Greenpeace takes the State to court over the nitrogen approach: “Nature in the Netherlands is in distress” | Greenpeace Netherlands

Amsterdam, April 24, 2024 – Greenpeace Netherlands and the State will face each other in court tomorrow due to summary proceedings that revolve around protecting the most vulnerable nature against excessive nitrogen emissions in Natura 2000 areas. If emissions are not drastically reduced before the end of 2025, nature could be irreparably damaged or even disappear. Through the summary proceedings judge, Greenpeace is demanding an action plan with additional measures to reduce nitrogen deposition in the most vulnerable nature before the end of 2025 in order to stop the continued deterioration.

“By allowing protected nature to deteriorate, the Dutch State is violating the law,” says Andy Palmen, director of Greenpeace Netherlands. “These laws are necessary to protect citizens and their environment, but the reality is completely different. Nature in the Netherlands is in need, but the government is standing by and watching. Time and time again, economic interests have been placed above the interests of nature. We are therefore forced to draw a line, because healthy nature is a prerequisite for a healthy future for all of us.”

Current approach insufficient to reverse the nature crisis

Recent research by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, the RIVM and the University of Wageningen shows that the government’s current approach and policy measures hardly produce any nitrogen reduction and are even insufficient to achieve the 2025 target of the current nitrogen law. While Greenpeace has already shown in 2021 that the goals of the Nitrogen Act are insufficient to reverse the nature crisis and to comply with the European Birds and Habitats Directive. The task has become even greater because much of nature has proven to be even more sensitive to nitrogen than previously thought.

Natural damage

Too much nitrogen is harmful to nature. Vulnerable plant species are being displaced by species that can better withstand the excess of nitrogen and acidification changes the chemistry in the soil, making it impossible for species to survive. Trees root less deeply, making them vulnerable to drought and storms. Sand drifts on the Veluwe and peat areas such as the Alde Feanen in Friesland are at risk of being irreparably damaged by nitrogen. Old oak forests and heathless grasslands may even disappear. Too much nitrogen also has consequences for birds and reptiles. The eggshells are too thin due to a lack of calcium, which means the young no longer hatch. When they do hatch, young birds hatch from their eggs with bones that are too brittle and break easily. The result: it is becoming increasingly quiet in nature.

Substantive proceedings

In addition to these summary proceedings, Greenpeace is also conducting substantive proceedings on the same subject, the hearing in the substantive proceedings will take place in November 2024. Pending the verdict in the substantive proceedings, Greenpeace wants to force the State through summary proceedings to come up with a concrete policy plan and additional measures. In this way, we can save the most vulnerable nature, for which recovery measures offer no relief, before the end of 2025. In the soil procedure, which started in July 2023, the focus will be expanded to nature types that must be saved before 2030 from an ecological point of view.

This two-track approach is necessary because of the precarious state of protected nature. Waiting for the ruling in the substantive proceedings is too late for the most vulnerable nature, given the scale of the task and the State’s minimal progress to date.

Supporters

Greenpeace Netherlands is supported in this lawsuit by the Caring Movement (Caring Farmers, -Doctors and -Vets), the Federation of Agro-ecological Farmers, Milieudefensie, Mobilization for the Environment (MOB), the Nature Conservation Watch, DraaienNL, Demeter Foundation, Vogelbescherming Nederland and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). These organizations are not parties to the proceedings, but do support the case.

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Note for editors:

The hearing in the summary proceedings will start on April 25 at 11 a.m. in the District Court of The Hague. Greenpeace Netherlands is assisted by lawyers Bondine Kloostra and Brechtje Vossenberg from law firm Prakken d’ Oliveira. The ruling will follow approximately two weeks after the hearing.

For more information, please contact Layla Bil, press officer Greenpeace Netherlands at [email protected] or by telephone via (0)6 2129 6895.

The reading guide for the summary proceedings summons

The summons for summary proceedings