Integration and communication as central issues in Dutch negotiated agreements on industrial energy efficiency

Abstract

This paper analyses specific aspects of the implementation of the second multi-annual agreement for energy efficiency concluded in the Netherlands with various industrial sectors for the period 2002-2010. The agreement is a follow-up on a previous negotiated agreement that was generally seen as successful. This successor aims at stretching the limits of feasible and reasonably cost-effective improvements in energy efficiency. In order to achieve this, so-called expansion themes were included that typically urge communication and tuning between companies as they exceed the level of individual companies: sustainable products, sustainable industrial estates, sustainable transport and logistics and sustainable energy. While the potential benefits are very promising, the first years of implementation mostly taught lessons on the difficulties that have to be overcome in order to achieve these. This paper will discuss the emerging obstacles and positive experiences with the implementation of the expansion theme measures. Special attention will be given to the role of the consultation groups, which supervise the implementation of the sector agreements and consist of representatives of the relevant industry sector organization, government and an advisory agency. This follow-up consultation after the agreement is concluded to play an important role in stimulating integration issues such as the coherence of the energy efficiency measures in the sector, the tuning with other environmental and energy policies of government and the mutual trust between the partners. The paper is based on the official evaluation of this negotiated agreement by the authors, which was commissioned by the Dutch ministry for economic affairs. The results are not only informative on this particular negotiated agreement, but also provide lessons on the integration and communication aspects of this policy strategy in general.