Netherlands: Nitrogen Report Delivered to the Dutch Government

After a summer of Dutch farmer protests, a much-anticipated independent report was presented to the government and public on October 5, 2022. In it, the government-appointed independent facilitator and former politician, Johan Remkes, presented his findings from talks he held with the government, the Dutch agricultural sector, industry, nature organizations, and others. His report laid out recommendations to the government on how best to reduce nitrogen emissions in the Netherlands. Reaction to the report was generally positive, with opposition to some of the proposals (e.g., buying out several hundred top emitters and potentially imposing a zoning system for certain agricultural practices). The Dutch agricultural sector now looks forward to October 14, 2022, when the Government will reportedly weigh-in on its interpretation of the report and how it might amend its current plan to reduce nitrogen emissions.