Overview

Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth Netherlands) is a Dutch environmental organisation founded in 1971 in response to growing concern about global environmental degradation. It forms part of the global Friends of the Earth International network, working to secure a safe and healthy environment for current and future generations. Milieudefensie focuses on mobilising public support and influencing corporate and government behaviour towards environmental protection and climate justice.

Mission and focus areas

Milieudefensie’s primary mission is climate justice, which involves ensuring fair distribution of the benefits and burdens of climate action. It advocates for strong climate policies and corporate accountability, particularly targeting major polluters to align with science-based climate goals such as those in the Paris Agreement. Its work emphasises systemic change, recognising that environmental harm often arises from deregulated markets and insufficient corporate responsibility. Campaigns include legal actions, research and public mobilisation to drive sustainable policies. This aligns with broader sustainable finance and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns by holding companies accountable for environmental impact and influencing policy frameworks to prioritise climate-aligned practices.

Structure and governance

Milieudefensie operates as an association with a national office in Amsterdam, supported by a paid staff and local groups across the Netherlands. It has more than 110,000 members and donors. Governance includes a management board and collaboration with various departments responsible for campaigning, research, communications and supporter engagement. It also partners with other NGOs, movements and international networks to extend impact and influence both domestically and internationally.

Programs and offerings

The organisation delivers a range of outputs including research reports, climate litigation, advocacy campaigns and public resources aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and corporate transparency. Notable activities include high-profile climate lawsuits against major corporations and tools to inform stakeholders about corporate and financial sector practices. Milieudefensie also facilitates community engagement through training, events and youth programmes to support grassroots sustainability action. Its distinct combination of legal action, research and public mobilisation contributes to shaping environmental discourse and practice in the Netherlands and beyond.

Our mission & vision

We are the last generation who can prevent a climate disaster. That is why we focus our strategy on the climate crisis, with climate justice as the key priority.

Milieudefensie | Friends of the Earth Netherlands empowers people to collectively realize the social transformation needed for a good and healthy life on earth. For ourselves and future generations. We strive for a society in which households, governments and companies contribute fairly to ending environmental and climate disruption.

Our mission can be captured in just two words: climate justice

Climate change is not a natural disaster, but a consequence of deregulated markets and political capture by multinationals. Climate change hits disadvantaged people around the world the hardest. At the same time, the costs of climate policies are unevenly distributed, with citizens paying the burden while multinationals and wealthy individuals raise their profits.

This is why we stand up for climate justice: a decent life on a healthy planet for all.