Toespraak minister Hermans (KGG) bij de VN-klimaatconferentie (COP30) in Belém, Brazilië
Deze toespraak is alleen beschikbaar in het Engels
Ladies and gentlemen.
You probably know about the Netherlands for our tulips, windmills and waterworks.
You may even know us for:
Our clogged shoes,
Our clogged roads,
And now even for our clogged electricity grid.
Yes, a clogged electricity grid.
The rapid growth of renewable energy in the Netherlands has simply moved
faster than our ability to expand our grid. Putting a strain on our grid.
That is what happens when you have the highest number of solar panels per
capita in the world.
And one-third of all Electric Vehicle charging points in the European Union within
one small, densely populated country.
This requires us to speed up investment and coordination to keep pace with our
own success.
So why am I sharing this with you?
Because the climate transition has entered a phase where execution matters most.
We are now working at full speed to expand and modernize our infrastructure, because the transition is no longer about setting targets: it is about executing them.
And execution requires realism, planning, and the ability to adjust when circumstances change.
Our ambition set the direction.
But delivering them demands realism, flexibility, and constant adjustment
For us, climate policy, economic strength, and national security now go hand in
hand:
Energy is where they meet
Energy is climate. Energy is Economy.
And today, energy is also security.
That is why we must stay on course and offer certainty to the industries and
communities we rely on
They need to know a transition is stable, affordable, and future-proof.
I firmly believe that sharing lessons learned will help us tremendously in the climate and energy transition.
It will strengthen our economies and communities by creating green, economic growth.
We must keep adapting to ever-changing markets and global affairs.
Our ambition sets the direction.
But the road to reach them must remain practical, flexible, and rooted in reality.
In conclusion, green growth is the path forward.
We need to keep focused and follow through on our commitments.
The world can rely on The Netherlands to honor its commitment to increase resilience.
To increase our resilience and create an economy built for the future.
I look forward to sharing our lessons learned and to hearing about yours.
Thank you.