The Dutch government annually publishes a report on their progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, involving various stakeholders, including the National Youth Council.

On the Green Start-Up Sustainability Forum stage, Sophie mentioned the fact that young people play a crucial role in shaping a sustainable future, and their input is included in themes such as social security, mental health, climate, and meaningful participation, with specific recommendations for enhancing education and addressing societal issues.

Watch the inspiration moment delivered by Sophie Neve on the stage of the second edition of the Green Start-Up Sustainability Forum & Awards or read the main points of her speech.

  • Sophie discussed four perspectives on government roles: performing, legislating, responsive, and collaborative, each reflecting different levels of government and societal initiative.
  • She emphasized that the Dutch government increasingly adopts a collaborative role, especially in sustainability, where it partners with various stakeholders to achieve common goals.
  • The Netherlands' Green Deal initiative, which began in 2011, is another significant effort to promote sustainable development. These deals remove barriers for sustainable initiatives by adjusting legislation, providing network access, and supporting access to capital and knowledge. Themes include energy, food, water, raw materials, biodiversity, mobility, bio-based economy, climate, and environment.
  • The Dutch embassy in Romania promotes partnerships in green cities, urban mobility, and water management. Notable activities include a public-private partnership for green city development in Bucharest and various urban mobility events such as hackathons and the 'Cycling for Global Goals' event.
  • The embassy also supports the Blue Deal program, facilitating cooperation between Romanian and Dutch water authorities until 2030 to address issues like drought, food safety, and sustainable financing in the water sector.
  • Regarding startups, Sophie highlighted the 'Startup in Residence' program in the Netherlands, which connects startups with the government to co-create solutions for social challenges.
  • A specific example from the Ministry of Agriculture involves a project addressing cyber risks for agricultural companies, won by CLEPform, which developed a software solution tailored for the sector.
  • In closing, Sophie emphasized the importance of startups and youth in providing innovative, out-of-the-box solutions for current challenges. She called for governments to listen and provide space for the next generation to shape their future.