A recent motion (in Dutch) to prevent the introduction of ETS2 opt-in for the entire Dutch greenhouse horticulture sector was adopted on Tuesday afternoon. The ETS2 opt-in system allows sectors like Dutch greenhouse horticulture to voluntarily participate in the European Emissions Trading System (ETS).
The Dutch politicans Flach (SGP) and Grinwis (Christen Unie), like Glastuinbouw Nederland, argue that the opt-in is not necessary to meet the emission targets for greenhouse horticulture (4.3 megatonnes in 2030).
The motion received support from the political parties BBB, CDA, FvD, JA21, NSC, and PVV, together accounting for a majority with 79 votes. State Secretary Rummenie had advised against the motion only last week. He did not want to pre-empt decision-making on the ETS2 opt-in by the Cabinet in spring 2025.
Against overcharging
Flach and Grinwis want the Cabinet not to opt-in to ETS2 for greenhouse horticulture unless all partners in the covenant concluded with greenhouse horticulture agree. ETS-2 will either push the sector abroad or into bankruptcy, Glastuinbouw Nederland (in Dutch) already stated the day after Prinsjesdag. People are not in favor of the opt-in.
In the motion, which has now been adopted, Glastuinbouw Nederland sees a new opportunity 'to look again with the government at the total package of incentives, so that overpricing is prevented.' The sector wants to identify all financial incentives in the run-up to the spring 2025 decision and to convince The Hague that even more measures to meet the 2030 target are not necessary.
Last week, the Dutch House of Representatives and the Dutch Cabinet also discussed amendments to the Wet fiscale klimaatmaatregelen glastuinbouw (Fiscal Climate Measures Greenhouse Horticulture Act), which after years of debate passed the House of Representatives and the Senate. The law will take effect on 1 January 2025. Possibly with lower CO2 levies in the first years than initially agreed last year (in Dutch). After this week, politics in The Hague will go on autumn break for a while.