The airport bought farms in the area last year to gain nitrogen space to offset its own emissions and thus obtain the permit. According to the judge, in these types of cases, it must first be determined whether the released nitrogen space is necessary for the restoration of nature. Schiphol did not have to do this from the minister.
The airport states that there has indeed been contact, both with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and with the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. “However, the suggestion that these ministries are involved in the purchase of nitrogen rights is incorrect,” the response reads. “Schiphol did this completely independently, with its own steward and at its own expense. The airport did this based on its own responsibility to create certainty for the airports, travelers and airlines.”
Moreover, according to Schiphol, buying up nitrogen rights from farms was “the only way to meet the permit conditions and provide business security in the short term”. The airport emphasizes that the sale of these rights, for a total amount of 17 million euros, was voluntary.
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