Cleaner production, but no green growth

Environmental Economics proportionally decreased

In a recent report by The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in the Netherlands called ‘Green Growth in the Netherlands’ green growth is spoken of when economic growth puts the least possible pressure on the environment and natural resources. In the years from 1990 to 2009, the Dutch economy has grown with 53 percent. The environmental pressure increased less rapidly. Emissions of greenhouse gases increased by 5 percent. But also the consumption of energy has increased by less than the economy has grown. Only tap water consumption has been reduced through increased use of surface water and water-saving technologies in recent decades.

Mineral surpluses in agriculture are decreasing

Intensive farming is the major cause of excess nitrogen and phosphorus in the environment. This led to problems with drinking water and soil. After the government took measures, there remains less and less annual nitrogen and phosphorus from manure or fertilizer back into the environment while agriculture is producing more. Surpluses are still making the minerals continue to accumulate in the environment. The values of the minerals in the environment are still above targets.

Threat of species increases

Economic growth is accompanied by an attack on the quantity and quality of natural resources. Well-functioning natural resources are essential for our prosperity and future well-being. Nature sees to carbon storage, purification of surface water and food production. This is important for biodiversity, which is the variety of life forms, to be maintained. Increase or decrease in biodiversity in the short term, can be an indicator for how green the economy is.

National Red Lists have increased

Between 1994 and 2005, however the seriousness of the threat of species on the National Red Lists has increased by 7 percent. The Red List is a list of the survival of endangered species in a given area. For each species, the degree of threat is indicated. Species are classified in: disappeared (from the Netherlands), seriously threatened, endangered, vulnerable or sensitive. This is partly due to changing land use and pollution. Only in the case of mammals is there a positive development.