Jacqueline Cramer: "Business as usual is not going to cut it anymore"

In pursuit of a sustainable society

Jacqueline Cramer (1951) was the Dutch Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning until 2010 and a true expert in the field of sustainability. With a background in academia and business, Cramer’s resume includes positions as a professor of environmental science at the University of Amsterdam, a professor of environmental management in organisations at Erasmus University Rotterdam and a crown-appointed member of the Social and Economic Council. She was appointed to the Cabinet in February 2007, a position in which she feels she can truly make a difference.

Interview

What made you decide to seek the post of Minister?

‘I have been working on issues related to the environment and sustainability almost my whole working life, in many different settings. I worked in business and in the academic world, as well as on many advisory bodies and supervisory boards. I gained a great deal of knowledge on implementing changes towards sustainability from all angles and backgrounds. To work the issue from the position of Minister, to tie all the ends together and try to give the issue of sustainability a big push, seemed like a great challenge. This position enables you to really make decisions and get the ball rolling. Being a Minister offers me some degree of real influence and power, more than in my previous functions.’

When you were appointed as Minister, you said you not only wanted to make The Netherlands cleaner, but also more beautiful. How do you go about doing that?

‘I am not only the Minister of the environment, but also of spatial planning. The Netherlands are a postage stamp on the world map, but with over 16 million people living there, we need to make sure that we don’t just urbanise the entire country. We need to maintain and develop lively, sustainable and high-quality cities that combine initiatives such as infrastructure, housing and industry. At the same time, we need some open spaces around those cities for recreation, to give nature room to develop and to give the agricultural sector the land it needs to continue farming.’

How do you define sustainability?

‘I think firstly it is about energy, about the use of renewable energy sources, compulsory cuts in the use of fossil fuels, because they have many disadvantages, notably CO2 emissions. Secondly, it is about using raw materials sparingly, keeping non-renewable materials in the cycle as long as possible and preventing them from being lost in the system so we can reuse them. Renewable materials such as wood and other organic materials should be grown in such a way that the earth can actually handle it, without exhausting the soil and causing erosion. It’s a balance between soil cultivation and reconstruction. Finally, there’s a third pillar: biodiversity. The conservation of nature, both plants and animals on this planet. Those are the pillars of our policy when it comes to sustainability in the field of the environment and nature. This whole package is what sustainability is all about, not just for this generation, but also for generations to come.’

How sustainable are the Netherlands?

‘The Netherlands are relatively densely populated and energy intensive, with heavy industry. In that regard, we aren’t one of the world’s cleanest countries. In terms of sustainable development, however, we are ranked somewhere in the middle among Western society. Not in the way we approach the issue, though. Given the circumstances, it is an enormous challenge to realise the level of sustainability that we are aiming to achieve. Holland has a reputation for successful climate adaptation. This is largely due to the fact that we are able to live in this country, almost half of which lies below sea level. The fact that we conquered the water, controlled it and were able to create land speaks for us. The way we handle the challenges of climate adaptation, maintaining a broad scope and involving many people, is typically Dutch and we are often asked to offer our services abroad. As a country, we have been known to lead the pack when it comes to our environmental policies. When you look at our quality of air and CO2 emissions, we are one of the leading countries.’

Is it possible to combine sustainability with a healthy economy?

‘Yes, I believe it is. Not in all aspects, though; economic growth brings with it an increase in the use of raw materials and energy, which subsequently makes for more pollution. If you don’t innovate, and make sure that everything you do is produced in the smartest way possible, using the minimum of raw materials and energy necessary and using the best possible techniques, you create an unbalanced situation.
‘An example of this combination is our policy for regional development and sustainability. We want the glasshouse horticulture, which is a very important economic sector for the Netherlands, to survive in this country. But the sector itself can be much more economical and efficient when it comes to energy, possibly even energy-neutral or generating energy. Going one step further, you could brighten the landscape by not just having greenhouses all scattered around the country. If you strive for industrial symbiosis, even with housing projects, you create a situation where economics and sustainability are both taken into consideration. We have a project in the Zuidplaspolder, for instance, where the heat produced by greenhouses is supplied to nearby houses.’

Sustainable entrepreneurship is the only way to go?

‘I’d say that wise entrepreneurs would agree. The scarcity of raw materials and energy and the pressure on the environment will continue to increase. All these things will become more expensive, so we have to deal with it in a more clever and economic way. When you realise that, it will become part of the way you think, part of your system. More and more consumers are asking for sustainable products and services now as well, which is good; that way companies will see that the theme of sustainability is becoming more influential. I think there’s an important role for governments there as well. We have installed financial incentives for people to buy cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars. A practical way to reward and promote sustainability. I also think it is very exciting and inspiring to think of ways to make the world a better place by producing sustainably, to come up with more sustainable products and to get people enthusiastic about actually buying those products.’

In the current economical climate, do you think your Ministry plays a more prominent role when it comes to long-term input?

‘Yes, absolutely. Myself as well as my colleagues in the Cabinet have clearly stated that this crisis teaches us more than just the fact that we have a financial problem. Living on credit is not solely an issue in this financial crisis, but also in the environment. The way we live now, polluting the earth, means we are creating a big problem for the future, causing irreversible harm. An economic crisis will balance out over time, but once you are out of balance with the environment, you have a serious problem. It will take much more to clean up and improve that situation. There’s the financial aspect as well: the longer we wait to tackle our climate problems, the more expensive it will become. We are causing a problem for future generations. I certainly view that issue as a reason to not just making it through this crisis with the thought of surviving economically, but to also come through it stronger and more sustainable. We invested extra money in measures to get us through this crisis; the second wave, once we are out of this crisis, is aimed at growing towards a sustainable economy.’

Are you an idealist?

‘I am very inspired and passionate about all the issues. In that respect I am an idealist, but I am also a realist, practical. We can daydream but we also have to get this situation moving. Something has to happen; this is not an abstract concept to me. I will not have it on my conscience that I have not done my utmost to make sure that this problem is really addressed. That is part of my fundamental principles. A while ago I was in the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations, the house of the world basically, listening to a speech by President Obama. I thought: and now we have to do it, all of us together. We have the moral obligation to do so. Business as usual is not going to cut it anymore.’