Climate Minister Opposes Funding Agriculture from Climate Fund
The Hague, Wednesday, 12 February 2025.
On 10 February 2025, Minister Sophie Hermans rejected reallocating €5 billion from the climate fund for sustainable agriculture, despite Senate majority support.
Political Standoff over Climate Fund
The rejection comes amid growing pressure from six major political parties, including BBB, CDA, GroenLinks-PvdA, D66, ChristenUnie, and OPNL, who jointly submitted a motion to redirect funds originally earmarked for nuclear energy towards helping farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions [1]. This decision is particularly significant as the agricultural sector remains the only economic sector formally excluded from accessing the climate fund [1].
Historical Context and Current Stakes
The debate over agricultural funding has a recent history of setbacks. In September 2024, a similar proposal to allocate funds to the agriculture sector failed with only 46 votes [1]. The current climate fund represents a significant reduction from the previous government’s allocation, having been decreased from €25 billion to just €5 billion [1]. The Scientific Climate Council (WKR) highlighted in late 2024 that while farmers are essential to achieving climate goals, current sustainability support policies are insufficient [1].
Future Implications
The motion is scheduled for a vote on February 17, 2025, and is expected to receive substantial support in the Senate [1]. However, implementation would require a formal amendment in the House of Representatives, where success is less certain [1]. LTO Nederland, advocating for the agricultural sector, emphasizes the need for a strategic long-term policy through a ‘Climate-Conscious Agriculture’ covenant, aiming to create a stable investment climate extending to 2050 [1].
Proposed Solutions
In response to the current impasse, LTO has called for Minister Hermans and Agriculture Minister Wiersma to implement a comprehensive ‘Program for Climate-Conscious Agriculture’ [1]. This program would aim to effectively utilize the proposed €5 billion, incorporating specific measures at business, regional, and sector-wide levels to advance climate-conscious farming practices [1].