Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T15:07:50.422Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

5 - The challenge to integrate nitrogen science and policies: the European Nitrogen Assessment approach

from Part I - Nitrogen in Europe: the present position

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 May 2011

By
Mark A. Sutton ,
Clare M. Howard ,
Jan Willem Erisman ,
William J. Bealey ,
Gilles Billen ,
Albert Bleeker ,
Alexander F. Bouwman ,
Peringe Grennfelt ,
Hans van Grinsven  and
Bruna Grizzetti
Edited by
Mark A. Sutton ,
Clare M. Howard ,
Jan Willem Erisman ,
Gilles Billen ,
Albert Bleeker ,
Peringe Grennfelt ,
Hans van Grinsven  and
Bruna Grizzetti
Mark A. Sutton
Affiliation:
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Clare M. Howard
Affiliation:
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Jan Willem Erisman
Affiliation:
Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands
Gilles Billen
Affiliation:
University Pierre & Marie Curie
Albert Bleeker
Affiliation:
Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands
Alexander F. Bouwman
Affiliation:
Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
Peringe Grennfelt
Affiliation:
IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute Ltd
Hans van Grinsven
Affiliation:
Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
Bruna Grizzetti
Affiliation:
European Commission Joint Research Centre
Mark A. Sutton
Affiliation:
NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK
Clare M. Howard
Affiliation:
NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK
Jan Willem Erisman
Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
Gilles Billen
Affiliation:
CNRS and University of Paris VI
Albert Bleeker
Affiliation:
Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands
Peringe Grennfelt
Affiliation:
Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL)
Hans van Grinsven
Affiliation:
PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
Bruna Grizzetti
Affiliation:
European Commission Joint Research Centre
Get access

Summary

Executive summary

Nature of the problem

  • Anthropogenic releases of reactive nitrogen (Nr) can disturb natural systems and affect human health and welfare in many different ways. Scientific and policy views of the nitrogen cycle have typically addressed these problems from separate perspectives, looking in each case at only part of the overall issue.

  • Given the multi-faceted nature of the nitrogen cycle, it is a major challenge to develop a more-integrated understanding of how different areas of nitrogen science and policies fit together.

Approaches

  • Observations from the first part of the European Nitrogen Assessment (ENA Part I) are summarized, considering the distinctive character of Nr in Europe, the benefits and threats, and the current policies. Approaches to developing the following parts of the Assessment are discussed with an emphasis on how to draw out the key issues.

Key findings

  • Recognizing the multi-pollutant, multi-phase complexity of the nitrogen cycle, it is concluded that it is essential to focus on a limited set of priority issues to allow effective communication between nitrogen scientists and policy makers.

  • A pathway is developed for prioritization of the key environmental concerns of excess Nr. Starting with around twenty environmental effects, the list is reduced down, first to nine main concerns, and then to five key societal threats.

  • […]

Type
Chapter
Information
The European Nitrogen Assessment
Sources, Effects and Policy Perspectives
 , pp. 82 - 96
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Billen, G., Silvestre, M., Grizzetti, B.et al. (2011). Nitrogen flows from European watersheds to coastal marine waters. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, eds. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Bouwman, A. F., Klein Goldewijk, K., Hoek, K. W.et al. (2011). Exploring global changes in nitrogen and phosphorus cycles in agriculture induced by livestock production for the period 1900–2050. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA (submitted).
Brink, C., Grinsven, H., Jacobsen, B. H.et al. (2011). Costs and benefits of nitrogen in the environment. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Bull, K., Hoft, R. and Sutton, M.A. (2011). Co-ordinating European nitrogen policies between directives and international conventions. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Butterbach-Bahl, K., Gundersen, P., Ambus, P.et al. (2011a). Nitrogen processes in terrestrial ecosystems. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Butterbach-Bahl, K., Nemitz, E., Zaehle, S.et al. (2011b). Nitrogen as a threat to the European greenhouse balance. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Cellier, P., Durand, P., Hutchings, N.et al. (2011). Nitrogen flows and fate in rural landscapes. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, eds. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Vries, W., Leip, A., Reinds, G. J.et al. (2011). Geographic variation in terrestrial nitrogen budgets across Europe. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, eds. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Dise, N., Ashmore, M., Belyazid, S.et al. (2011). Nitrogen as a threat to European terrestrial biodiversity. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Durand, P., Breuer, L., Johnes, , P. J. et al. (2011). Nitrogen processes in aquatic ecosystems. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Erisman, J. W., Vries, W., Kros, H.et al. (2001). An outlook for a national integrated nitrogen policy. Environmental Science and Policy, 4, 87–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Erisman, J. W., Spranger, T., Sutton, M. A.et al. (2007). Working Group 5: Nitrogen – integrated environmental policies. In: Air Pollution and its Relations to Climate Change and Sustainable Development – Linking Immediate Needs with Long-Term Challenges “Saltsjöbaden 3” (12–14 March 2007, Gothenburg, Sweden). http://asta.ivl.se/Workshops/Saltsjobaden3/Conclusions/WG5.pdf (last accessed 15 September 2010).
Erisman, J. W., Grinsven, H., Grizzetti, B.et al. (2011). The European nitrogen problem in a global perspective. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Fowler, D., Pilegaard, K., Sutton, M. A.et al. (2009). Atmospheric composition change: ecosystems – atmosphere interactions. Atmospheric Environment, 43, 5193–5267.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Galloway, J. N., Aber, J. D., Erisman, J. W.et al. (2003). The nitrogen cascade. BioScience, 53, 341–356.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Galloway, J. N., Townsend, A. R., Erisman, J. W.et al. (2008). Transformation of the nitrogen cycle: recent trends, questions and potential solutions. Science, 320, 889–892.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grizzetti, B., Bouraoui, F., Billen, G.et al. (2011). Nitrogen as a threat to European water quality. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Guthrie, W. K. C. (1986). Aristotle: On the Heavens, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.Google Scholar
Hertel, O., Reis, S., Ambelas Skjøth, C.et al. (2011). Nitrogen turnover processes in the atmosphere. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Jarvis, S., Hutchings, N., Hoek, K., Brentrup, F. and Olesen, J. (2011). Nitrogen flows in farming systems across Europe. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, eds. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Jensen, L. S., Schjoerring, J. K., Hoek, K.et al. (2011). Benefits of nitrogen for food fibre and industrial production. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Leip, A., Achermann, B., Billen, G.et al. (2011). Integrating nitrogen fluxes at the European scale. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Moldanová, J., Grennfelt, P., Jonsson, Å. et al. (2011). Nitrogen as a threat to European air quality. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
,NinE (2008). The NitroNet Poll. Nitrogen in Europe programme of the European Science Foundation. www.nine-esf.org/?q=nitronet_poll (last accessed 15 September 2010).
Oenema, O., Bleeker, A., Braathen, N. A.et al. (2011a). Nitrogen in current European policies. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Oenema, O., Salomez, J., Branquinho, C.et al. (2011b). Integrated approaches to nitrogen management. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Pilegaard, K., Skiba, U., Ambus, A.et al. (2006). Factors controlling regional differences in forest soil emission of nitrogen oxides (NO and N2O). Biogeosciences, 3, 651–661.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reay, D. S., Howard, C.M., Bleeker, A.et al. (2011). Societal choice and communicating the European nitrogen challenge. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Simpson, D., Aas, W., Bartnicki, J.et al. (2011). Atmospheric transport and deposition of nitrogen in Europe. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, eds. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Soussana, J. F., Allard, V., Pilegaard, K.et al. (2007). Full accounting of the greenhouse gas (CO2, N2O, CH4) budget of nine European grassland sites. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 121, 121–134.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sutton, M. (2008) Snared in a homemade ‘NitroNet’. The Green Room, BBC News, 8 July 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/ 1/hi/sci/tech/7496036.stm (last accessed 15 September 2010).
Sutton, M. A., Milford, C., Nemitz, E.et al. (2001). Biosphere–atmosphere interactions of ammonia with grasslands: experimental strategy and results from a new European initiative. Plant and Soil, 228, 131–145.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sutton, M. A., Nemitz, E., Erisman, J. W.et al. (2007). Challenges in quantifying biosphere–atmosphere exchange of nitrogen species. Environmental Pollution, 150, 125–139.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sutton, M. A., Nemitz, E., Milford, C.et al. (2009a). Dynamics of ammonia exchange with cut grassland: synthesis of results and conclusions of the GRAMINAE Integrated Experiment. Biogeosciences (GRAMINAE Special Issue), 6, 2907–2934.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sutton, M. A., Oenema, O., Erisman, J. W.et al. (2009b) Managing the European Nitrogen Problem: A Proposed Strategy for Integration of European Research on the Multiple Effects of Reactive Nitrogen. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology / Partnership for European Environmental Research, Edinburgh, UK. http://www.clrtap-tfrn.org/european-research-strategy (last accessed 15 September 2010).
Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. (2011). Assessing our nitrogen inheritance. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Svirejeva-Hopkins, A., Reis, S., Magid, J.et al. (2011). Nitrogen flows and fate in urban landscapes. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, eds. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Velthof, G.et al. (2011). Nitrogen as a threat to European soil quality. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Voß, M., Baker, A., Bange, H. W.et al. (2011). Nitrogen processes in coastal and marine systems. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C. M., Erisman, J. W. et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Wildberg, C. (1988). John Philoponus' Criticism of Aristotle's Theory of Aether, De Gruyter, Berlin.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Winiwarter, W., Hettelingh, J.P., Bouwman, L.et al. (2011). Future scenarios of nitrogen in Europe. In: The European Nitrogen Assessment, ed. Sutton, M. A., Howard, C.M., Erisman, J. W.et al. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Wright, M. R. (1995). Empedocles: The Extant Fragments. Gerald Duckworth, London.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×