News Nitrogen
KDW from law and emission targets instead of nitrogen targets
The cabinet is removing the critical deposition value (KDW) from the law and replacing the nitrogen targets in the Environment Act with emission targets. These targets will be laid down in a legally mandated program that will also include measures to meet them. The Cabinet approved this today.
Minister of Agriculture Femke Wiersma said in a press release: "This marks the shift from managing nitrogen deposition to managing nitrogen emissions. Currently, we're dealing with moving targets, and that makes it very difficult to formulate policy. You have control over what you emit. That's why we're switching to emissions policy. Because as an entrepreneur, you control what you emit, not what is deposited."
KDW a too mobile target
The cabinet, as agreed in its coalition program, wants to abolish the KDW (Fresh Water Management Act) because it's "too fluid." Shifting the focus from precipitation to emissions will, according to the cabinet, provide more control over the nitrogen emission reduction target.
The current Nitrogen Reduction and Nature Improvement Program (PSN) will remain in place. According to the cabinet, the new program will supplement and update it and will include measures decided upon by the Ministerial Committee for Economic Affairs and Nature Restoration (MCEN) to help the Netherlands get off the nitrogen lock. European agreements will also be taken into account, the cabinet stated.
The bill will be open for consultation from July 14 to August 24. It is expected to be submitted to the House of Representatives (after receiving advice from the Council of State) at the end of 2025. The legally mandated program is still being developed.
Linda van Eekeres
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