Introduction

The consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly serious. The poorest people are often the hardest hit, women in particular. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will only be achieved if governments and other partners all over the world work together to curb climate change. That is why 197 countries signed the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015.

In this agreement, countries agreed to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and preferably 1.5 degrees. They also acknowledged the need to adapt to the effects of climate change. Wealthy countries committed to helping developing countries in this respect, both financially and in other ways.

These commitments mean that countries have to change their way of working and investing in many areas. The Netherlands supports developing countries in their transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient pathways to development. It focuses on access to renewable energy, combating deforestation, climate-smart agriculture and climate-resilient use and management of water. In order to achieve good results, the Netherlands works with multilateral organisations, NGOs, knowledge institutions and the business community.

In climate negotiations, the Netherlands will continue to press for the proper implementation of the provisions in the Paris Climate Agreement. This serves the interests both of the Netherlands and of developing countries. A Dutch diplomatic campaign is urging other countries to do more to combat climate change.

Results 2019

Climate change is caused by a higher concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The world has not yet succeeded in stabilising the increase, although some results have been achieved.

The Netherlands funds renewable energy projects in developing countries. Thanks to these projects, developing countries’ carbon emissions have already fallen by 26 million tonnes a year and 9.7 million people have gained access to renewable energy since 2015.

The Netherlands is also helping to combat deforestation in developing countries. This is important because forests capture and store CO2 from the atmosphere. In this reporting period, one million hectares of forest were managed better and more sustainably thanks to our efforts.

The Netherlands is also helping developing countries, primarily through water and food security programmes, to increase their resilience to changes in the climate that are now inevitable. The resilience of 669,000 people living in river basins and 2.5 million farmers has been enhanced.

Finally, as co-chair of the NDC Partnership, the Netherlands has ensured extra support for developing countries to enable them to implement their national climate plans (nationally determined contributions (NDCs)) more quickly and ambitiously in 2020.

Background

In this results reporting, the Netherlands details the results it has achieved through its climate finance and diplomatic efforts. Climate finance includes more than just the budget for climate in the Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation (BHOS) budget. Other budget items also contribute to climate action in developing countries. Appendix 6 of the Homogeneous Budget for International Cooperation (HGIS) Annual Report for 2019 provides an overview of Dutch climate finance. The amount given here is the public climate finance provided by the Netherlands in 2019.

Glimpse into the future

The third Rutte government resolved to place greater emphasis on combating climate change and adapting to its consequences.

Through additional funding for climate action in developing countries, the Netherlands aims to better support the poorest and most vulnerable people. Many of these additional funds are being deployed through the new Dutch Fund on Climate and Development, which was launched in 2019. Extra resources are also being used to stop deforestation, and the Netherlands will join many other countries in increasing its contribution to the Green Climate Fund.

The Netherlands will continue to focus on those areas in which its knowledge, expertise and role in the world can make the biggest difference, such as access to renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, climate-resilient use and management of water and combating deforestation. In doing so, the Netherlands will continue to work with multilateral organisations, NGOs, knowledge institutions and the business community.

In 2020 the Netherlands will continue its diplomatic campaign to urge other countries to do more to curb climate change. Development minister Sigrid Kaag will continue to co-chair the NDC Partnership this year.