I’ll be honest, I didn’t see this coming. After years of (hopeful!) progress, new data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) just dropped a sustainability curveball: fewer Dutch businesses are planning to invest in climate-neutral operations in 2025.
Wait, what?
According to CBS, only 64% of companies in the Netherlands plan to invest in climate-neutral initiatives this year, a noticeable dip from 68% in 2024. And this isn’t just a small hiccup — the decrease spans almost every major sector.
Who’s Slowing Down?
Let’s break it down:
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Real estate: From 79.5% (2024) to 79.9% — almost flat.
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Transport and storage: From 81.7% to 77.8%
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Industry: From 74.8% to 70%
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Retail (excluding cars): From 76.1% to 69.5%
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Automotive trade/repair: From 73.5% to 67.1%
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Business services: From 59.1% to 55.8%
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Information & communication: Only 50.5% plan to invest this year 😨
Even Optimism Is Shrinking
Even among those still investing, expectations for growth are way down. In June 2025, companies expecting to increase climate spending outnumbered those expecting to decrease, but just barely. The balance was only 6%, down from 13% last year.
Some sectors, like hospitality and automotive, even showed negative balances, meaning more companies expect to cut back than to grow.
So… What’s Holding Everyone Back?
Companies cited several barriers:
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Financial pressure: Cost of sustainable alternatives and lack of financing
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Uncertain policy & economy: Smaller businesses, especially, feel this
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Lack of sustainable alternatives: Mainly a problem for larger companies
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Grid limitations and shortage of skilled workers were also mentioned, though less often.
The biggest pullback is happening among small and mid-sized businesses, while large companies (250+ employees) are still the most committed to sustainability efforts.
What Does This Mean?
To me, this is more than just a budget issue; it’s a reminder that the path to sustainability isn’t always linear. It’s hard work, especially when the world feels unstable.
But if we want a climate-neutral future, we can’t afford to slow down now.
Want to dig deeper into what climate action can look like today?
Check out my latest post on tree planting and its surprising role in climate solutions.
Let’s Talk!
Are you working in a company that's pulling back or doubling down? What’s driving the shift where you are? Drop a comment or connect with me on LinkedIn. I’d love to hear your thoughts 🌱
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