Citizens launch legal action against Dutch government over climate impacts on Bonaire

THE HAGUE, CMC – Residents and citizens of Bonaire, together with Greenpeace Netherlands, on Thursday launched a legal action over the Dutch government's failure to protect the Caribbean island against climate change impacts.

Bonaire, a former Dutch colony, has been a special Dutch municipality since 2010. According to the seven individual plaintiffs the state is negligent in protecting them from climate change and violates their human rights. They demand that the Netherlands meets its fair share when it comes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and that the island of Bonaire is better protected against climate change impacts.

A scientific report by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam last year showed that the climate crisis is already affecting the daily lives of people in the Caribbean and will have severe impacts on the island of Bonaire unless strong measures are taken.

A pre-litigation letter before action was delivered to Prime Minister Rutte in The Hague as a final warning before the Dutch State is taken to court.

Speaking from Bonaire, the plaintiffs emphasised their demand for climate justice and a safe future for their island.

Executive director of Greenpeace Netherlands, Andy Palmen, said: “It should not matter whether you live on Bonaire, in The Hague or in Amsterdam. The Government has a duty to protect all municipalities from floods and other life-threatening consequences of the climate crisis.

“So far, the national government chooses not to protect the residents of Bonaire, even though it is desperately needed. That's why today, together with people of Bonaire, we are holding the Dutch State accountable.”

Palmen said The Netherlands has a duty to limit global warming as much as possible to contribute to climate justice for current and future generations.

“We demand that Bonaire be better protected and that Dutch CO2 emissions be reduced more quickly,” he added.

Noting that it makes a fundamental difference whether the world manages to stay below 1.5 degrees of global warming, especially for small islands like Bonaire, the plaintiffs are demanding that the Dutch State contributes its fair share to limit global warming below 1.5 degrees and that emissions from the Netherlands are reduced to zero by 2040.

Minke de Haan, of Amsterdam law firm Kennedy van der Laan, representing the individual plaintiffs and Greenpeace Netherlands, said: “So far, the Government does not seem to be heeding the call for concrete action for the Dutch Caribbean islands, and policies that will enable us to stay below 1.5 degrees global warming. While we would like to be surprised, we do not expect this to suddenly change as a result of this pre-litigation letter, and so we will continue to prepare a writ of summons for a lawsuit against the Dutch State.”

The Bonaire climate case is part of a global climate justice movement, led by residents of coastal areas, island nations and other affected communities.

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