Climate crisis requires new forms of governance
The climate crisis is becoming more and more visible. At the same time, citizens in the Netherlands also have concrete concerns about migration, housing, healthcare and livelihoods. The problems they experience will become many times bigger if we do not work hard on a sustainable society as well, say over 30 Governance professors and researchers of various Dutch universities in the journal Binnenlands Bestuur. They call upon the Dutch House of Representatives and the to be formed Cabinet to deal with this complicated assignment with new forms of governance, and also provide concrete starting points for this. Proper governance means doing justice to citizens' concerns here and now, and taking responsibility for the future at the same time, they state.
Many Dutch people worry about the consequences of climate change. At the same time, the result of the past Dutch House of Representatives election shows many voters have more direct concerns regarding migration, housing, healthcare and livelihoods. Both concerns deserve a proper political answer from the new Dutch House of Representatives and the to be formed cabinet. That is in the general interest, and it is needed for the credibility and reliability of the government, the authors state.
Starting points for new form of governance
That is why it is important for politicians to spend the upcoming years developing a form of governance which does justice to citizens' concerns in the here and now, and takes responsibility for the future of our country and the planet at the same time, the governance experts say in their call in Binnenlands Bestuur.
They speak out in favour of not pitting these two assignments against each other, but to connect them. That requires more than just politics as usual and it is an enormous challenge. For the required new forms of governance, they designate a number of concrete starting points:
- Provide short-term and long-term perspectives: be honest about the climate crisis and present at the same time a hopeful perspective which also includes issues such as social inequality and migration; a coherent and uniting vision inspiring trust that our efforts for current and future generations will provide a better life.
- Take immediate action but also be prepared to run a marathon: ensure that policies regarding housing, social inequality and migration not only have short-term results, but are also important steps in the sustainability transition, beyond the upcoming cabinet term. Institutional long-term guarantees could be matters such as the appointing of a climate commissioner and a climate test for new policy.
- Encourage involvement in society beyond polarisation: connection and understanding in society are essential if tensions on all kinds of crises are rising; encourage societal conversations between groups and generations on their (various) concerns on the present and the future, for instance by means of citizens forums.
- Be inviting but also strict to the corporate world: the knowledge and dedication of corporations are essential to working on big issues such as the climate crisis. They have the right to a reliable and set course. Ensure a clear vision on the necessary transition and make clear rules for corporations; connect this to consequent enforcement and independent public supervision.
Authors and signatories
The authors of the call are: Hans Joosse-Bil, Albert Meijer, Lennart Stam, Wouter de Rijk en Judith van Erp, all employed at the School of Governance (USG) of Utrecht University. Their opinion contribution has been signed by over 30 professors and researchers of public administration, employed at various Dutch universities.