Nitrogen crisis puts provinces on the map of lobbyists

The Netherlands has a remarkable number of provinces for a country of its size. Just compare it to Canada. The second largest country in the world has 10 – plus 3 so-called territories. Someone visiting the Netherlands for the first time might think that the Dutch attach great value to this layer of government. This should be the case in view of the nitrogen issue – and other environmental matters such as permits – but it is not evident from the ballot boxes, for example. The turnout in provincial elections has fluctuated between 45 and 55% since the early 1990s. One of the reasons is that voters have no idea what the province does. Interest groups do, or will soon be able to.

In the coming period, until after the provincial elections in March next year, the province must develop far-reaching policies to significantly reduce the emission of nitrogen, by order of Minister Van der Wal-Zeggink. This has consequences for livestock farming, which emits the most ammonia, as well as the industry, mobility and building sectors. The latter are underexposed in the media attention, but that does not mean that they remain out of range.

The Minister for Nature and Nitrogen is working on a national plan to reduce that other part of nitrogen, nitrogen oxides, for which the mobility, industry and construction sectors are made particularly responsible. Nitrogen oxides spread further than ammonia, and that makes national measures more logical. The provinces can, although to a lesser extent, still influence the implementation of these measures. They will try to do so, because the societal tensions are enormous. The alarming remarks that nature would not be helped enough even without livestock farming do the rest.

Besides, the industry can also be held accountable for the emission of ammonia. In the National Rural Area Programme (NPLG), Nitrogen Minister Van der Wal-Zeggink proposes clear targets to the provinces for reducing ammonia emissions. Since the majority of these emissions come from agricultural sources, the Minister feels that the reduction must come mainly from this sector – but not exclusively. Industry, which has to obtain a licence, sometimes emits ammonia near nature parks and can also have reduction targets imposed on it.

Not everything is set in stone yet. The provinces must deliver customised solutions and the ammonia targets can still be adjusted somewhat, for example as a result of measures to reduce nitrogen oxides. The switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy can help, but it will take time. Especially when you consider that the provinces of Limburg and Noord-Brabant, both of which have substantial nitrogen targets, have announced a temporary halt to new or heavier electricity connections because there is insufficient capacity.

When someone visits the Netherlands after the elections next year, their perception may well be correct. The province suddenly matters and is buzzing with political activity. Interest groups will want to make their mark on nitrogen policy.

Photo by Petr Ganaj