Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy facts for kids
| Dutch: Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat | |
Logo of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy
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 Building of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy |
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| Department overview | |
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| Formed | 17 August 1905 |
| Jurisdiction | Kingdom of the Netherlands |
| Headquarters | Bezuidenhoutseweg 73, The Hague, Netherlands |
| Annual budget | €5,2 billion (2018) |
| Ministers responsible |
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| Deputy Minister responsible |
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| Department executive |
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| Website | Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy |
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (Dutch: Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat; EZK) is a special government department in the Netherlands. It helps manage the country's economy and protect the environment. This includes things like international trade, energy, and dealing with climate change. The Ministry also looks after natural resources, mining, and even space policy.
This Ministry started in 1905 with a different name. Over the years, its name and responsibilities changed many times. For example, in 2017, it took on more tasks related to the environment. That's when it became the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.
The main leader of the Ministry is the Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. This person is part of the Cabinet of the Netherlands, which is like the main team of leaders for the country. The current Minister is Micky Adriaansens. She started her job on January 10, 2022.
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What the Ministry Does
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy works to make sure the Netherlands has a strong and green economy. Their main goal is to "promote sustainable economic growth." This means they want the economy to grow in a way that is good for people and the planet, now and in the future.
They focus on a few key areas:
- Knowledge and new ideas: Helping new technologies and ideas grow.
- Fair competition: Making sure businesses compete fairly.
- Helping businesses: Creating a good environment for companies to succeed.
How the Ministry is Organized
The Ministry has a main leader, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. There is also a Deputy Minister, called the State Secretary. They both work together to lead the Ministry.
The Ministry also has many experts and staff who work in different departments. These departments are called Directorates-General. They focus on specific areas like:
- Foreign Economic Relations (dealing with other countries)
- Economic Policy (planning for the economy)
- Energy and Telecom (managing energy and communication)
- Enterprise and Innovation (helping businesses and new ideas)
Government Agencies Working with the Ministry
The Ministry works with several important agencies. These agencies help carry out the Ministry's goals. Here are some of them:
| Government Agencies | What they do | |||
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Foreign Investment Agency (Dutch: Buitenlandse Investering Bureau) |
BIB | Helps with international trade | |
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Space Office | NSO | Manages space activities for the Netherlands | |
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Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (Dutch: Centraal Planbureau) |
CPB | Studies the economy and gives advice | |
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Central Agency for Statistics (Dutch: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek) |
CBS | Collects and shares facts and figures about the country | |
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Patent Office (Dutch: Octrooicentrum Nederland) |
OCN | Helps protect new inventions and ideas | |
Protecting Our Planet
The Ministry is very involved in protecting the environment and fighting climate change. In 2015, a group called Urgenda took the government to court. They argued that the government needed to do more to reduce green house gas emissions. The court agreed, saying the government had a duty to protect its citizens from climate change. This means the Ministry has a big responsibility to work towards a greener future for everyone.
See also
- List of ministers of economic affairs of the Netherlands
