A Holistic Approach to Climate Policy Evaluation: Assessing the Programmatic, Process, and Political Success of the SDE(+) Policy in the Netherlands

Abstract

The climate policy domain is critical in addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by environmental degradation, socio-economic factors, and political dynamics. This thesis examines the Stimulering Duurzame Energieproductie (SDE(+)) policy in the Netherlands, evaluating its programmatic, process, and political success using an integrated framework combining dimensions of policy success and criteria for climate policy evaluation. Employing a qualitative research design, the study incorporates structured content analysis, stakeholder interviews, and secondary data analysis to provide a nuanced assessment.

The findings indicate that the policy's success has improved from the transition to and during the SDE+, showing both resilient and conflicted success. While the SDE+ policy has significantly boosted renewable energy production, particularly in solar PV and onshore wind, it has not achieved the 2020 targets and challenges like grid capacity strain and socio-economic inequalities remain. The evaluation highlights the need for a more equitable distribution of burdens and benefits and internalising external costs such as net congestion into the competitive subsidy allocation process.

This comprehensive analysis contributes valuable insights into climate policy effectiveness, supporting the development of more resilient and equitable renewable energy policies in line with international climate targets. Using a new climate-specific evaluation framework, this thesis provides a holistic and nuanced evaluation of the SDE(+) case study, demonstrating its applicability to climate policy. The study underscores the importance of integrating multiple dimensions of policy success to address the complex challenges of climate governance.