THE Netherlands is a rich and diverse European country which is populated by 17 million people and has a GDP of around $1 trillion per year.
The Netherlands literally means “lower countries” due to its flat topography. About 50 per cent of the land in the Netherlands is less than 1 metre above sea level and 26 per cent of the country is below sea level.
This is not caused from recent climate change but has been an ongoing problem since the end of the last ice age. However, back in the 14th century, the Dutch implemented a large-scale land reclamation program including the construction of extensive channels, dikes, dunes, windmills, and pumps. It was a highly successful feat of engineering and is an example of what can be achieved through ingenuity and strategic investment.
Today, the Netherlands is the world’s second-largest exporter of food and agricultural products by value due to its fertile soil, mild climate and use of irrigation systems.
More than 100 billion euros worth of product is exported per year, including vegetables, fruit, flowers, meat and dairy products.
The Netherlands is also one of Europe’s largest greenhouse gas emitters – mainly due to its extensive agricultural industries.
Recently, the Dutch Government passed legislation that requires nitrogen emissions to be reduced by 50 per cent by 2030. While this will have a heavy impact on their industrial sector and electricity generators, it will have the largest impact on their food and fibre producers.
Dutch farmers will be required to reduce their emissions by 40 per cent, resulting in a possible 30 per cent decrease in total livestock numbers or cutting the country’s livestock herd by about one million animals. It will also reduce fertiliser usage and intensive farm production systems that have high nitrogen and ammonia dependence.
The Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, has described the situation as an “unavoidable transition” to a greener economy. He has provided 25 billion euros in aid. Predictions are that more than 11,000 farms will be forced to close.
Dutch farmers have quite rightly taken to the streets with their tractors in protest. However, because they only represent less than 1 per cent of the population that helps feed the other 99 per cent – most of their complaints will fall on deaf ears.
The “carbon madness” gripping the Netherlands is swiftly sweeping the globe. Once sensible, liberal democracies that were built on the principles of self-reliance, hard work and common sense are now more than willing to cut their own people’s throats on the global altar of climate change.
And the Dutch aren’t jumping off the cliff alone.
The Irish Government has also just set a target of 25 per cent reduction in agricultural emissions by 2030 with one million head of sheep and cattle to get the chop – permanently. I guess they must have forgotten about the great potato famine of 1845, which saw one million of the Irish population starve to death.
New Zealand is also proposing to introduce a carbon “levy” on their farmers by 2025.
And if anyone thinks Australia is immune to this carbon madness – think again.
Australia has just signed up to reduce our carbon emissions by 43 per cent by 2030.
What do you think will happen once they work out that solar panels and wind turbines won’t cover the gap? They will go after the very industries that built and sustain this country like agriculture and mining for “cheap” carbon credits and to appease even cheaper inner-city votes.
Anthony Albanese is also making noises about signing Joe Biden’s pledge to cut methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. He has stated that Australian farmers won’t be hurt in the process. That’s like saying dingoes don’t eat sheep or the Greens want to protect the environment.
It’s a shame that it will only be once the fridge is bare and the lights are permanently turned off that we will recognise our own madness.
