3 results
4 - Nitrogen in current European policies
- from Part I - Nitrogen in Europe: the present position
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- By Oene Oenema, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Albert Bleeker, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, Nils Axel Braathen, OECD, France, Michaela Budňáková, Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, Keith Bull, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Lancaster Environment Centre, Pavel Čermák, Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture, Markus Geupel, Federal Environment Agency, Germany, Kevin Hicks, University of York, Robert Hoft, Convention on Biological Diversity, Natalia Kozlova, North-West Research Institute, Adrian Leip, European Commission Joint Research Centre, Till Spranger, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Laura Valli, CRPA, Italy, Gerard Velthof, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wilfried Winiwarter, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
- Edited by Mark A. Sutton, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Clare M. Howard, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Jan Willem Erisman, Gilles Billen, Albert Bleeker, Peringe Grennfelt, Hans van Grinsven, Bruna Grizzetti
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- Book:
- The European Nitrogen Assessment
- Published online:
- 16 May 2011
- Print publication:
- 14 April 2011, pp 62-81
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Summary
Executive summary
Nature of the problem
Europe, and especially the European Union (EU), has many governmental policy measures aimed at decreasing unwanted reactive nitrogen (Nr) emissions from combustion, agriculture and urban wastes. Many of these policy measures have an ‘effects-based approach’, and focus on single Nr compounds, single sectors and either on air or waters.
This chapter addresses the origin, objectives and targets of EU policy measures related to Nr emissions, considers which instruments are being used to implement the policies and briefly discusses the effects of the policy measures.
Approaches
The chapter starts with a brief description of the basic elements of governmental policy measures.
A review of the main international conventions and EU policies related to emissions of Nr to air and water is then provided.
Finally the chapter provides a semi-quantitative assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of European policy measures.
Key findings/state of knowledge
International conventions and other treaties have played a key role in raising awareness and establishing policy measures for Nr emissions abatement in EU through so-called Directives and Regulations.
There are many different EU Directives, often addressing individual Nr compounds from individual sectors (e.g. NOx emissions from combustion; NH3 emissions from agriculture, pollution of groundwater and surface water by nitrates from agriculture, discharge of total nitrogen from urban sewage to surface waters).
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21 - Nitrogen as a threat to European soil quality
- from Part IV - Managing nitrogen in relation to key societal threats
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- By Gerard Velthof, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Sébastien Barot, IRD-Bioemco, Jaap Bloem, Alterra Wageningen University and Research Centre, Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Wim de Vries, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Johannes Kros, Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Patrick Lavelle, INRA, Colombia, Jørgen Eivind Olesen, Aarhus University Department of Agroecology and Environment, Oene Oenema, Wageningen University and Research Centre
- Edited by Mark A. Sutton, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Clare M. Howard, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Jan Willem Erisman, Gilles Billen, Albert Bleeker, Peringe Grennfelt, Hans van Grinsven, Bruna Grizzetti
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- Book:
- The European Nitrogen Assessment
- Published online:
- 16 May 2011
- Print publication:
- 14 April 2011, pp 495-510
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Summary
Executive summary
Nature of the problem
A large part of agricultural soils in Europe are exposed to high N inputs because of animal manure and chemical fertiliser use. Large parts of the European natural soils are exposed to high atmospheric N deposition.
High N inputs threaten soil quality, which may negatively affect food and biomass production and biodiversity and enhance emissions of harmful N compounds from soils to water and the atmosphere.
Approaches
An overview of the major soil functions and soil threats are presented, including a description of the objectives of the European Soil Strategy.
The major N threats on soil quality for both agricultural and natural soils are related to changes in soil organic content and quality, soil acidification, and loss of soil diversity. These threats are described using literature.
Key findings/state of knowledge
Generally, N has a positive effect on soil quality of agricultural soils, because it enhances soil fertility and conditions for crop growth. However, it generally has a negative effect on soil quality of natural soils, because it results in changes in plant diversity.
Soil acts as a filter and buffer for N, and protects water and atmosphere against N pollution. However, the filter and buffer capacity of soils is frequently exceeded by excess of N in both agricultural and natural soils, which results in emission of N to the environment.
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22 - Costs and benefits of nitrogen in the environment
- from Part V - European nitrogen policies and future challenges
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- By Corjan Brink, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, Hans van Grinsven, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, Brian H. Jacobsen, University of Copenhagen, Ari Rabl, ARMINES/Ecoles des Mines de Paris, Ing-Marie Gren, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Mike Holland, University of Reading, Zbigniew Klimont, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Kevin Hicks, University of York, Roy Brouwer, VU University Amsterdam, Roald Dickens, Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Jaap Willems, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, Mette Termansen, University of Aarhus, Gerard Velthof, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Rob Alkemade, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, Mark van Oorschot, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, Jim Webb, AEA Energy and Environment
- Edited by Mark A. Sutton, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Clare M. Howard, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Jan Willem Erisman, Gilles Billen, Albert Bleeker, Peringe Grennfelt, Hans van Grinsven, Bruna Grizzetti
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- Book:
- The European Nitrogen Assessment
- Published online:
- 16 May 2011
- Print publication:
- 14 April 2011, pp 513-540
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Summary
Executive summary
Nature of the problem
Single issue policies have been an effective means of reducing reactive nitrogen (Nr) emissions in the EU, but to make further reductions more-integrated approaches are required.
Approaches
This chapter shows how cost–benefit analysis (CBA) can provide guidance for the setting of new policy priorities for the abatement of the European Nr emissions from an integrated perspective.
Data on costs and benefits of Nr-abatement, including four national and regional case studies, are reviewed and made comparable by expression in euro per kg of added Nr (agriculture) or euro per kg of reduced Nr emission (unit cost approach).
Social cost estimates are based on Willingness to Pay (WTP) for human life or health, for ecosystem services and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction.
Key findings
The total annual Nr-related damage in EU27 ranges between 70 and 320 billion Euro, equivalent to 150–750 euro/capita, of which about 75% is related to health damage and air pollution. This damage cost constitutes 1%–4% of the average European income.
Inferred social costs of health impacts from NOx are highest (10–30 euro per kg of pollutant-Nr emission). Health costs from secondary ammonium particles (2–20 euro/kg N), from GHG balance effects of N2O (5–15 euro/kg N), from ecosystem impacts via N-runoff (5–20 euro/kg N) and by N-deposition (2–10 euro/kg N) are intermediate. Costs of health impacts from NO3 in drinking water (0–4 euro/kg N) and by N2O via stratospheric ozone depletion (1–3 euro/kg N) are estimated to be low.
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