Towards an integrated nitrogen strategy for Germany

Markus Salomon, Elisabeth Schmid, Annette Volkens, Christian Hey, Karin Holm-Müller and Heidi Foth

Environmental Science & Policy, 2016, vol. 55, issue P1, 158-166

Abstract: The release of reactive nitrogen compounds into the atmosphere, soil and water belongs to one of the biggest environmental challenges in Germany. Consequences are the loss of biodiversity due to eutrophication and acidification of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, impaired groundwater quality and impacts on human health. Responsible for the emissions of reactive nitrogen compounds are primarily agricultural activities and combustion processes. A number of European environmental targets and objectives in the context of nitrogen are clearly being missed. It is urgently necessary to increase the efforts to reduce nitrogen emissions and to protect biodiversity and human health. Important processes are a further development of European clean air policies and the implementation of the European Nitrate Directive and Water Framework Directive in Germany. A national nitrogen strategy could be a good starting point to increase efforts to solve the nitrogen problem and for a better integration of existing protection policies.

Keywords: Nitrogen; Nitrate; Nitrogen oxides; Ammonia; Nitrous oxide; Eutrophication; Water Framework Directive; Integrated nitrogen strategy; Nitrate Directive; NEC Directive (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:enscpo:v:55:y:2016:i:p1:p:158-166

DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2015.10.003

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