Nitrogen emissions from almost all sectors of society lead to risks for humans and the environment. Sustainable management of nitrogen and its compounds therefore plays a major role in achieving the ⁠UN⁠ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a milestone towards sustainable nitrogen management, the German Environment Agency proposes a upper limit of 1,000 kt nitrogen per year for Germany. The limit covers almost all sources and includes not only agriculture but also other nitrogen relevant sectors such as transport and industry. The background paper explains the background on risks, summarises the current pollution situation in Germany and evaluates existing mitigation options against the new cap.