For half of the Dutch, protecting purchasing power outweighs climate concerns

46% of Dutch respondents give priority to protecting their purchasing power over combating climate change
38% consider climate action more important, down three percentage points compared to 2024
Over the longer term, the Dutch expect climate issues to become more urgent than concerns about purchasing power

Among all European countries surveyed, the Netherlands has the largest share of people who consider their purchasing power more important than action against climate change, according to the latest edition of the Just Transition Observatory by BNP Paribas. 46% of Dutch respondents choose to maintain their standard of living even if that comes at the expense of climate measures. Only 38% prioritise climate action, down three percentage points from 2024.

At the same time, the Dutch expect the importance of climate action to grow in the years ahead. Looking ten years ahead, they believe the impacts of climate change will become the main source of concern, ranking above the issue of purchasing power.

Grégoire Lusson, Head of NEST (Network of Experts in Sustainability Transitions) at BNP Paribas: “We see that the Dutch are becoming more cautious when weighing climate action against purchasing power. Forty-six per cent give priority to maintaining their purchasing power when this is set against investment in climate policy. The public debate is shifting from ambition to feasibility. Given the economic pressure many people are experiencing, that is understandable. It underlines the importance of a just energy transition: how do we share the effort and ensure that everyone benefits?”

The BNP Paribas Just Transition Observatory was conducted in April 2025 by research agency Ipsos. In the Netherlands, 1,000 people aged 16 and over were surveyed, representative of the national population. You can access the full report here.