The Dutch government is to appeal against a landmark court ruling which ordered it 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.

According to Trouw, junior environment minister Wilma Mansveld will send a briefing to MPs outlining the government’s decision later on Tuesday. She will also outline extra steps which the government is prepared to take to reduce emissions.

The 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.

Reductions

However, the national statistics office CBS said on Tuesday greenhouse gas emissions in the Netherlands were down 5% last year compared with 2013. Compared with 1990, emissions were down 15%, the CBS said.

The reduction was due to the warmer weather which reduced the amount of energy used on heating. Cars are also becoming more fuel efficient and this too is having an impact, the CBS said.

The CBS also said the government earned almost €24bn from environmental taxes and other levies last year. Of that, two-thirds came from private households, the rest from industry.