Energy transition
Weight
-16
Main image
Challenge color
Blue (light)
Introduction
One of the biggest global challenges we face today is how to adapt to and mitigate climate change. With its unique proportions, no country can face it alone. Signed in 2015, the Paris Agreement forms the largest agreement for countries to fight against climate change.
Topics
To successfully limit the effects of the climate crisis, the global community needs to collaborate. Not only by agreeing on national and international reduction targets, but also by collaborating in sharing knowledge, experience and resources to accelerate the development and implementation of clean technologies to reach our targets.
The global energy transition plays a huge role in successfully limiting climate change. It is a cross-sectoral and cross-border system issue in which both national and international efforts should be closely connected. Recent geopolitical developments have only emphasised the urgency of transitioning to renewable energies through international collaboration. Believing in the EU strategy, the Netherlands is committed to creating partnerships across borders that will contribute to systematic changes that directly influence the energy transition.
Accelerate the change
/sites/default/files/campaign/image/pexels-thisisengineering-3912979_0.jpg
Calling all changemakers, disruptors, techies and investors: let’s start up & scale up for a positive impact!
Food security
Weight
-17
Main image
Challenge color
Green
Introduction
830 million people across the world aren’t getting enough good food. And if that wasn’t bad enough, that number is rising. Climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic are leaving millions more hungry than before. Who suffers the most? Women, the urban poor and small-scale farmers. It’s undeniable: food security is one of the most important challenges we face.
Topics
We can't feed the world alone. That's why we share our knowledge and innovations, boosting food production, creating jobs and making sure everyone can put food on the table.
We want to help build a world where no one goes hungry again, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We work with partners around the world to:
- Promote sustainable food production
- Reduce food waste
- Produce more high-quality, safe, nutritious food
- Grow greener cities and boost biodiversity
Partners in food security
You can only get so far on your own. That’s why we work across borders and sectors. Here in the Netherlands, our government, research institutes and the private sector work together to develop the tools to farm the future. Pooling our knowledge and expertise, to get us to a sustainably farmed world as fast as possible.
We also partner up with local governments, NGOs and the private sector to share our knowledge and technology with the world. It’s how we cocreate sustainable food systems at the local level, helping farmers produce more – and earn more.
Ready to dig deeper?
Explore the world of agriculture and horticulture. Discover how we grow green cities. Or learn how we work with governments, knowledge institutes and businesses from all over the world to achieve food security. Let’s farm the future together.
Healthy living
Weight
-15
Main image
Challenge color
Red
Introduction
The world faces enormous societal challenges, challenges that we can only meet by joining forces and innovating. As an innovative country and as a health and care coalition, Dutch Life Sciences & Health sector is ambitious. We have set the following goals. By 2040, all Dutch citizens will live at least five years longer in good health, while the health inequalities between the lowest and highest socioeconomic groups will have decreased by 30%.
Topics
The Netherlands has, therefore, brought together experts from ministries, health organisations, businesses, universities and international development to find integrated and sustainable solutions to the current and future health crises.
The Netherlands invests in developing and strengthening healthcare systems at home and abroad. We stimulate innovation and progress through close cooperation between knowledge institutes, government and commercial businesses. At home and around the world.
We are committed to the support of health and human rights around the world. Our Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Health, Welfare and Sport have a long-established partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to help fund crucial areas of primary healthcare, worldwide.
Water security
Weight
-18
Main image
Challenge color
Blue (light)
Introduction
With over 70 percent of the planet covered by water, Earth is also known as the blue planet. Water connects and sustains us, but at the same time 90 percent of major disasters are water related. And climate change is accelerating the challenges of too much, too little and too dirty water.
Topics
Tackling water and maritime challenges can help address climate change and the other global challenges. But the Netherlands cannot do this alone. We need to work together, share knowledge and harness the power of technology. Only together can we manage water and maritime resources integrally and sustainably.
The Netherlands’ location as a densely populated, low lying delta has impacted our history, culture, society and democracy. The Dutch may be famous for building dikes and reclaiming land, but centuries of dealing with water challenges has brought us new insights. Today, the Netherlands harnesses nature itself to build resilient cities and coastal defences.
Water challenges have taught us to cooperate, to include everyone in the solution and to look beyond our borders for novel solutions. How do we do this? Through partnership, knowledge exchange and collaborative innovation. In return, we are willing to share our advanced water management, delta and maritime technology. Port development, fishing, shipbuilding, dredging are among the many maritime industries that could benefit from global cooperation. Ultimately society itself benefits as integrated water management improves water supplies and sanitation. While wastewater management returns clean water to its natural cycle, enhancing diversity and replenishing this valuable and finite resource.
The Dutch government is committed to contribute to safe and secure water worldwide. That's why in 2023 the Netherlands co-hosted the UN Water Conference with Tadjikistan. We invite our global partners to join us in our quest.
Let’s value water for a water-secure world.
"The Netherlands is a global pioneer in water management."OECD report: Water governance in the Netherlands
Water Action Agenda
Last year the world came together during the UN 2023 Water Conference convened by the UN General Assembly. The parameters of the outcomes of this conference are described in General Assembly resolution 75/212.
Clear commitments, pledges and actions, are needed across all sectors, industries and interests, uniting nations, stakeholders and professionals on actions that help deliver on the water actions in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, actions that can be scaled and replicated in the years to come. Such commitments will be compiled in the Water Action Agenda, another key outcome of the Conference. Recognizing the growing challenge of water scarcity the UN General Assembly launched the Water Action Decade on 22 March 2018, to mobilize action that will help transform how we manage water.