• r_13@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    89
    arrow-down
    4
    ·
    1 year ago

    Headline implies he’s a fossil fuel company man, but the article points out that he supports elimination of fossil fuel subsidies and believes that fossil fuels have no future.

    • qaz@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      58
      ·
      1 year ago

      He was a lot less ambitious about combatting climate change when he was still in The Hague. It seems like he just changes his stance based on his environment/job.

      • Zorque@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        31
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        Or he’s looking for jobs that suit his changing opinions.

        Hopefully he does a good job, should he get the position.

        • Plantee@kbin.social
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          24
          ·
          edit-2
          1 year ago

          Of course that could be the case, but less than a year ago, he almost caused the collapse of the Dutch government on the sustainability of agriculture in the country.

          At least I can’t see an honest motivation other than his own opportunities.

          • amiuhle@feddit.de
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            1 year ago

            Can you provide some context or a link on the sustainable agriculture issue?

            • Plantee@kbin.social
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              2
              ·
              edit-2
              1 year ago

              It was in August of last year apparently (does time fly). He suddenly wanted to discuss the agreed upon nitrogen-plans at the start of the formation of the government. This, to try to regain trust from traditional supporters of the party, farmers. They have been in recent times moving to a dedicated farmers party.

              De harde maar omstreden deadline van 2030 is daarbij voor de CDA-voorman niet langer ´heilig´.

              De boerenachterban, die traditioneel op het CDA stemde, loopt weg juist door het stikstofbeleid van dit kabinet^1.

        • daellat@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          9
          ·
          1 year ago

          I really don’t think he is changing any opinion and I don’t think he’s a good fit. Actually I have no idea why they picked this guy at all.

          • Malta Soron@sopuli.xyz
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            1 year ago

            Because he’s buddies with Rutte and his own party will be decimated in the upcoming election, so he needs a new job.

    • theinspectorst@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      37
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      Hoekstra held commercial positions at Shell from 2002 to 2004

      Literally a guy who worked for Shell for two years, two decades ago, when he was in his 20s.

      This is a non-headline. Very poor form by the Guardian.

  • Rob@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    41
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    1 year ago

    I’m not a fan and think he’s generally a poor choice. But a short stint at a company two decades ago shouldn’t be an instant disqualification… The headline feels sensationalised.

    Still incomprehensible Kaag wasn’t proposed, though. Or one of a bunch of other more suitable representatives.

    • jadalovelace@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      Kaag has been bullied out of politics by extremists. She rightfully wants to spare here family the continued harrassment.

      What is incomprehensible is that the government didn’t hunt down the people who threatened her and made an example out of them.

  • arymandias@feddit.de
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    22
    ·
    1 year ago

    This man is a complete joke, I knew people that worked at the ministry of finance when he was minister, all he cared about was his image and at almost every opportunity he took the worst decision on the table.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    1 year ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    Wopke Hoekstra, who was the Netherlands’ foreign minister and worked for an oil company and a consultancy before getting into politics, was questioned by MEPs on the European parliament’s environment committee about his employment history and commitment to climate action during a three-hour session on Monday night.

    He made clear his position on the oil industry, telling the committee: “Fossil fuels must become history, the sooner the better.” In a separate hearing on Tuesday, the Slovakian commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, was questioned about expanding his job description to finish the European green deal.

    In his opening speech, Hoekstra told the committee: “The fact that certain oil majors have long known of their role in climate change and sought to ignore the evidence – I find it truly unethical.”

    “The ambitious climate goals, such as phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, are clear and verifiable,” said Mohammed Chahim, a Dutch MEP whose centre-left group supported Hoekstra in the committee vote.

    If confirmed by a vote in the European parliament on Thursday, Hoekstra and Šefčovič will together replace Frans Timmermans, who resigned as the EU’s top climate envoy to run in the Dutch elections next month.

    Elisa Giannelli, from the climate thinktank E3G, said: “The onus now is on Hoekstra to prove accountability to commitments made – starting from securing a strong mandate on fossil fuels phase-out before Cop28.”


    The original article contains 736 words, the summary contains 225 words. Saved 69%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!