At least half of all vulnerable nature should be guaranteed to be protected by 2030, according to the Nitrogen Act presented in October by agriculture minister Carola Schouten. Now that the smoke from the passed Nitrogen Act has cleared, livestock farming appears to have to reduce much more and much faster.
The political system in the Netherlands means making compromises that bring together apparently contradictory interests. But that can also lead to decisions that hardly anyone has confidence in. The adopted Nitrogen Act is a dramatic example of this. It is true, mainly due to the efforts of the SGP in the House of Representatives, that there is finally a prospect of a breakthrough in the PAS reporting file. Because a legalization program has been laid down in the Nitrogen Act adopted in the House of Representatives last Thursday evening.
40% result obligation in 2025 underexposed
In addition, a series of motions and legislative changes were adopted, in line with LTO proposals, that ease the pain of the Nitrogen Act. The CDA and the VVD in particular took the initiative. Such as the obligation to take into account economic, social and cultural requirements when maintaining nature restoration goals. An amendment has also been included in the Nitrogen Act regarding deposition from abroad. If it turns out that insufficient reduction is taking place abroad that is hindering the nature restoration objectives in the Netherlands, the result obligation for nature restoration in the adopted Nitrogen Act will lapse.
But it is precisely this result obligation that makes the Nitrogen Act unfeasible, is the widely supported conclusion in the agricultural sector. The minister's political nitrogen agreement with the opposition parties SP, 50Plus and SGP has resulted in a tougher reduction target for 2035, LTO notes. In the longer term, the agricultural interest group fears an unattainable objective and a repetition of steps in the PAS file.
The Nitrogen Act is also probably unfeasible in the short term. However, this has hardly been addressed. The political nitrogen agreement not only entails a significantly tightened long-term target, but also a short-term target. When the Nitrogen Act was presented in October this year, there was no interim reduction target for 2025. But it has now been legally established that at least 40% of vulnerable nature must be guaranteed protection not in 2030 but already in 2025.
Low-emission stable not in the short term
This will certainly not be possible with investments in low-emission stables that separate liquid manure at the source. Even though various motions have been adopted that give the provinces the opportunity to direct their purchase budgets towards investment support.
2025 comes too early. First, guaranteeable measuring systems must be developed and there is also widespread awareness that this solution can significantly increase the cost price. New housing systems that tackle emissions at the source must be feasible and affordable. As more budget from the voluntary purchase schemes is shifted towards investment subsidies, this solution offers more perspective. But not for the new far-reaching result obligation in just five years.
In the short term, in addition to the voluntary purchase of livestock farms, the package of management measures remains. Drawn up by the Agricultural Collective last winter. Opinions differ about the emission-reducing effects of this package of measures. According to LNV Minister Carola Schouten, the coming years will show whether the agricultural sector is able to achieve sufficient results with management measures. If not, there is at least a risk of additional skimming of phosphate and nitrogen rights. Although a motion by Pvda member Moorlag for additional skimming has not yet been adopted, the signal is clear.
Millstone
The Aerius model, which calculates the nitrogen load on vulnerable nature, needs to be improved. The investigation by the Hordijk Committee has made this clear. Does that offer a way out? Other models used abroad must be added to the Aerius model. If this does not prove to offer a solution, there is a good chance that the significantly tightened and brought forward results obligation of the Nitrogen Act will become a millstone around the neck of the livestock farming sector.