Netherlands urges accelerated ‘efforts on all pillars of the Paris Agreement'

Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte pointed out Friday the "urgent need" to take action in the face of climate change and urged stepping up efforts on all pillars of the Paris Agreement.

Rutte addressed the COP28 climate summit in Dubai and said that the Netherlands, as a low-lying delta country and six islands in the Caribbean, knows "what it's like to be vulnerable to climate change."

"As the Global Stocktake shows, we need to step up our efforts on all pillars of the Paris Agreement: on mitigation, on adaptation and on climate finance," he said.

Rutte went on to say that it is crucial that all parties support the recommendations made by the Transitional Committee on Loss and Damage on climate finance.

"All the warning lights are flashing red after yet another year of climate extremes. So, we need to set up a fund and help the most vulnerable countries," he said, adding that his country will provide €15 million ($16.3 million) to the startup costs of the fund.

Rutte noted that the Netherlands' 2030 target of a 55% reduction in emissions "seems to be within reach, for the first time."

"In the Netherlands, we're committed to accelerating our efforts," he said. "We urgently need to scale up our efforts on mitigation."

Noting his commitment to accelerate efforts in the Netherlands, Rutte pointed out that his government is investing in large-scale renewable energy projects with a special focus on green hydrogen in the Netherlands and abroad.

"By 2030, we want to provide 100 million people in Africa with access to clean energy -- with millions of people needs to become billions of people. So, I urge all of you here to step up your efforts as well," he added.