Dutch farmers protest against strict government rules on nitrogen

Thousands of farmers have gathered in a village near the center of the Netherlands to protest the government's plan to limit nitrogen pollution, many of whom are driving tractors from all over the country and causing traffic jams, Reuters reported.

The protest, 70 kilometers east of Amsterdam, follows last week's targets to cut nitrogen pollution in some areas by up to 70% by 2030, the latest attempt to address a problem that has plagued the country for years. .

The government says it needs to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from farm animal manure and the use of ammonia for fertilizer. Nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere help form acid rain, and fertilizers washed into lakes can cause algae blooms.

Farmers argue that the goals are ill-conceived and unfair. They are expected to reduce the number of livestock in the Netherlands by 30%, with the effects more evident in agricultural areas bordering nature reserves.

“These cuts are so severe that these rural communities will be completely devastated economically, which is why our farmers are gathering in Straw today,” said Sander van Diepen, a spokesman for the LTO agricultural organization.

He said the industry supported the cuts, which would be evenly distributed across the country and would also require sacrifices from the transportation and construction industries. They also contribute to the release of nitrogen oxides.

The Netherlands is one of the world's largest exporters of agricultural products. The intensive rearing of cows, pigs and other animals in the densely populated country has made it the leading emitter of these substances in Europe.

The government's goals were intended to fulfill the rulings of the European Court of Justice in 2018 and the Dutch Council of State in 2019, which concluded that Dutch policy had failed to solve a long-standing problem.

In 2020, the government set a national speed limit of 100 kilometers per hour in an attempt to reduce emissions. Currently, construction projects are usually delayed due to difficulties in obtaining licenses for the emission of nitrogen compounds.