The Hague, Netherlands – In a resounding call for climate action, thousands of passionate climate activists converged in The Hague on Saturday, making their voices heard against substantial government subsidies for industries reliant on oil, coal, and gas. This robust demonstration was fueled by a recent report revealing that a staggering 37.5 billion euros have been allocated to such industries in the Netherlands, primarily within the maritime sector.
Prominent climate groups, including Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace, spearheaded the protest, determined to halt the subsidies and pledging to return daily if forcibly removed. Yolanda de Jager, a vocal activist, emphasized, “This is much larger than any one of us. This concerns the whole world.”
The demonstrators held aloft placards emblazoned with slogans such as “Fossil Fuel Subsidies are Not Cool,” and underscored the dire consequences of inaction, linking the extreme global temperatures experienced this summer to the future impact of fossil fuels.
As tensions escalated, law enforcement deployed water cannons and specialized orange wagons to disperse the protesters. Those at the forefront raised defiant fists or sought shelter from the deluge, while those further back reveled in the refreshing spray on an unseasonably warm September day.
This highway blockade forms part of a broader series of protests initiated by Extinction Rebellion, all aimed at the Dutch parliament.
A recent report published by the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), in collaboration with Friends of the Earth and Oil Change International, highlighted the Dutch government’s annual allocation of tens of billions in subsidies to fossil fuel industries. Despite the Netherlands’ reputation as a trailblazer in renewable energy and climate-conscious policies, Minister for Climate and Energy Rob Jetten has yet to outline a definitive timeline for ending these subsidies.
The report issues a compelling call to action for lawmakers to commence the gradual phase-out of subsidies ahead of the country’s pivotal general election scheduled for November 22.
