The Netherlands is struggling to deal with nitrogen pollution
are accustomed to angry farmers paralysing traffic. In the Netherlands, which prides itself on consensual government, such agricultural aggression used to be rare. Yet over the past month Dutch farmers have turned stubborn. On October 1st and again on October 16th, thousands of them parked their tractors on The Hague’s main parade grounds, clamouring that proposed environmental regulations would put them out of business.
The source of the conflict is nitrogen pollution, which comes in two forms: nitric oxides , mainly from combustion engines, and ammonia, mostly from fertiliser and animal waste. These lead to smog, algae blooms and other problems. In May the Netherlands’ Council of State ruled that the government’s system for limiting such pollution was too lax for European law.Farmers, especially those with high-density cattle stalls, were thrown into chaos. They are not the only ones bellowing.
The group that has brought the Dutch construction and agriculture sectors to a standstill is a tiny non-profit, Mobilisation for the Environment , that operates on a shoestring budget with seven staff. In 2017 it went to the European Court of Justice to challenge a system which the Dutch had introduced two years earlier. Under the European Habitats Directive, allmembers must limit nitrogen pollution to protect a network of wildlife reserves known as Natura 2000.
Polls at first showed that the Dutch overwhelmingly sympathised with the farmers, and four provincial governments have backed down, abandoning the plans they had drawn up to meet the government’s new recommendation. On October 14th, though, the farmers crossed a line. In a protest in the provincial capital of Groningen, one drove a tractor through a barrier into a bicycle-jammed street, while another used his to smash open the doors of the provincial legislature.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
Mozambique's Nyusi retains power after sweeping victory in disputed pollMozambique's incumbent President Filipe Nyusi has won a landslide victory i...
Lire la suite »
Woods wins in Japan, ties Snead for PGA Tour record with 82nd victoryTiger Woods matched Sam Snead's record of 82 PGA Tour victories when he won...
Lire la suite »
Animal Cruelty Is Officially a Felony Crime in the US, and It's About Dang TimeAnimal cruelty is on its way to becoming a felony crime in the US. The House of Representatives unanimously passed the PACT Act — which stands for
Lire la suite »
Tiger Woods Ties All-Time PGA Tour Record with 82nd Career WinTiger Woods held off a challenge from Hideki Matsuyama to win the Zozo Championship and complete his 82nd career victory, tying Sam Snead’s record.
Lire la suite »