Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T00:53:14.090Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Nitrogen pollution in the European Union – an economy-environment confrontation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 October 2009

Ester van der Voet ,
René Kleijn  and
Helias A. Udo de Haes
Ester van der Voet*
Affiliation:
Centre of Environmental Science, State University of Leiden, P.O. Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
René Kleijn
Affiliation:
Centre of Environmental Science, State University of Leiden, P.O. Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
Helias A. Udo de Haes
Affiliation:
Centre of Environmental Science, State University of Leiden, P.O. Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
*
* Dr Ester van der Voet Tel: +31 71 5277486 Fax: +31 71 5277434 e-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The production and import of fertilizer have previously been identified as the major source of three separate European environmental problems related to nitrogen compounds. In order to obtain a picture of the changes in the anthropogenic nitrogen flows needed for a solution, the effectiveness of several more radical interventions is estimated using Substance Flow Analysis (SFA). A selection of rigorous technical measures is expected to reduce the atmospheric deposition of N compounds to a level that seems acceptable for the EU as a whole, and will reduce the anthropogenic input of N compounds into the North Sea well below the agreed level of 50% of the present load. The third problem, the pollution of groundwater with nitrates, would remain unsolved. Resolution of this last problem requires radical changes in the agricultural sector, reducing agricultural output substantially. Two directions are explored by assessing the impacts of the extremes: termination of industrial fertilizer use to combat the problems at the source, and abolition of the entire stock-breeding sector to increase agricultural efficiency radically. These changes do contribute to a solution of the groundwater problem, but imply either greater dependence on imported food, or a major change in food consumption patterns, from animal towards vegetable products. The current EU population and diet are incompatible with the absence of environmental problems. The question then arises, how does acceptance of the draconian measures required to solve such an environmental problem weigh up against acceptance of the fact of having to cope with contaminated groundwater?

Keywords

nitrogen compoundsEuropean UnionNorth Seasolutionsmaterials balancesenvironmental policy
Type
Papers
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , September 1996 , pp. 198 - 206
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 1996

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

Ayres, R.U., Norberg Bohm, V., Prince, J., Stigliani, W.M. & Yanowitz, J. (1989) Industrial metabolism, the environment, and application of materials-balance principles for selected chemicals. International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) report RR-89-11, Laxenburg, Austria: vi + 118 pp.Google Scholar
Baker, D.E. & Senft, J.P. (1992) Advances in agricultural nutrient runoff controls. Water Science and Technology 26(12): 2685–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bohlool, B.B., Ladha, J.K., Garrity, D.P. & George, T. (1992) Biological nitrogen fixation for sustainable agriculture: a perspective. Plant & Soil 141: 1–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Booij, H. & van dcr Hoek, K. (1992) Centrale mestverwerking. RIVM report no. 736301021, Bilthoven, The Netherlands: iii + 19 pp.Google Scholar
Brandenburg, A., Engels, L.M., de Lange, M.W., Veldt, H.J.H.A. & Zwartendijk, C. (1992) Nutriëntenbeheer in mondiaal perspectief. Unpublished student group report, Centre of Environmental Science, Leiden University: 71 pp.Google Scholar
Commission of the EC (European Communities) (1991) Development and Future of the Common Agricultural Policy (informally known as the MacSharry Plan). Brussels/Luxembourg, COM(91)100: 44 pp.Google Scholar
Commission of the EC (European Communities) (1992) Towards Sustainability, a European Community Programme of Policy and Action in relation to the Environment and Sustainable Development (informally known as the Fifth Action Programme). COM(92)23 II: 98 pp.Google Scholar
Council of the EC (European Communities) (1991) Council Directive of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of water against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (informally known as the Nitrate Directive). Directive 91/676/EC, Luxembourg: 19 pp.Google Scholar
EUROSTAT (1990 a) Basic Statistics of the Community (27th edition). Eurostat Office, Luxembourg: 304 pp.Google Scholar
EUROSTAT (1990 b) Agriculture Statistical Yearbook. Eurostat Office, Luxembourg: ix + 262 pp.Google Scholar
EUROSTAT (1990 c) External Trade Analytical Tables Import and Export 1988. Part A: 1–24: Agricultural Products, Part B: 25–27: Mineral Products, Part C: 28–38: Chemical Products. Eurostat Office, Luxembourg.Google Scholar
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) (1990) FAO Yearbook Fertilizer, Vol. 40. FAO, Rome: xxxiii + 142 pp.Google Scholar
Granstedt, A. (1992) Case studies on the flow and supply of nitrogen in alternative farming in Sweden. I. Skilleby-Farm 1981–1987. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 9: 15–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hettelingh, J.T., Downing, R.J. & de Smet, P.A.M., eds. (1991) Mapping critical loads for Europe. Coordination Centre for Effects (CCE) Technical Report no. 1, Bilthoven, The Netherlands: viii + 86 pp.Google Scholar
Houghton, J.T., Jenkins, G.J. & Ephraums, J.J., eds. (1991) Climate Change. The IPCC Scientific Assessment. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press: 365 pp.Google Scholar
Huele, R., Kleijn, R. & van der Voet, E. (1993) Natural Resource Accounting, the search for a method. Ministry of Environment Environmental Strategy Series 1993/3, The Hague, The Netherlands: 74 pp.Google Scholar
Huppes, G., van der Voet, E., van der Naald, W.G.H., Vonkeman, G.H. & Maxson, P. (1992) New Market-Oriented Instruments for Environmental Policies. European Communities Environmental Policy Series. London: Graham & Trotman Ltd: xxvii + 200 pp.Google Scholar
International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine against Pollution (1987) Rhine Action Programme. Strasbourg: 25 pp.Google Scholar
Isermann, K. (1993) Territorial, continental and global aspects of C, N, P and S emissions from agricultural ecosystems. In: Interactions of C, N, P, and S Biogeochemical Cycles and Global Change, ed. Wollast, R., Mackenzie, F.T. & Chou, L., pp. 79–121. NATO ASI Series I Vol. 4, Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Klugkist, J. (1986) Derde Wereld Europa's voedertrog, EG-veevoerimporten nadcr bekeken. NIO-Vereniging, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: 88 pp.Google Scholar
Ministerial Declaration (1984) Ministerial Declaration of the first international conference on the protection of the North Sea, 31 October–4 November 1984, Bremen. Issued by the Ministry of Transport and Public Works of the Netherlands: 15 pp.Google Scholar
Ministerial Declaration (1987) Ministerial Declaration of the second international conference on the protection of the North Sea, 24–25 November 1987, London. Issued by the Ministry of Transport and Public Works of the Netherlands: 25 pp.Google Scholar
Ministerial Declaration (1990) Ministerial Declaration of the third international conference on the protection of the North Sea, 7–8 November 1990, The Hague. Issued by the Ministry of Transport and Public Works of the Netherlands: 198 pp.Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries of the Netherlands (1993) Notitie Mest – en Ammoniakbeleid derde fase (Document on Manure and Ammonia Policy, 3rd phase). The Hague, The Netherlands: v + 40 pp.Google Scholar
O'Connell, P.F. (1992) Sustainable agriculture – a valid alternative. Outlook on Agriculture 21(1): 5–12.Google Scholar
OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) (1991) OECD Environmental Data Compendium 1991. OECD, Paris: 337 pp.Google Scholar
Olsthoorn, C.S.M. (1992) Mineralen in de landbouw, 1990. Kwartaal-berichten Milieu (CBS) 92: 16–20.Google Scholar
Olsthoorn, C.S.M. (1993) Stikstof en Fosfor in Nederland, 1990 (Nitrogen and Phosphorus in the Netherlands, 1990). Kwartaalberichten Milieu (CBS) 93: 19–27.Google Scholar
Oslo and Paris Commissions (1992) Monitoring and Assessment. London: 205 pp.Google Scholar
Paris Commission (1992) Nutrients in the Convention Area, Part B Eutrophication Symptoms and Problem Areas. London: 45 pp.Google Scholar
RIVM (National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection) (1992) The environment in Europe: a global perspective. RIVM report, no. 481505001, Bilthoven, The Netherlands: 119 pp.Google Scholar
Strebel, O., Duynisveld, W.H.M. & Böttcher, J. (1989) Nitrate pollution of groundwater in Western Europe. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 26: 189–214.Google Scholar
Stringer, D.A., ed. (1988) Nitrate and drinking water. European Chemical Industry Ecology & Toxicology Centre (ECETOC), Technical Report no. 27. Brussels: ix + 165 pp.Google Scholar
Udo de Haes, H.A., Guinée, J.B. & Huppes, G. (1988) Materials balances and flow analysis of hazardous substances; accumulation of substances in economy and environment. Milieu 1988(2): 51–5.Google Scholar
UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) (1990) UNCTAD Commodity Yearbook 1990. Geneva/New York: UN Publication sales no. E.90.II.D.9: xi + 380 pp.Google Scholar
United Nations (1990) Industrial Statistics Yearbook, vol. II, Commodity Production Statistics. New York: xvii + 839 pp.Google Scholar
van der Voet, E. (1996) Substances from cradle to grave, development of a methodology for the analysis of substance flows through the economy and environment of a region. Ph.D. thesis, Centre of Environmental Science, Leiden University: xxv + 353 pp.Google Scholar
van der Voet, E., Heijungs, R., Mulder, P., Huele, R., Kleijn, R. & van Oers, L. (1995 b) Substance flows through the economy and environment of a region – Part II: Modelling. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2: 137–44.Google Scholar
van der Voet, E., Kleijn, R. & Udo de Haes, H.A. (1996) Nitrogen pollution in the European Union ‐ origins and proposed solutions. Environmental Conservation 23(2): 120–32.Google Scholar
van der Voet, E., Kleijn, R., van Oers, L., Heijungs, R., Huele, R. & Mulder, P. (1995 a) Substance flows through the economy and environment of a region – Part I: Systems definition. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2: 89–96.Google Scholar
van Oers, L., van der Voet, E., Mulder, P., Huele, R. & Kleijn, E.G.M. (1995) Manual SFINX 2.1. Unpublished report, Centre of Environmental Science, Leiden University: 44 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar