MPs from the ruling right-wing VVD are urging the cabinet to appeal against a court decision ordering the government to do more to reduce CO2 emissions.

In June, judges in The Hague ruled the Dutch government must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25% by 2020 compared with 1990 – in line with international agreements.

The landmark legal case was brought by 886 Dutch citizens, united in the Urgenda organisation, who said the government is not doing enough to avoid climate change.

The court ruled the government has a duty of care and cannot hide behind claims that the Netherlands is a small part of a worldwide process. The Netherlands is on target to reduce emissions by just 17% by 2020.

VVD parliamentarian Remco Dijkstra told website Nu.nl the cabinet must appeal. ‘Judges should not play politics,’ he said, adding that he expects an appeal court to overturn the June ruling.

The anti-Islam PVV has already called for an appeal. The Socialist party, by contrast, is strongly opposed and the VVD’s social democratic coalition partner PvdA is known to be divided.

‘We are waiting for the cabinet statement and there will have to be very good reasons why the cabinet should wish to go against the court,’ Labour MP Jan Vos said.