Netherlands fossil fuel roadmap marks crucial international signal ahead of COP31

15 September 2026 – Today, the Netherlands announced a national roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels. In response Romain Ioualalen, Global Policy lead at Oil Change International, said:

“Credit is due to the Netherlands for being only the second country to publish a fossil fuel roadmap, following the groundbreaking Santa Marta conference it co-hosted in April. This roadmap marks a crucial international signal to all country leaders that at a time of skyrocketing fossil fuel prices and geopolitical conflict, getting out of fossil fuels is the fastest and most secure way to achieve economic, energy, and climate security, and resilience.

“But the Netherlands has both the capacity and the responsibility to go further, as their roadmap omits oil and gas phaseout dates, doesn’t commit to ending gas production, and backtracks on electricity-free production by 2040. All European countries need to adopt ambitious, binding end dates for fossil fuel production and use, backed by public funding and strong policies to make the transition fast, fair, and achievable.

“On the road to COP31, we need to see national roadmaps from across the globe – with rich countries committing to move first and fastest, and deliver the public finance needed to make the transition in the Global South possible. The choice country leaders face is clear: plan for a fair fossil fuel phaseout now, or remain in an outdated, volatile, and destructive energy system for decades”

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