UBA proposes multisectoral cap on nitrogen
New study recommends curbing annual nitrogen emissions to 1 million tonnes
Nitrogen finds its way into the environment in many forms.
Source: totojang1977 / Adobe Stock
The German Environment Agency (UBA) is to propose a national cap on nitrogen emissions at the INI 2021 Global Nitrogen Conference starting on 30 31 May. By 2030, no more than 1 million tonnes of nitrogen per year is to be emitted into the environment. Only then can existing protection goals for water bodies, terrestrial ecosystems and human health be achieved. Current annual nitrogen emissions amount to 1.5 million tonnes. The new cap covers almost all sources and includes agriculture and sectors such as transport and industry. UBA President Dirk Messner says, "In the next ten years, we must cut annual nitrogen emissions by about 0.5 million tonnes to no more than one million tonnes. It can be done – if we start finally complying in practice with the regulations already in force on air pollution control, climate protection and fertiliser law. Even then, this represents a first step only, because further efforts are needed to reduce nitrogen emissions are necessary to achieve good environmental status throughout Germany. Protection targets for water, soil, air, ecosystems and human health must be reviewed, and the permissible upper limit for total nitrogen emissions must be further reduced.”