About Us

Grote vervuilers en de overheid veranderen niet vanzelf. Daar zijn veranderaars voor nodig. Dus kom in actie en doe met ons mee. We kunnen niet wachten.

We see the climate crisis intensifying, evidenced by severe extreme weather events like heatwaves, floods and storms, rising global temperatures, melting ice caps and increasing food and water insecurity. Too little is being done. Major polluters continue to pollute. And governments allow and even support them. We can´t solve this alone. But together, we can. Join us. We can´t wait.

CTA Blokken

Who is Milieudefensie

Milieudefensie | Friends of the Earth Netherlands is a key player in the Dutch climate 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 corporate 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.

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.

Current campaigns

 

Our Theory of Change

Our ambition: all companies Paris-Proof

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 emissions. 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 corporate 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 Strategy

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.

strategic-framework.jpg

Read more in our Policy Framework Summary 2025-2030

Research and factsheets

Behind the scenes, we ensure that we are seen as the leading organization on the topic of climate (policy) by and for businesses, on climate equity and climate justice. We do this by conducting and commissioning research, writing public statements and lobbying on national and international platforms.

Publications

 

Milieudefensie / Friends of the Earth Netherlands in numbers

  • Milieudefensie was established in 1971
  • We are a member of Friends of the Earth International, the largest grassroots environmental network in the world with millions of members and supporters.
  • Over 230,000 Dutch changemakers support our work with time and money.
  • At our office in Amsterdam we have in total 152 staff
  • Milieudefensie Jong, our youth organisation, encourages younger people up to the age of 28 to get involved. Watch the movie made by our youth climate activists: Once you Care

 

More information about Milieudefensie

Loading...