European Economic
and Social Committee
Netherlands
National Strategy / Action Plan
There is no National Strategy / Action Plan in Netherlands
CSO platform(s)
Lead Government Body
national ESC(s)
SD council or equivalent
Performance
There is no Performance in Netherlands
Summary
- Some high-priority SDGs were integrated into the National Development Plan.
- The national SDG report highlights the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders in the implementation of the SDGs.
- Civil society is involved in the SDGs policy process at both national and regional level.
Description of the initiative
Actors
Actors
Task Force for Sustainable Development (TFDO – task force duurzame ontwikkeling)
Task Force for Sustainable Development (TFDO – task force duurzame ontwikkeling)
Institutional framework
Institutional framework
Responsibilities have been assigned to all the Ministries concerned, with the Ministry for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation in the lead for SDGs.
An Action Programme called "Sustainable Action" was adopted by the Dutch Government in 2003, and several progress reports have since been published.
The government revised its policy in 2008 in a programme known as the cabinet-wide approach to sustainable development: Kabinetsbrede Aanpak Duurzame Ontwikkeling (KADO), committing the government to furthering the cause of sustainability in its everyday operational activities and conducting societal dialogue.
On 28 March 2013, the cabinet published Green Growth policy paper consisting of four pillars:
- Smart use of market incentives;
- A dynamic legislative and regulatory framework that should stimulate green growth;
- Innovation;
- Government as a networking partner.
The current sustainability agenda covers all three dimensions of sustainable development, with an emphasis at national level on the "planet" and "profit" elements (since many of the goals in the "people" pillar have been met). It covers both the national and international levels.
The country has integrated high-priority SDGs into its National Development Plan.
An SDG network of focal points, with representatives from each ministry and the Association of Netherlands Municipalities, has been established and meets regularly. It is chaired by a specially appointed high-level coordinator for national SDG implementation, assisted by a small secretariat.
The government’s assessment framework for policy and legislation has been amended to reflect its ambitions with regard to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2016, at the instigation of NGOs, the House of Representatives called on the government to introduce an SDG check. The government agreed to adapt its Integrated Assessment Framework for policy and legislation (the IAK) to accommodate the SDGs, rather than introduce a new test.
Role of civil society
Role of civil society
The first national SDG report on Monitor of Well-being & Sustainable Development Goals was issued in May 2017. It describes the activities of all stakeholders (national and local government, private companies including the financial sector, CSOs, knowledge institutions and youth organisations), illustrating the collective nature of SDG implementation in the Netherlands. A second national report was published in May 2018. In this second report, the main challenges mentioned were climate, energy and gender equality.
The House of Representatives requested integrating the SDG monitoring into its Monitor of Well-being (MDN).
The SDG Charter is a movement of companies, NGOs, knowledge institutes, philanthropy, municipalities and government willing to contribute to the SDGs, individually or jointly.
Gemeenten4GlobalGoals aims to inspire and support municipalities in the implementation of "Global Goals" (165 municipalities participatfed).
SD council or equivalent
SD council or equivalent
Law of 17 January 2012 further to the provisions of the Kaderwet adviescolleges (Advisory Boards Framework Act).
The Council operates independently and provides solicited and unsolicited advice on policy that affects the sustainable development of the human environment and national infrastructure. The government has a statutory obligation to respond to its advisory report, stating how it intends to implement the recommendations.
Main tasks:
- monitors trends and developments;
- draws attention to social issues and places those issues on the agenda;
- offers advice on government policy and provides policy recommendations;
- produces its advisory reports in an open process; and
- engages stakeholders.
Membership: 10 independent members drawn from various backgrounds including public administration, the private sector and academia.
Meets monthly in an advisory capacity.
Each year the Council produces a Work Programme (latest for 2019-2020), which is subject to the approval of the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management.
Publications:
- 2019:
- 2018:
- 2017:
- 2016:
- 2015:
- Events: EEAC conference organised on October 2017, with interviews on the implementation of Agenda 2030
National Economic & Social Councils
National Economic & Social Council
Social and Economic Council Act
The SER advises the Dutch Government and Parliament on key points of social and economic policy. It also undertakes activities arising from governance tasks and self-regulatory matters, and functions as a platform for discussions of social and economic issues. It consists of independent Crown-appointed members, employers, and employees.
The SER is led by an executive committee; the full Council meets on the third Friday of every month, primarily to discuss and finalise the SER’s advisory reports to the Government. Prior to this stage, the reports are prepared and intensively discussed in a committee or working party. Where the SER's advice is not unanimous on all points, the differences of opinion are set out in the report. These meetings are open to the public.
The Social and Economic Council Act (Wet op de Sociaal-Economische Raad) assigns the SER a number of advisory and administrative tasks, and gives it a role in promoting self-regulation in business.
- Advising government and parliament:
- On request or at its own initiative, the SER advises the government on the main outlines of policy. The arguments put forward by the SER are also used by parliament in its debates with the government.
- Enforcing laws:
- Although the government is responsible for enacting and enforcing laws, the SER is on occasion asked to help enforce certain acts that are important for trade and industry. The SER helps to enforce the Works Councils Act.
- The SER has been entrusted with the statutory task of promoting employee participation in enterprises and has set up a special committee for that purpose
- Supervising conduct in mergers:
- The Social and Economic Council's Merger Code is primarily aimed at protecting employee interests in the event of a proposed merger. Its purpose is to ensure that employees are given due consideration when enterprises are contemplating a merger. The Code could be applicable if a proposed merger involves private enterprises and all the conditions as stipulated in the Merger Code are fulfilled.
- Promoting business/consumer self-regulation:
- One of the SER's statutory tasks is to promote desirable trends in business and industry. To achieve this, the SER encourages business and consumer organisations to consult each other about mutually satisfactory general terms and conditions (General Terms and Conditions make up the 'fine print' that applies when consumers purchase goods or services from businesses). This type of self-regulation ideally leads to the establishment of Consumer Complaints Boards made up of members representing both business and consumers.
Agreement on a Sustainable Garment and Textile Sector (2016): On 9 March 2016, a broad coalition of industry organisations, trade unions, civil society organisations and the Dutch government presented an agreement on international responsible business conduct in the garment and textile sector. In this agreement, these parties combine forces in an effort to achieve practical improvements in and ensure the sustainability of the international garment and textile supply chain. The next steps in this process will be to secure funding of the agreement and have it signed. The agreement was drafted under the guidance of the SER.
The transition to a circular economy (2016): In its advisory report, the SER stresses the urgency and necessity of working on a circular economy. The Council favours an ambitious transition agenda that goes beyond removing barriers and also capitalises on opportunities. This could make the Netherlands a world leader regarding the circular economy in a number of value chains. In the SER's view, the best way to achieve this aim is to develop a coherent, government-wide strategy that involves enterprises, trade unions and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). The advisory report offers a number of guidelines in this regard. As such, it offers building blocks for a Government-wide Programme for a Circular Economy.
In 2018, Cabinet asked the SER to develop an advice regarding the International Corporate Social Responsibility (IMVO) and the SDGs. In May 2018, the note ‘Investeren in Perspectief’ was published.
National Climate Agreement (2019)Together with the Climate Act these agreement set out the Netherlands’ climate goals. The National Climate Agreement, contains agreements with the sectors on what they will do to help achieve the climate goals. The participating sectors are: electricity, industry, built environment, traffic and transport, and agriculture. The SER facilitated this process.
Monitoring & Evaluation
Monitoring & Evaluation
UN SDSN SDG Index Country Profile
Netherlands ranks 9th in the SDG global ranking of 2019.
Statistics Netherlands provides comprehensive information on the state of sustainability issues in the Netherlands and compiles SDG indicators.
The Voluntary National Review was published in 2017.
Netherlands's Voluntary National Review can be accessed here.