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Greenpeace asks the court for decision on entire Dutch nitrogen policy

Environmental organisation Greenpeace wants to see a drastic reduction in nitrogen deposition on the Netherlands’ most vulnerable nature conservation areas. This would extend beyond the nitrogen targets that the Dutch government is currently striving to meet. Rogier Kegge, Assistant Professor of Constitutional and Administrative Law, discussed the case with NOS.

Various organisations have been suing the Dutch government over nitrogen for years, often targeting specific permits that cause environmental pollution. In this case, Greenpeace stresses that nature conservation areas in the Netherlands are suffering severe damage due to excessive nitrogen emissions, reports NOS.

However, Greenpeace has now taken things a step further by asking the court to make a decision on the entire Dutch nitrogen policy. This case is reminiscent of Urgenda, the landmark Dutch climate change case, in which the court ordered the government to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Some experts say it very much remains to be seen whether the court will view the case differently. ‘The government minister has not made any promises,’ says Dr Kegge. A decision in this case is expected early next year.

More information

Read the full NOS article (in Dutch) here

Photo: Dominik Dancs through Unsplash

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