Friday May 28: international day at the Wake for the Climate
During the formation of a new Dutch government after the general elections in March, a group of concerned citizens is holding a wake in front of the Prime Minister's residence to remind the political leaders of the climate crisis. On Friday May 28, they will pay attention to the international aspect, initiated by Cordaid, Oxfam Novib, Care, ActionAid, WECF, Hivos and Tearfund. Both ENDS is happy to support the initiative.
After all, the climate crisis has an international character. Climate change does not stop at the Dutch borders. And it are the people in many regions in Asia, Africa and Latin America who already face the most severe consequences of global warming, while contributing to it the least.
Message by Both ENDS's partners
Many of our partners around the world hear the testimonies from the communities they work with on how climate change already affects their daily life. Sara Crespo Suarez of our Bolivian partner Probioma explains how the effects are already being felt in her country: "In Bolivia, climate change has severely changed the agricultural calendar. Water sources have decreased considerably in recent years and rising temperatures have increased the incidence of agricultural pests."
Ana di Pangracio, working for FARN (Argentina) tells us about climate threats to large wetlands, while these same wetlands are crucial in mitigating global climate change: "The loss and degradation of wetlands in a climate change scenario that causes more often and heavier rains is a recipe for disaster. Communities are affected by severe floods that alter their daily lives, livelihoods and property."
Jahin Shams Sakkhar of UTTARAN (Bangladesh) tells us about the threat climate change is for his country: "Bangladesh is one of the most climate vulnerable countries in the world. Sea level rise is perhaps the biggest threat to the coastal people. It might force around 20 million people from the affected area to migrate away."
The Netherlands must take its responsibility in the fight against climate change
The Netherlands, being one of the biggest polluters, should therefore take a leading role with an ambitious and fair climate policy. Not only out of self-interest, being a country below sealevel, but also because of interntaional climate justice.
If we really want to contribute to curbing climate change, Dutch companies and governmental bodies will have to operate more climate neutrally not only in our own country but also in all countries where they are active. If we want to make the transition to sustainable energy sources, we should not only look at ways of reducing our dependency on gas in the Netherlands and making greater use of solar power and wind, but we especially need to stop investing in fossil activities abroad.
It is now up the political parties who are talking about forming a new government to prioritize a strong climate policy for the Netherlands and abroad. We will remind them of this tomorrow during the international wake for the climate. The messages from our partners will then also be added to the flag line.
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News / 29 September 2026Summary - Both ENDS complaint under the EU-New Zealand trade agreement
On 29 September 2026, Both ENDS lodged the first complaint on climate grounds with the European Commission's Single Entry Point. It asks the Commission to examine whether Aotearoa New Zealand has broken two promises both sides made in the EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement: not to weaken or set aside environmental laws in order to encourage trade or investment, and to effectively implement the Paris Agreement.
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Publication / 29 September 2026
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Publication / 29 September 2026
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News / 29 September 2026Q&A: New Zealand's climate rollback and the EU trade agreement
On 29 September 2026 / 30 September in Aotearoa New Zealand, Both ENDS lodged a complaint with the European Commission under the EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. These are the questions we are asked most often, and our answers. The complaint summary, the case explainer and the key public sources are linked at the end of this page.
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News / 29 September 2026What happens now? A timeline of the SEP Case
What happens now? On 29 September 2026 / 30 September in Aotearoa New Zealand, Both ENDS lodged a formal complaint with the European Commission. It is the first complaint to the EU's Single Entry Point on environmental and climate grounds. It asks the Commission to hold New Zealand to two promises it made in its trade agreement with the EU: not to weaken environmental protection to encourage trade or investment, and not to undermine the Paris Agreement on climate change.
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Press release / 29 September 2026New Zealand faces its first climate complaint under EU trade rules
UTRECHT / WELLINGTON, 29 September 2026 /30 September in Aotearoa New Zealand
Both ENDS, a Dutch environmental justice organisation, has lodged a formal complaint with the European Commission arguing that New Zealand has broken the climate promises it made in its free trade agreement with the European Union. It is the first complaint on environmental and climate grounds under the Commission's Single Entry Point, the mechanism that lets civil society ask the EU to enforce the sustainability commitments in its trade agreements.
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Dossier /Trade agreements
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News / 6 July 2026Strengthening Women's Land Rights Across the Rio Conventions
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Publication / 3 July 2026
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Dossier /Gas in Mozambique
In 2011 one of the world’s largest gas reserves was found in the coastal province of Cabo Delgado, in the north of Mozambique. A total of 35 billion dollars has been invested to extract the gas. Dozens of multinationals and financiers are involved in these rapid developments. It is very difficult for the people living in Cabo Delgado to exert influence on the plans and activities, while they experience the negative consequences. With the arrival of these companies, they are losing their land.
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Dossier /Finance for agroecology
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Publication / 12 May 2026
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Press release / 12 May 2026UN report warns of a growing sand crisis - The Dutch dredging sector plays a key role in global sand extraction
GENEVA/UTRECHT, 12 May 2026 – A new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Sand and Sustainability: An Essential Resource for Nature and Development, warns that global demand for sand is exceeding ecological limits. Large-scale extraction of sand from marine and coastal ecosystems is leading to biodiversity loss, damage to coastal communities and increasing risks in an era of climate change. Dutch dredging companies play a prominent role in this as global market leaders in large-scale sand extraction and land reclamation. “Our analyses show that the dredging sector operates globally within a system in which ecological damage and the consequences for coastal communities are systematically underestimated, whilst transparency and effective oversight are often lacking,” says the Dutch environmental and human rights organisation Both ENDS, which contributed to the report.
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Dossier /Rights for People, Rules for Corporations – Stop ISDS!
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Publication / 14 April 2026
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News / 9 April 2026Minister Sjoerdsma hosts roundtable conversations with civil society
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News / 24 March 2026Statement: Invest in local leadership for tropical forest management and local economies
IUCN-NL, Both ENDS, and 16 other Dutch and international civil society organizations (CSOs), networks, and expert groups are calling on the Dutch government to invest more strongly in locally led forest management and forest-based economies. This should be done within the framework of Dutch international cooperation and its associated policy instruments.
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News / 19 March 2026Winners of the ILED ‘Women Are Educators Award’ announced
Our partner organisation ILED (Indigenous-led Education Network) announced the seven winners of the ILED ‘Women Are Educators Award’ this month. These are women who play extraordinary roles in passing on knowledge, whether in formal or informal educational settings.
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News / 27 February 2026Both ENDS strengthens the resilience of female environmental defenders worldwide thanks to multi-year contribution from the Postcode Lottery
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