Environmental groups threaten lawsuit over nitrogen policy
Environmental organizations demand consultation with Wiersma on nitrogen policy and threaten legal action.
Published on May 6, 2025
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Environmental organizations Mobilisation for the Environment and Vereniging Leefmilieu have given Agriculture Minister Femke Wiersma (BBB) an ultimatum. New lawsuits may follow if she does not sit down with them within two weeks to discuss nitrogen policy. This is evident from a letter to the minister, which is in the possession of the NOS.
At the end of April, the cabinet presented plans to reduce nitrogen emissions, but many concrete details were still lacking. A new permit system will be introduced, and the cabinet wants to set targets based on emissions rather than nitrogen deposition in vulnerable nature areas. How this will be implemented is still unclear.
The deadline for achieving nitrogen targets has been pushed back from 2030 to 2035. By that time, sectors such as industry, transport, and construction must reduce their emissions by 50% compared to 2019. A reduction of between 42% and 46% is planned for agriculture. According to the environmental organizations involved, the plans are inadequate. They want to get around the table quickly to come up with a balanced package of measures, they write in the letter.
A special nitrogen committee of twelve ministers has been working on the new approach to nitrogen since January.
