Jurriaan van Stigt
This spring, I took a short time-out because I was virtually knocked out by everything that came at us in January – culminating in a RCURR minister who can only manage a surprised "wow" when questions are asked about the necessary transitions. Mona Keijzer proudly presented her RCURR policy: Removing Contradictory and Unnecessary Requirements and Regulations.
The problem is that Keijzer is fighting the wrong enemy with RCURR. The housing crisis is not caused by too many rules, but by a shortage of affordable land, builders, and skilled workers, and by a government that is not proactive enough in ensuring consistent policy. RCURR does not solve that – it actually makes the situation worse. The minister seems unaware that much has already been initiated in recent years. Housing corporations, developers, investors, and builders are actively working on their CO₂ reports to comply with European legislation. The movement has already been made. What is especially needed is perseverance and continuity in policy.
Because what happens when you scrap safety regulations? Regional water management authorities are sounding the alarm bells about houses that float away with the first rain shower. And abolishing climate regulations while we just had the hottest summer ever? That is not RCURR; that is being blind to the climate crisis. We actually need stricter standards to meet climate goals, not pretending that the earth is not warming by rapidly building cheap, poor-quality housing in the wrong places, with the wrong housing program and without a broad vision for the entire country. The visions created by the Council of State Advisors and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency are simply ignored.
The good news? This cabinet has fallen. After the elections, we can hopefully return to normal: building homes that are safe, do not harm the climate, and where people can actually live. Because RCURR was mainly a distraction maneuver by a minister without any idea how to solve the real problems.