The study concludes that there is still no viable private business case for the necessary investments by individual companies, despite the urgency of climate change and years of policy efforts since the Climate Agreement. The expected emission reductions in 2040 appear to result mainly from deindustrialization rather than a successful transition. This indicates a stalemate: the energy and industrial transitions continue to struggle with the required changes.
Whereas an earlier SIL study (Green Choices for the Dutch Basic Industry) examined whether the sector could technically and physically make the transition, Aid for Systemic Pain focuses on how the current stalemate can be overcome, enabling the Netherlands to build a sustainable basic industry.
The report presents four “bold ideas” that challenge the existing division of roles and policy principles. These proposals aim to accelerate the transition and assign risks to where they rightfully belong. With this contribution, SIL seeks to offer a new perspective on industrial policy in the Netherlands, embedded within the broader European context.
The SIL report marks the conclusion of an intensive process, consisting of a quantitative study by Sproule ERCE and Quo Mare on the implications of an integrated transition strategy for the Dutch basic industry up to 2040, complemented by a series of workshops with stakeholders and SIL partners.