Core tasks of knowledge and data institutes

Dutch climate policy is based on national and international research. In the Netherlands, there are several data and knowledge institutes which focus on climate related issues: The Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute (KNMI), Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (ER) and Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL). Internationally, the Netherlands bases its climate policy on scientific reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 

IPCC: report on causes and effects of climate change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) writes reports for the UN about the causes and effects of climate change. The reports also describe what measures are needed to halt global warming and what risks the future holds.

KNMI: research on climate data

The Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute (KNMI) is one of the Dutch institutes which researches climate. KNMI focuses on collecting and controlling climate data and understanding and predicting alterations in the climate system. In order to do this, KNMI develops climate models and composes climate scenarios.

ER: emission data in the Netherlands

The Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (ER) covers the entire process of data collection, data processing, recording and reporting of emission data in the Netherlands. In the emission registration, emissions to soil, water and air are determined of 350 policy relevant substances and substance groups. The emission data per emission source and location are stored in the central database of the emission registration. Data from individually recorded point sources (based on e.g. environmental reports) and diffuse sources (emissions calculated by task groups) are both included. 

The objective of the emission registration is the annual adoption of a dataset with uniform emission data on which there is consensus and that meets the following criteria: timeliness, accuracy, completeness, transparency, comparability, consistency and accuracy. By storing these data in 1 central database, the goal of complying with national and international reporting obligations of emission data can be efficiently and effectively met.

PBL: strategic policy analysis in the field of environment, nature and space

The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) is the national institute for strategic policy analysis in the field of environment, nature and space. PBL contributes to the quality of political and administrative decision-making by conducting outlook studies, analyses and evaluations in which an integrated approach is paramount. PBL independently and scientifically conducts solicited and unsolicited research. In the Climate and Energy Outlook (KEV), the PBL provides its annual forecast of carbon emissions for the year 2030. The Climate and Energy Outlook 2019 has been publicized in December 2019.