According to The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), climate action means ‘stepped-up efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-induced impacts, including climate-related hazards in all countries; integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning; and improving education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity with respect to climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.’
Climate change now affects every country on every continent. It disrupts national economies and affects lives, costing people, communities, and countries dearly today and even more tomorrow.
People are experiencing the significant impacts of climate change, which include changing weather patterns, rising sea levels, and more extreme weather events. The increasingly rising greenhouse gas emissions from human activities contribute to this climate change. Emissions are now at their highest levels in history. Without action, the world’s average surface temperature is projected to rise and is likely to surpass an increase of 3 degrees Celsius this century, with some areas of the world expected to warm up even more. The poorest and most vulnerable people are often affected the most.
Current plans are unable to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees. This has major consequences for people and nature worldwide, especially in the poorest countries.
The Netherlands is committed to stronger climate action, also beyond our national borders through…
Mitigation
The Netherlands is accelerating the transition to net zero emissions and a fully circular economy by 2050 in the sectors energy, sustainable mobility, agriculture, and land use, and is positioning itself as an international partner for green solutions.
Adaptation
The Netherlands is working globally to reduce climate vulnerability, strengthening adaptive capabilities, and increasing the climate resilience of people and ecosystems.
Financing
The Netherlands is accelerating the global climate and energy transition by using public funds to mobilize more private financing for climate action and adaptation.
Within the NLWorks portfolio, we have various examples of climate action. The Biomass India program, for example, aims to mitigate climate impact through circular agriculture. In Curaçao, we worked on an energy transition program that will result in climate mitigation through the substitution of fossil fuels by using large-scale renewable alternatives. The climate-smart coffee consortium is an example of implementing climate resilient agriculture.
Completed programmes
Image: © NLWorks
Curaçao
The Curaçao Duurzame Economie program aims to create a more sustainable economy in Curacao by focusing on six central themes: sustainable energy, mobility, education, employment opportunities, environmental protection and export. A consortium works together to research and determine which chains will have the optimal impact for the environment, the economy, society and trade.
Image: © NLWorks
India
The Climate Smart Coffee Consortium aims to reduce climate change, increase climate resilience, boost biodiversity and enhance the income of coffee farmers via Climate Smart Coffee Plantations in Kerala, India.