Notices by Kees van der Leun (sustainable2050@mastodon.energy), page 2

The NL Association for Renewable Energy NVDE points out that the energy transition can reduce nitrogen emissions. Its recent "Menu card for green growth" shows the potential of the measures needed to meet the climate goals to also reduce nitrogen. https://www.nvde.nl/nvde-haal-het-stikstofslot-van-de-energietransitie-om-zo-juist-stikstof-te-reduceren/

Last spring, Parliament asked for measures to ensure that the small nitrogen emissions from building energy infrastructure and renewable energy generation will be allowed, in view of the much larger nitrogen emission reduction when operating them.
NVDE calls on govt to come with a solution asap.

NGO Greenpeace wins nitrogen deposition case! Court rules that Dutch govt must immediately act to ensure that 50% of the vulnerable Natura2000 areas are not overloaded with nitrogen anymore by 2030. It is not allowed to wait for the outcome of a potential appeals case.
https://nos.nl/collectie/13901/artikel/2552791-greenpeace-wint-zaak-tegen-staat-rechter-dwingt-kabinet-meer-haast-te-maken-met-stikstofaanpak
#biodiversity #nitrogen #pollution

After years of foot-dragging, our previous government had finally agreed on a serious package + budget to reduce nitrogen emissions, with agriculture as its main cause. Then came elections, and a new coalition which had promised farmers a further delay deleted the package + most of the budget.

The share of Dutch Natura2000 nature areas below the maximum acceptable nitrogen load, historically slowly growing to around 28% by 2022. Needs to grow to at least 50% by 2030, confirmed by the court ruling of today.
Additional measures clearly needed.
Source: https://nos.nl/artikel/2552811-kabinet-bestudeert-stikstofuitspraak-grondig-kamer-wil-snel-extra-maatregelen

"Farmers' party" BBB says it's now time to change the law, in which the lower limit on reduction of the nitrogen load in nature areas is enshrined. But that's not how the rule of law works. Try it when the police gives you a fine for speeding.

The Dutch court ruling on nitrogen emission reduction is the opening item of @nieuws.nos.nl public TV news today. The judge: "We have the strong impression that the new government has weakened, rather than strengthened, nitrogen reduction policies and budgets."

A previous plan of BBB leader was to 'bang her fist on the table' in Brussels, but this was not succesful. On her visit she only got to speak with cabinet members of the Commissioner, who "informed her about the European rules and their implications for the Netherlands".
https://www.ad.nl/politiek/caroline-van-der-plas-na-langverwacht-gesprek-in-brussel-we-komen-heel-snel-terug~a2f13bdb/

Tiktok, by Nick Anderson.

30% of Dutch Tesla owners wants to get rid of the car because of Musk's behavior.
https://www.ad.nl/auto/drie-op-de-tien-tesla-rijders-willen-van-auto-af-door-musk-als-ik-had-geweten-hoe-hij-nu-is-had-ik-nooit-tesla-genomen~a9bae85b/

Family groups moving from WhatsApp to Signal today. #WhatsAppexit

If confirmed, this £40 billion price tag for a 3.2 GW power plant would amount to £12,500 per kW, i.e. €15,000 per kW, that's roughly the current estimate for Hinkley Point C too.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/14/sizewell-c-cost-nuclear-power-plant-edf?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

"Last month, Musk’s record-setting Tesla pay package was struck down once again by a Delaware judge even after shareholders backed the amounts and Musk asked her to reconsider. The stock options package was initially worth $2.6 billion and spiked to $56 billion by the time the judge canceled it."

ABP, the Dutch civil servants' pension fund, vs Tesla: Europe’s largest pension fund sold its entire stake in Tesla in the third quarter partly due to disagreement with Elon Musk’s remuneration package

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-12/europe-s-largest-pension-fund-sold-tesla-stake-over-musk-s-pay

Over 70,000 people killed in Gaza, so far.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)02678-3/fulltext

2024 was the hottest year on record globally, at 1.6°C above the pre-industrial average. 2023 is now second warmest.
Roughly 2/3 of the total warming happened since the 1980s.

When discussing things, e.g. in energy and climate, that need to be done by 2040:
That's not the distant future anymore. It's as far away from today as 2010 is.

We already use Signal at Common Futures, because it's more secure. And I'm quite surprised about how many of my contacts already have it, although WhatsApp is more frequently used.

Whatsapp, like Facebook, is owned by Zuckerberg's Meta.
Signal is owned by the Signal Foundation. And it's more secure. We have a choice.

Natural gas use in Dutch households plummeted in recent years, much more than I was aware of.
Where the average gas consumption used to be around 1,200 m³ per year, it was 970 in 2022, and just 820 in 2023!
More on causes in next post.
https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/cijfers/detail/81528NED