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The Dutch government on Friday announced far-reaching plans to slash nitrogen emissions in parts of the lowlands country, setting it on a collision course with farmers who oppose the move.
Nitrogen discharges will have to be cut as much as 70 percent in 131 key areas -- many of them close to nature reserves and protected land -- if the Netherlands want to reach climate goals by 2030, government ministers said.
"The ultimate goal is a vital rural area with a healthy nature," said Christianne van der Wal, the Dutch minister charged with nature and nitrogen issues.
"That is why this radical but necessary transition of the rural area must happen," she said in a statement.
"For farmers this means that emissions will have to drop by 40 percent. This means around 30 percent less cattle," the NOS public broadcaster said.
The Netherlands is one of the highest emitters of greenhouse gasses in Europe -- especially nitrogen -- and much of this is blamed on cattle herds roaming the land.
The small, densely populated country of 17.5 million people is also densely populated with animals: nearly four million cattle, 12 million pigs and 100 million chickens.
The Netherlands is also the world's second biggest agricultural exporter after the United States, but agriculture is responsible for 16 percent of the Netherlands' greenhouse gas emissions -- particularly through manure and fertiliser.
"We realise that this will have an enormous impact on farmers," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Friday.
"This sector will change, but unfortunately there's no choice, we have to bring down nitrogen emissions," Rutte told journalists at his weekly press conference.
The country's 12 provinces have now been tasked to come up with suggestions by next year to reduce emissions by livestock, construction and traffic.
Government has set aside 24.3 billion euros ($25.5 billion) to help solve the problem including giving financial aid to farmers.
The government's announcement comes in the wake of a 2019 ruling by the country's highest administrative court, saying the Netherlands was not doing enough to protect its natural areas.
But government is headed for a showdown with farmers, many of whom fear they may now lose businesses built up over generations.
"Everything is being done to chase farmers from the Netherlands as quickly as possible," said Bart Kamp of the farmers' support group Agractie told the NOS, saying demonstrations were being planned.
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