In June 2025, the Ministerial Committee on Economy and Nature Restoration (MCEN) asked a knowledge consortium consisting of PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency), RIVM, Deltares, and Wageningen UR Wageningen University and Research (Wageningen University and Research) to reflect on a draft measures package. The aim of the proposed measures is to restart the permitting for nitrogen deposition and nature restoration, thus “unlocking the Netherlands.” On July 1, 2025, PBL director Marko Hekkert presented the findings of the knowledge consortium in the MCEN.  

PBL published the presentation and a text with explanation this week. This text was prepared after the presentation on July 1 and was not literally spoken in the MCEN. Read more about the reflection of the knowledge consortium on the PBL website (external link) (opens in a new window). 

Publication of Knowledge Notes RIVM 

As these documents are now public, RIVM is publishing two knowledge notes today that were used by the consortium to calculate the effects of the draft measures package of the MCEN on nitrogen deposition. Both knowledge notes were written at the request of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature)) as input for the appeal in the case of Greenpeace against the State. The results of both studies were used as input for the Ministerial Committee on Economy and Nature Restoration (MCEN). 

  • Consequences of the Greenpeace ruling for goal achievement
  • Magnitude of the coarse measures package effect  

Explanation of RIVM Knowledge Notes 

The Nitrogen Reduction and Nature Improvement Act (Wsn) sets legal targets for reducing nitrogen deposition on nitrogen-sensitive nature. In 2023, Greenpeace Netherlands sued the Dutch state and demanded that nature in the Netherlands be better protected against nitrogen. Greenpeace was partially granted in court earlier this year.  

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) wanted to know how much nitrogen deposition needs to decrease to achieve the targets following this ruling. Therefore, RIVM calculated the effect of various measures and scenarios at the request of the ministry. Some of these calculations were also used for the reflection on the draft measures of the MCEN. 

Additional emission reduction needed 

RIVM calculated how much the total emissions of ammonia and nitrogen oxides (regardless of location or sector) need to decrease to achieve the KDW targets. For this, an additional reduction of 38 percent is needed by 2030 compared to the emissions expected based on current and proposed policies. Compared to the emissions in 2023, this is a reduction of 46 percent for ammonia and 50 percent for nitrogen oxides. 

Effect of the coarse measures package insufficient 

The effect of the so-called coarse measures package was also calculated. This includes a general decrease in nitrogen emissions for agriculture, industry, and mobility. For agriculture, the effect of a large additional decrease in the area up to 500 meters around Natura 2000 areas with (very) urgent nature was also examined. This coarse measures package proves insufficient to achieve the KDW targets.