Conditions for greening the Dutch economy
Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, the Netherland: Greening the economy is a major and necessary task for the world as a whole as well as for the Netherlands. Using energy, raw materials and natural resources more efficiently will strengthen the structure of the Dutch economy. This is necessary, given the expected quadrupling of the world economy over the next forty years, the associated environmental impacts and the increasing scarcity of raw materials and natural resources. It is important that the Dutch Government sketches a clear perspective on greening for citizens and businesses. Over the next 40 years, the world population is expected to increase from 7 to 9 billion and the world economy to quadruple in size. This will lead to a growing demand for energy, food, water and materials. Due to this increasing demand combined with accelerated climate change and continuing biodiversity loss, we run great risks, globally. The challenge is therefore to achieve ‘green’ growth by making more efficient use of natural resources and by doing less damage to the environment and nature. (Source: http://www.pbl.nl/en/publications/conditions-for-greening-the-economy)