Cabinet presents nitrogen law, more room for customization

The Dutch government is granting provinces more autonomy in implementing nitrogen policies around sensitive nature areas. The nitrogen plans aim for significant emission reductions by 2035 compared to 2019 levels. Provinces have until September 2028 to develop plans for zones around nature areas, potentially reducing the size of these zones while enforcing stricter regulations. A budget of 9 billion euros has been allocated to support farmers affected by these regulations. Additionally, the government plans to raise the calculation threshold for nitrogen permits, easing construction requirements. The law sets targets for emission reductions in agriculture, mobility, and industry, with the first assessment scheduled for 2028. A generic reduction of livestock is proposed as a fallback measure if targets are not met, which has faced criticism for impacting compliant farmers.