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Interestingly, some of the technical gains made on vehicles, such as the development of more efficient engines and improved aerodynamics, have
been offset by other characteristics of new vehicles, such as greater weight, engine power and cylinder capacity, which have increased fuel
consumption and thus CO
2
emissions. The average power of a new car in the Netherlands increased by about 20 and the average weight by
about 11 between 1998 and 2006. Instruments were also introduced to influence transport behaviour.
Alternatives to cars have been encouraged by tax schemes for commuters, such as an additional tax liability for the private use of a
company car. The New Driving information campaign to encourage more economical driving was introduced in 1999 and handed over to industry
associations, consumer organisations and market parties, united in The New Driving Network, in 2010.
Flight tax was introduced in 2008 but was abolished a year later owing to opposition from Dutch airports, airlines and travel organisations.
In March 2009, we issued a report entitled The Environmental Impact of Road Transport. In it, we concluded that the impact of Dutch climate
policy in the transport sector had been disappointing as the intended CO
2
reductions had not been achieved Netherlands Court of Audit, 2009b. Since 2009, the average CO
2
emission of new cars has declined, partly because of the greater availability of more efficient vehicles and partly
because of the higher demand for smaller more economical cars. The latter was due in part to Dutch tax measures to promote the sale of
economical cars but the economic crisis and high fuel prices in the first half of 2008 will also have been a factor in the increased demand CBS et
al., 2010c.
3.4.4 Agriculture and horticulture sector
In the agriculture and horticulture sector, a large number of businesses are together responsible for a small proportion of total energy
consumption in the Netherlands. There is a concentration of energy consumption within the sector: greenhouse horticulture is responsible for
80 of consumption in the sector. In greenhouse horticulture, energy costs represent a relatively large proportion of total production costs.
Energy savings are attractive to these businesses because they result in direct and substantial cost savings.
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Evaluations have found that the 1997 Horticulture and Environment Agreement GLAMI together with a variety of fiscal schemes has been
effective. Greenhouse growers agreed in the GLAMI to improve their energy efficiency per unit of production by 65 by 2010 relative to 1980.
This target had almost been reached by 2009. The GLAMI had a clear, quantified target and, moreover, a statutory basis in an Integrated
Environmental Target in the Greenhouse Horticulture Decree. Other important contributions to achieving the target include the priority
given to energy saving in the restructuring of greenhouse horticulture areas Netherlands Court of Audit, 2003 and schemes to retain small -
scale cogeneration plants when low electricity prices made them unprofitable EZ, 2008.
The Clean and Efficient Agriculture Agreement concluded with various agricultural and horticultural sectors in 2008 included targets for CO
2
emissions, renewable energy and energy savings. Annual working programmes explain the progress made in each sector and set out the
plans – transition pathways – for the coming year. The programmes
provide an annual insight into whether implementation is on schedule to achieve the goals set for 2020.
3.5 Implementation of European policy
European policy influences the Netherlands achievement of its saving potential. The Netherlands relies on EU policy and has little freedom to
take measures that might affect competition or relations with the single market. We found that the Netherlands had not complied with a number
of EU obligations on time. Slow implementation of IPPC Directive
An important instrument for the manufacturing sector is the European framework for environmental permits: the Integrated Pollution Preventi on
and Control Directive Directive 9661EC, 1996; Directive 20081EC, 2008.
The IPPC Directive requires EU member states to control emissions of environmentally polluting substances from industrial plants and from
intensive livestock farming by means of environmental permits. It has been applicable to new plants since 1999 and to existing plants since
2007. At the heart of the IPPC Directive is the principle that companies subject to the Directive must use the best available technology provided
it does not entail excessively high costs. These measures take account of technological and economic circumstances to provide the best possible
