For the time being, the Dutch government does not have to take extra measures against, among other things, the emissions of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide. This is the result of the ruling of the court in The Hague. Milieudefensie wanted the Dutch state to make extra efforts to improve air quality. In 2017 the lawsuit, which Milieudefensie lost, served. Milieudefensie was also unsuccessful by the court of appeal.
First of all: plans for a cleaner air and living environment can be praised. That is one of the reasons why limit values were set to which the Netherlands must adhere. During the case that Milieudefensie presented in 2017, the court found that the Netherlands did not meet the limit values for dirty air from the European air quality directive on time. Nevertheless, the Haagse Milieudefensie court ruled in the wrong, partly because it was impossible to determine to what extent people suffered damage as a result of exceeding the applicable standards.
No criticism of plan during procedure
Milieudefensie decided to appeal. The court referred this morning in its ruling to a new State plan to improve air quality. A plan that Milieudefensie did not criticize during the legal proceedings in the run-up to the appeal. The court also referred to the measures that the state is already taking to improve the quality of air in the Netherlands. According to the court, economic and social interests also play a role, such as reducing the number of cars and trucks in the city center of large cities. And those measures must be taken responsibly and are served in the longer term.
Effects of summary proceedings in 2017
Previously, Milieudefensie - pending the court case in 2017 - filed a summary injunction. That was won by Milieudefensie. “The judge ruled in our favor. The government had to come up with measures in the short term. The government has already done so. Despite the rejection of our claims by the court in 2017 and the ruling of the court of justice, the legal action has therefore had some effect. And we will continue to fight. "
Diesel density high in the Netherlands
On Monday 6 May, Anne Knol, campaign leader sustainable mobility and healthy air within Milieudefensie, could still be seen in an item from Een Vandaag. She continued to insist on the invisible contamination caused in particular by particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide. "The standard of 40 micrograms per cubic meter is exceeded for both particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide," says Knol. In particular, the diesel car was mentioned as a polluter in the item, in which it was heard, among other things, that "the diesel density in the Netherlands is still high." In that sense, the following anti-diesel propaganda does not seem entirely justified. The behavioral consequences of the announced MRB increase for polluting old diesels will undoubtedly apply, in addition, various Euro 5 and Euro 6 diesels on the second-hand market are more competitively priced than ever. It is probably an extra incentive for the environmental lobby to continue to fight for measures with regard to motor vehicles.
Make policy for car-free areas
It has already been said through these channels. However, if the inner cities and adjacent neighborhoods only become accessible to residents and business destination traffic (including public transport and taxis), the emissions of the substances mentioned (and also Co2) will probably be considerably below the standard. It is very realistic to think about that, and to carefully formulate policy on these principles. And within that not only to name the motorist as the direct object.