicians.
On Thursday afternoon four protesters from Greenpeace held a banner saying ‘No
climate denier as our prime minister’ outside the Torentje, the prime
minister’s office, in the Hague.
As
Extinction Rebellion says, “The future of everything and everyone is at stake. So
we will continue to take action.”
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário