EU approves Dutch plan to cut nitrogen emissions

The European Union (EU) has approved on Tuesday the Dutch plan of farm buyout schemes aiming to cut emissions of nitrogen pollution. The Dutch ruling coalition targets cutting pollutants’ emissions of by 50 percent nationwide by 2030.

Farmers were told they need to alter their farming methods and feed their animals less protein to reduce ammonia emissions. Terminating work at farms producing large nitrogen emissions is also part of the government’s plan to achieve this goal.

Dutch schemes were approved after proven they are not distorting competition in EU. Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner for Competition said schemes “will promote a more sustainable, environmentally friendly production in the livestock sector.”

Framers have expressed their frustration with the government’s plan which threatens their business through protests and highways blockage. The win of Farmer–Citizen Movement, in March’s Dutch provincial elections also signals discontentment felt by many sections of society.

The United Nations Environment Program’s 2018-2019 Frontiers Report called nitrogen pollution one of the most important pollution issues facing humanity.