Instruments and measures for nitrogen reduction

In science, the disturbed natural nitrogen cycle, with all its consequences, in particular the loss of biodiversity, is considered to be as significant as global climate change, but more advanced. The emissions come as nitrogen oxides from industry, from the combustion of fossil fuels (electricity, heating and transport) and as ammonia and nitrous oxide (laughing gas) from agriculture. While emissions of nitrogen oxides have been falling for years, and climate protection measures are expected to reduce them even more significantly in the medium term, ammonia emissions in particular have continued to rise and are currently stagnating. 95 % of ammonia emissions originate from agriculture and constitute the most important material flow of nitrogen emissions in Baden-Württemberg. In addition, the current legal framework does not adequately regulate ammonia emissions from agriculture. Against this background, the focus of this research report is on ammonia from agriculture. Already in the early 1980s, global ammonia production far exceeded the planetary boundaries, which among other things endangers nitrogen-sensitive habitats and species and can lead to their destruction as inputs progress. In order to protect FFH areas and natural species communities in Baden-Württemberg, a significant reduction of the nitrogen surplus in Baden-Württemberg to at least 50 kg N/ha agricultural land per year is necessary. This reduction leads to further positive impacts on other environmental problems (biodiversity and climate protection), as nitrogen is a net-worked problem. Long-term and far-reaching measures, which can be described as a turnaround in agriculture and nutrition, must be taken to achieve these goals. Not only should the agricultural sector be considered, but also the nutritional behaviour of the population towards a stronger plant nutrition style. Nevertheless, short and medium-term technical and agricultural measures can and should be taken to reduce local nitrogen surpluses. Since these objectives and measures cannot be achieved within the existing legal framework, they need to be changed. In particular, the introduction of a nitrogen law should be mentioned here, in which binding reduction targets are laid down for the medium term (until 2030) and long term (until 2050) for the total input of reactive nitrogen. The reduction targets should be set for each individual sector according to its contribution. In order to increase the acceptance of the aforementioned measures and instruments, it is urgently necessary to improve the awareness of problems and actions through communication and education and to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed measures through implementation options.