Nitrogen emission data set from RIVM is not complete

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has not given the complete dataset of nitrogen emissions in the Netherlands to Mesdag Dairy Fund and Nitrogen Claim. This will be given shortly, as it became clear on Friday 13 December at the summary proceedings in The Hague. The judge will decide on Monday 16 December when RIVM must submit all data to the foundations.

The outcome of this court hearing already means a victory for Mesdag Dairy Fund and Nitrogen Claim. The foundations had instituted summary proceedings to obtain all the data from the State and RIVM. Previous data, which had been received, was not complete. Jan-Cees Vogelaar, the chairman of the Mesdag Dairy Fund, immediately contributed on Twitter.

Vogelaar referred to the fact that Minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) stated earlier in the House of Representatives that all emission data from RIVM is public and available. "Schouten informed the House of Representatives incorrectly," says Vogelaar. If the ministers inform parliament incorrectly, this is known as a political mortal sin.

Correct calculation
The 2 foundations want to use the data to check whether RIVM has calculated the nitrogen emissions correctly; such as the claim that agriculture is responsible for about 50% of nitrogen emissions. So far, these cannot be tested by various external parties, while current and future nitrogen policy is still based on these data; for example the Emergency Nitrogen Act, which will be discussed in the Senate on Tuesday 17 December.

The foundations therefore want RIVM to come forward with the data on Monday 16 December after the ruling. Then these parties can make their own calculations and draw conclusions before the session of the senate. However, the State and RIVM protect privacy (of some of the data), because some of the data has been provided by third parties with a confidentiality clause. They indicate that they will not be able to supply the complete dataset until January at the earliest.

Warm welcome by @FarmersForce and De Heus in The Hague for summary proceedings Mesdagfond/Stichting Nitrogen Claim against @rivm and the State.
Judgment next Monday. Stands& @rivm recognize that not all nitrogen data is public yet @carolaschouten inquired @2eKamertweets incorrect pic.twitter.com/mrZHTDTpFG

— Jan Cees Vogelaar. (@JanCeesVogelaar) December 13 2019

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