|
Green Plans in Action: Netherlands: Industry Advantages
Comprehensive
A great advantage of the Dutch green plans is its overriding principle for environmental policy; it is comprehensive and integrates all relevant parties and concerns. Through this strategy, pollution sources receive attention and the relationship between ecological, social, and economic systems are considered and integrated into policies and solutions. With the understanding that a healthy long-term economy depends on a sustainable environment, many businesses are willingly converting to sustainable development in their work environments and business practices, and practicing corporate social responsibility.
Cooperation
The traditional adversarial relationship between the government, industry, and citizen groups has been usurped by soliciting the cooperation of all stakeholders through the NEPP. The old system of working from the top down wasn't solving the environmental problem; so Dutch green plans include innovative willing participation of all stakeholders to promote trust and cooperation. This includes industry putting their concerns on the table through target group representatives for the purpose of negotiation. An initial concern was creating consistent policies with long-term timeframes conducive to business investment cycles. Industry is now consulting with other stakeholders regarding a strategic environmental policy agenda to maintain the momentum for environmental policy.
Commitment
Industry is a primary source of environmental problems, and also has the finances to support research and development needed to be a primary source of solutions. Through the green plan process, target groups were established from all major industrial sectors, and scientists set over-arching environmental goals to be achieved in increments within the NEPP's twenty-five year period. Target groups negotiate with the government to deliver specific goals and meet long-term target dates through voluntary agreements, called covenants. Individual businesses are then free to create their own green plan strategies and budget to meet these specific pollution reduction goals. Each year businesses announce their sustainable plans for the next year and are judged by the success in meeting set goals.
Competition
Along with asking industry to develop new ways of thinking and operating, government agreed to provide industry with a level playing field. They did this by making stability a major theme, providing financial support, protecting industry against increased regulatory pressure and future liability for pollution or industrial accidents, and streamlining permitting processes. Although there is an initial decrease of profits in the short-term, one of the principles of green plans is that long-term cleaner manufacturing processes are more efficient and cost-effective, with no after-the-fact cleanup costs. Due to these benefits, competition is driving international corporations, nations, and individual businesses toward green plans business technology.
|
