Promote sustainable exports and phase out fossil transactions.
We are committed to the international climate goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. We do this among others by encouraging green transactions, excluding fossil transactions and engaging and cooperating with partners. We show our progress by reporting our green and fossil transactions on a yearly basis.
To encourage climate-relevant (or green) export transactions and investments, a number of measures and instruments have been introduced:
- Green risk fund: relaxation of acceptance criteria for small risky green transactions.
- Green coverage: broadening the definition of export for green transactions. The Green coverage is for Dutch companies that want to invest in new green technologies or in production capacity for green capital goods or projects. This aims to support companies that are at the forefront of the energy transition while simultaneously expanding their international reach through exports.
- Green project financing: broader Dutch content policy.
- Financial portfolio guarantee for investors in green funds.
For access to these instruments, classification as a green economic activity is a prerequisite.
Go to Green Coverage
We developed the Green Label to determine whether a transaction meets the criteria to be considered green. A transaction is "green" when it contributes to one of the following components:
- Climate mitigation: reducing the rate of climate change. Climate mitigation consists of activities that contribute to avoiding or reducing greenhouse gas emissions or increasing carbon uptake capacity.
- Climate adaptation: adapting to the effects of climate change. Climate adaptation refers to activities or technologies that address local climate vulnerability by strengthening resilience to climate change.
Activities that do not directly address climate change mitigation or adaptation, but have a positive impact on the environment and go beyond local legal requirements.
Download our Green Label
In 2021, the Netherlands was one of the signatories of the COP26 declaration. With this, the Netherlands has committed to ending new direct international government support for the unabated fossil energy sector and to stimulating the energy transition from fossil to sustainable energy, using public support to increase the contribution of the private sector.
As of 1 January 2023, Atradius DSB therefore no longer provides ECA support for the exploration and extraction, processing, storage, transhipment and transport of fossil fuels and unabated electricity generation from fossil fuels, with the exception of transactions that are in line with the 1.5 degree target. Transactions related to coal, the extraction of oil and/or gas by hydraulic fracturing (unconventional extraction of shale oil & shale gas) and by tar sands extraction, and projects involving routine flaring (routine flaring) were already excluded from ECA support.
Download our exclusion list
The Netherlands, together with like-minded countries, is committed to aligning public export financing with climate goals and creating a level playing field.
- In the OECD context, an agreement has been reached on expanding the scope of green or climate-friendly economic activities, which can make use of more favorable repayment terms. In addition, new negotiations are taking place to end public support for oil and gas projects in addition to coal plants.
- As member of the Export Finance for Future (E3F) coalition the Netherlands promotes a shared European climate policy. Together with the ten member states of the E3F coalition, the COP26 policy is published in a uniform manner and best practices are shared, which relate to product development and transparency.
- Finally, we are a member of the Berne Union (BU), an international non-profit association representing the global (export) credit and investment insurance industry. In this forum we exchange experiences with international public and private (export) credit insurers. We are a member of the BU Climate Working Group.
Wondering how we can support your sustainable export transaction ?
Contact our business developers by phone: +31 (0) 20 553 2693, or email us: info.dsb@atradius.com and get expert advice right away. They will guide you in submitting your application for green transactions. Remember that even if your transaction does not directly fit within the measures described above, our experts will evaluate whether one of our other product solutions meets your needs.