Milieudefensie | Friends of the Earth Netherlands is a key player in the Dutch climate justice movement. In our new strategy we focus on putting pressure on 30 of the largest CO2 emitting multinationals with a basis in The Netherlands. We will not stop until all major corperate polluters adopt effective climate plans that are in line with the 1.5°C scenario of the Paris Agreement.
To achieve this, we use all the tools that we have: our success in the Shell court case, our reputation and credibility in the public debate, our strong research capacity, our connections with policy-makers and our broad national and international support base.
We are proud to introduce ourselves to you.
We are the last generation who can prevent a climate disaster. That is why we focus our strategy on the climate crisis, with climate justice as the key priority.
Milieudefensie | Friends of the Earth Netherlands empowers people to collectively realize the social transformation needed for a good and healthy life on earth. For ourselves and future generations. We strive for a society in which households, governments and companies contribute fairly to ending environmental and climate disruption.
Climate change is not a natural disaster, but a consequence of deregulated markets and political capture by multinationals. Climate change hits disadvantaged people around the world the hardest. At the same time, the costs of climate policies are unevenly distributed, with citizens paying the burden while multinationals and wealthy individuals raise their profits.
This is why we stand up for climate justice: a decent life on a healthy planet for all.
As major polluters prioritize their shareholder interests over the public interest and actively obstruct change, we adapt our strategy accordingly—to build our own countervailing power.
We influence the public and political debate
Our evidence based messages are powerful, creative and visible. This allows us to reach people also beyond our constituency and increases public support for climate justice.
We pursue strategic legal actions against major polluters—and win them
Our legal battles are only possible thanks to our substantive expertise and a strong network of lawyers and scientists.
We represent a growing segment of society
Our members and donors have doubled over the last 10 years. In 2024, we reached an all time record of 116,000 members and donors. Including ad-hoc support, we have a support base in the Netherlands of 230,000 people.
Photograph: Climate March 2023, 85.000 people gather on Dam Square, Amsterdam
The Paris Climate Agreement aims to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Exceeding this limit leads to severe and irreversible impacts of climate change. This requires drastic and immediate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, including achieving net-zero CO2 emissions by the mid-2050s.
Large companies are crucial to reach this goal - approximately 50 companies are responsible for 80% of global CO2 emissions1. These companies often escape accountability due to weak national and international laws, political influence and lack of public pressure. That is why we focus on corperate accountability.
We achieved groundbreaking success with the Shell climate case in 2021 and earned a position of authority in the public sphere. In terms of jurisprudence, it brought about a change that has already visible impact on court rulings worldwide: Companies, just like states, have an obligation to prevent dangerous climate change.
Our theory of change is based on the idea of system change. By influencing the public debate we work towards a systemic shift where climate justice is the norm.
Shifting norms, laws and power structures will force polluters into compliance.
Because a just, fossil-free future is possible.
>Read more in our General Policy Plan Summary 2016-2025
>Read the latest in the summary of our annual report 2023
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