Who to vote for in the Dutch general election if you want climate action & peace
“The differences were impossible to bridge,” said the ex-prime minister Mark Rutte to journalists on Juli 7 2023, announcing the fall of the center-right coalition cabinet he led. He referred to the stances that the different ministers of his government had on migration affairs. The ministers have since remained in their role - maintaining political stability as a demissionary cabinet - a situation that changes tomorrow, on Wednesday 22 November, when general elections take place.
In the Netherlands, it is easy to start a political party and there is no electoral threshold. This means that the amount of seats a given party gets in parliament is proportional to the votes they win. This is a crucial reason for the vitality of the Dutch democratic system which translates to high participation in the polls. Every election, voters face a gazillion faces, acronyms, and proposals.
While we – Ana and Clem – are not Dutch nationals and cannot vote for parliament, you might have gotten nationality and might want to – kindly – do it for us all. In this vein, you might want to know more about Dutch politics when it comes to climate action. You might want to know who opposes indiscriminate bømbings. That is how we are framing this little article, anyway: what are the options for the voter who cares about environmental justice in the land of canals and dikes? And what about peace?
At Amsterdive, we have “differences that are impossible to bridge” with political parties that do not address climate change. The degradation of the natural world directly impacts people everywhere. As a country that enjoys moderate climatic conditions, the Netherlands is yet to show obvious signs of environmental degradation. Those are, however, very clear in our countries of birth - Portugal and Venezuela, respectively - among many others. In recent years, Portugal has been plagued by severe floods, fires, and draughts, and temperatures have been consistently increasing to the point where winter has practically vanished. In the global South, the situation is even more dire. Of the five glaciers that existed in Venezuela in 1991, for example, there is only one left - the Humboldt Glacier - which is to disappear in the next decades too.
The Netherlands, as an important player in the global North, needs to make sure they do their part. It is, anyway, in their / our own interest. Precipitation is at its highest in the country and severe floods have been an issue before. Moreover, the Netherlands is the second largest agricultural exporter in the world following the USA, the consequence of which was highlighted in recent years with the so-called “nitrogen crisis”.
Nitrogen oxide emissions turned airborne ammonia have hit an all-time high in the country. High levels of these chemicals cause respiratory problems in people and animals and are the root cause of acid rain, which further deteriorates air, soil, and water quality. Dutch waters rank the worst - quality-wise – when compared to all European member states. The reason? Again: too many chemicals in the bodies of water in the Netherlands. These originate mostly in agricultural fertilizers - emissions of nitrate and phosphate - and chemical residues from pesticides. The production and use of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals are responsible for a wide number of micropollutants too. Microplastics also abound in Dutch waters. Traffic and high population density do the rest. The rising of sea levels shall not spare the land that was so painstakingly reclaimed from oceans and rivers.
When it comes to the situation currently taking place in the Gaza Strip, our stance is clear. We will keep it short: we wholeheartedly support the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s statement calling for a cæsefire. All countries must adhere to the rules of international humanitarian law. This being said…
We did some research and got to know each party a little better. This is by no means a complete or extensive resource. It does not substitute in-depth reading. We, simply, highlighted the most relevant topics of each program. This being said, let’s dive (pun intended) right into political waters.
Partij voor de dieren (Party for the animals)
Chairman: Esther Ouwehand
Current seats in parliament: 6
Main concerns: Climate + animals
Stand for:
NL to become climate neutral in 2030
Financial aid for people dealing with energy poverty
More taxes for big polluters & a halt to fossil fuel subsidies
A fair deal in the climate budget for the Dutch Caribbean islands
Animal rights in the constitution
Animal well-being before economic interests
Animal well-being must be considered in every decision in parliament
A sustainable and fair economy
Less cattle, more space for nature & housing
Environmentally friendly and affordable housing
More international collaboration in social justice issues
Sustainable and affordable public transportation
More accessible and inclusive education
Investments in healthcare and disease prevention
Higher budget for culture
Groen Links / PvdA (Green Left + Labour Party)
Coalition leader: Frans Timmermans
Current seats in parliament: 9 + 8
Main concerns: Climate + Housing
Stand for:
More taxes on big polluters & a halt to fossil fuel subsidies
Elimination of fossil fuel subsidies in favor of investment in green energy
Affordable housing via public housing associations
More social housing for low and middle-class
Increase and affordability of public transportation
LGBT rights
Investments in healthcare
More protected natural areas like the Veluwe, the Peel and Ameliesweerd
No more drilling for gas in the Wadden sea
BIJ1
Chairman: Sylvana Simons
Current seats in parliament: 1
Main concerns: Anti-racism + Social & climate justice
Stand for:
Full compliance with the Dutch Constitution’s Artikel 1, upholding equality and prohibiting discrimination of any kind
Full compliance with UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disability
Anti-racism and decolonization work including financial reparations
Banning blackfacing from public spaces
Keti Koti Day on July 1 - Abolition of slavery - to become a bank holiday
Increase in culture and arts funds, investments in more diversity in the media
Safer and more accessible migration routes for refugees
Investment in rescue operations in the Mediterranean
Autonomy for islands of St. Eustatius, Bonaire, and Saba
The Netherlands to become climate neutral by 20230
A stop to fossil fuel subsidies & reinvestment of that budget in clean energy
De-privatization of public transport companies: public transportation to become free of charge
Large-scale cooperation with EU members to end climate crisis
D66 (Democrats 66)
Chairman: Rob Jetter
Current seats in parliament: 24
Main concerns: Climate + Economy
Stand for:
Investments in housing, namely student housing
Increases in minimum salary & social benefits
Tendentially free childcare
Better loan conditions for small business owners
Shutting natural gas field in Groningen (risk of earthquakes)
A stop in governmental allowances (zorgtoeslag, etc.) Toeslag budget to be invested in creating a universal basic income.
A climate-neutral country by 2040 & a stop to subsidies to fossil fuel companies
Investments in healthcare, disease prevention and mental healthcare for the youth
Investments in education
Reduction of flights from Schiphol airport
Higher budgets for police, courts and prisons
Keti Koti day, July 1 - the day of slavery abolition - to be a national holiday
More participation of citizens in EU matters
Creation of a European army for autonomy from other world powers (namely the USA, China, and Russia.)
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Check the voting guide (stemwijzer) on sustainability developed by ASN, a local sustainability-driven bank (in Dutch).
Check the voting guide (stemwijzer) on peace developed by PAX, a non-profit dedicated to peace activism (in Dutch).
Note:
We excluded the political parties VOLT and Christen Union (CU) from this list. Our reasoning: despite having environmentally friendly programs, these parties support Dutch military support to Isræl (see PAX voting guide). Given current events, we don’t see how that contributes to peace.
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Ana V. Martins is the founder of amsterdive.com. Ana Creates Meaning is the venue for her most personal writing. Clement Taffin is a digital comms specialist. When she’s not doing that, she’s agonizing over what it means to be a person in the 21 century. Follow us on Instagram @amsterdive ✴︎
