Big win! The Netherlands withdraws from ECT

The Netherlands is withdrawing from the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). The minister of Climate and Energy (Rob Jetten) announced this on Tuesday. The decision is good news for the climate.

The 1994 treaty protects the interests of large polluting companies. As a result of the ECT, governments potentially have to deal with millions of dollars in claims if they take climate measures. It thus stands in the way of achieving the Paris climate goals.

Last week, 12 civil society organizations, including Friends of the Earth Netherlands, wrote a letter to the cabinet to withdraw from the controversial treaty. Jetten is now showing decisiveness by following this call.