Greenpeace secures court victory over Dutch nitrogen emissions

The court in The Hague ordered the government to meet its target of reducing the emissions to legally allowed levels in 50% of all affected nature reserves by 2030, or be fined €10m

Greenpeace said the government was not doing enough to lower illegally high levels of nitrogen oxide emissions caused by intensive farming and heavy use of fertilisers.

Environmentalists have scored an important win with a court ruling in the Netherlands that the Dutch government must pay a €10m penalty to Greenpeace if the Dutch state does not control nitrogen deposition in 50% of sensitive natural areas by 2030.

Dutch nitrogen emissions per hectare are the highest in Europe.