This advisory report is the Social and Economic Councils response to the Rutte Governments request for advice on energy and the economy, submitted on 5 June 2012. The request focuses in particular on the opportunities and threats for Dutch trade and industry arising from climate change, the rising cost of energy, the growing demand for fossil fuels worldwide, and increasing global competition. The Council considers the election of a new Government the ideal time to revive efforts to develop a robust, future-proof energy and climate policy. Such a policy should be consistent over the longer term and respond to major issues associated with energy and climate change and the opportunities and threats arising from those issues for businesses, institutions (schools, hospitals, housing corporations), and individual citizens.