The government must ‘end’ the nitrogen emissions of 500 to 600 major polluters as soon as possible. This is stated in the long-awaited report by discussion leader Johan Remkes about the nitrogen crisis, which is in the possession of this newspaper. It is one of the 25 recommendations that Remkes makes to improve the consultation on and the approach to nitrogen.
With the ending of the emissions of these 500 to 600 polluters, especially farmers but also companies, only 1 percent of agricultural companies will be affected, and there will be nitrogen space for other farmers and companies to continue working. Remkes speaks of ‘irreversible steps’ that should show an effect ‘within one year’.
At the same time, Remkes says that ending the emissions from these ‘peak taxers’ should be done on a voluntary basis as much as possible. “Stoppers must be compensated as much as possible and generously within the possibilities of the law,” Remkes writes in his recommendations.
Furthermore, the government must “for the time being” stick to the goal of halving nitrogen emissions by 2030. In 2025 and 2028 it should be assessed at interim ‘calibration moments’ whether the reduction is on schedule. If provinces can demonstrate that 2030 is not feasible in specific areas, they should be able to postpone it.
Divided into four areas
In terms of spatial planning, the Netherlands should be divided into four areas. Remkes envisions a ‘red zone’ for intensive, clustered agriculture, especially for export products. In orange areas with sensitive nature, only nature-friendly agriculture can be done. The government should subsidize supermarkets to make sustainable products from these orange areas profitable. In yellow and green zones at Natura 2000 areas, only ‘very limited’ organic farming can take place, in combination with nature management.
The infamous nitrogen map of Minister Christianne van der Wal (Nature and Nitrogen, VVD) must be ‘off the table’ by Remkes. This map caused a lot of unrest among farmers, because it seemed to indicate exactly how much nitrogen should be reduced where. After a storm of criticism, Van der Wal took more distance from the map. “Regional maps that are less detailed must be made available as soon as possible,” Remkes writes. “Because nuances do not come through sufficiently” and because the nitrogen issue is “broader”, the ticket has to go.
Remkes was instructed by the cabinet in July to de-escalate the nitrogen consultation as an independent discussion leader. In August he held a series of talks with farmers, companies, governments and nature and environmental organizations.
“With this message, I do not expect the agricultural sector to be happy with this report,” Remkes writes in his recommendations today. “However, I have felt that it is more important to write the honest story in an understandable way.”
Read about Remkes’ long-awaited report: Where are the solutions in the stranded nitrogen consultation?