Dutch government to appeal against carbon emissions ruling

Environment minister says Netherlands will contest court ruling ordering it to cut emissions steeper, but government will begin complying in the meantime

The Dutch government will appeal against a district court ruling ordering it to cut emissions of greenhouse gases faster than currently planned, in a politically sensitive case that is being closely watched by policy-makers abroad.

Deputy Minister for the Environment Wilma Mansveld wrote in a letter to parliament on Tuesday that the government would contest the 24 June ruling which ordered it to slash emissions by 25% from 1990 levels by 2020.