Home » News » The Netherlands apologizes to UNESCO for late and inadequate information on the Wadden Sea

The Netherlands apologizes to UNESCO for late and inadequate information on the Wadden Sea

The Netherlands has apologized in a letter to UNESCO for not fully informing the UN organization about the gas extraction plans at Ternaard. That writes Omrop Fryslân. The letter was drawn up by Hans Wesseling, representative at Unesco on behalf of the Netherlands.

Due to the plans to drill for gas, the Wadden Sea World Heritage status is possible in danger.

Letters with questions

Unesco sent a first letter to the Netherlands in May last year, after Schiermonnikoog and the Waddenvereniging had raised the alarm at Unesco about the construction of a power cable through Schiermonnikoog, gas extraction at Ternaard and salt extraction in the Western Wad.

Because there was no response, the organization sent a second letter in November. According to UNESCO, gas drilling is incompatible with the international obligations that the Netherlands has to protect, preserve and transfer the world heritage to future generations together with Germany and Denmark.

UNESCO wanted the Netherlands to provide more information about these plans before 15 January. Five days after the deadline, Wesseling sent his reply to the UN. In it, Wesseling apologized on behalf of the Netherlands for the late response to the UNESCO letters.

Proceedings continued

In answers to parliamentary questions, Minister for Nature and Nitrogen Van der Wal announced that he wanted to continue with the intention to extract gas at Ternaard. The NAM has yet to provide additional information, after which a final decision will be made in March.

In his letter to Unesco, representative Wesseling argues that with the necessary guarantees, gas can be drilled at Ternaard without harm to nature, people and the environment.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.