Well-being ‘elsewhere’: Environment and resources
Environment and resources concerns imports of resources and the consequences this has on the well-being of people elsewhere in the world, because raw materials, land and water in other countries are used for production and consumption in the Netherlands. This has consequences for working conditions, nature and environment, and the climate, especially in the world’s poorest countries.
- – Imports per inhabitant of biomass, fossil fuels, metals and non-metallic minerals are higher than in most of the EU-27 countries.
- – The land footprint is falling but remains approximately three times the area of the Netherlands.
- – In the most recent year (from 2021 to 2022), the material footprint fell by 2.7 percent.
Environment and resources
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| Theme | Indicator | Value | Trend | Position in EU | Position in EU ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environment and resources | Fossil fuel imports A) | 11.5 tonnes per capita in 2024 | decreasing (increase well-being) | 27th out of 27 in 2023 | Low ranking |
| Environment and resources | Fossil fuel imports from LDCs A) | 134.1 kg per capita in 2024 | |||
| Environment and resources | Imports of metals A) | 2.6 tonnes per capita in 2024 | 24th out of 27 in 2023 | Low ranking | |
| Environment and resources | Imports of metals from LDCs A) | 12.7 kg per capita in 2024 | |||
| Environment and resources | Imports of non-metallic minerals A) | 2.1 tonnes per capita in 2024 | 21st out of 27 in 2023 | Low ranking | |
| Environment and resources | Imports of non-metallic minerals from LDCs A) | 2.9 kg per capita in 2024 | |||
| Environment and resources | Biomass imports A) | 5.5 tonnes per capita in 2024 | 26th out of 27 in 2023 | Low ranking | |
| Environment and resources | Biomass imports from LDCs A) | 21.4 kg per capita in 2024 | |||
| Environment and resources | Land footprint A) | 0.7 hectares per capita in 2022 | decreasing (increase well-being) | 8th out of 27 in 2020 | Middle ranking |
| Environment and resources | Material footprint A) | 31.7 tonnes per capita in 2022 | 3rd out of 27 in 2020 | High ranking | |
| Environment and resources | Greenhouse gas footprint A) | 13.5 tonnes CO2 equivalents per capita in 2022 | 17th out of 27 in 2020 | Middle ranking |
Colour codes and notes to the dashboards in the Monitor of Well-being
Many of the goods required for consumption and production in the Netherlands are imported from other countries. Imports of raw materials contribute to the exhaustion of stocks of natural resources in the countries of origin.
Footprints measure the quantity of resources used and the associated impacts on nature, climate and other aspects of well-being caused globally by the consumption of Dutch citizens and government. Thus, the material footprint measures the quantity of raw materials (biomass, fossil fuels, metals and non-metallic minerals) used worldwide for the benefit of consumption in the Netherlands. By comparison, the land footprint measures the quantity of land needed worldwide, while the greenhouse gas footprint measures the quantity of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) emitted worldwide.
The land footprint displays a decreasing trend. In 2022, 0.7 hectares of land were required for the consumption needs of each inhabitant. This amounts to approximately three times the area of the Netherlands. The greenhouse gas footprint is stable. In 2022, 13.5 tonnes of CO2 equivalents were emitted per inhabitant, which corresponds to total global emissions of 239 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents. In the most recent year (from 2021 to 2022), the material footprint fell by 2.7 percent. In 2022, 31.7 tonnes of biomass, fossil fuels, metals and non-metallic minerals per inhabitant were used for Dutch consumption. This amounts to 561 million tonnes. In 2022, the Dutch material footprint was one of the lowest in the EU27. This is consistent with the observation in SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production that, compared to the EU, domestic material consumption per capita is relatively low and resource productivity is relatively high. In 2023, each kilogram of materials contributed 5.46 euros to GDP (expressed in constant 2015 prices). This was the highest level in the EU27. A relatively small footprint compared to other EU countries is likely to show an overly positive picture. The other countries of the EU are, like the Netherlands, high-income countries with a bigger environmental and climate footprint than most other countries of the world.
Imports per inhabitant of biomass, fossil fuels, metals and non-metallic minerals are higher than in most of the EU27 countries. At 11.5 tonnes per inhabitant, imports of fossil fuels in 2024 were the highest in the EU. However, the trend in imports is falling. The high level of raw materials imports is partly a reflection of the role of the Dutch seaports. The figures include re-exports. These are goods exported to other countries after being imported to the Netherlands without undergoing significant processing.
Imports of raw materials from the 45 Least Developed Countries are stable. These imports account for a very modest share of total raw materials imports. Overall, less than one percent of imports of raw materials came from the LDCs in 2024 (in physical quantities).