{"id":159926,"date":"2023-10-16T16:12:21","date_gmt":"2023-10-16T14:12:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=159926"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:00","slug":"scientist-rebellion-claims-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2023\/10\/16\/scientist-rebellion-claims-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Scientist Rebellion claims victory"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Tuesday, a majority in the House of Representatives backed a motion to phase out fossil fuel subsidies provided by the Dutch government. Climate activists claim that this vote comes in response to weeks of protests in which they blocked the A12 motorway. Members of the scientific community were among the protesters.<\/p>\n

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Climate action group Extinction Rebellion and partner group Scientist Rebellion are calling a halt to their protests for the time being. Every day since 9 September, activists had been blocking traffic on the motorway through The Hague to push for political action. Their main demand: an end to government fossil fuel subsidies amounting to<\/a> 46.4 billion euros. The activists are now waiting to see what action the politicians intend to take.<\/p>\n

The House of Representatives wants the government to outline scenarios for phasing out tax breaks on fossil fuel products, as stated<\/a> in a motion put forward by PvdD, GroenLinks and D66. The motion was passed with a broad majority. SGP, JA21, Group Van Haga, the PVV, FVD and BBB voted against.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a victory\u201d, says Niels Debonne, Scientist Rebellion campaigner and lecturer in environmental geography at VU Amsterdam. \u201cJust months ago, it was considered taboo to talk about this issue as a scientist. We have campaigned long and hard. It\u2019s good to see this matter now being taken up by the politicians.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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