The wheels are coming off the Dutch green revolution

Another day, another success in the courts for Dutch environmentalists. This week, the country’s highest court, the Council of State, decided that building is no longer exempt from EU environment protection rules. In one of the world’s most densely-populated countries, where new homes are badly needed – and a 900,000 home building spree had just been announced – this spells trouble: within hours, building association Bouwend Nederland called it a ‘tragedy’ and experts warned it will exacerbate the Netherlands’ housing crisis.

This isn’t the first time the green lobby has enjoyed a victory that leads to confusion and chaos. Farmers continue to vent their fury at plans aimed at reducing emissions that involve cutting livestock numbers and reducing intensive farming. They recognise that some change is necessary: the more than 100 million cattle, pigs and chickens that live on farms in the Netherlands generate massive pollution. But farmers also feel unfairly targeted and unhappy at the speed with which reforms are being brought in – thanks to the target of a 50 per cent reduction in nitrogen compound emissions by 2030.