European Perspective on Integrated Management of Reactive Nitrogen Jan Willem Erisman, ECN, The Netherlands www.ecn.nl
Summary • Negative environmental impacts have been observed • Effects translated into effect parameters (indicators) and set long- term targets for sustainability • Indicators used for risk assessment through Integrated Assessment Modelling, Best Available Techniques and cost- benefit analysis • Aim: limit exceedance of limits against lowest cost through targeted policies and measures • Losses to air and water decreased • Up till now: focus on water and air separate • Future: TFRN will aim for integrative approach 2 20-10-2008
Outline of presentation • N in Europe: the issues • N policies and their success • A proposal for integrated nitrogen approach • Comparison between the US and Europe • Conclusions 3 20-10-2008
Erisman et al., 2008 100 years (and 1 week) Haber Process 20-10-2008 4
Trends in human population and nitrogen use world population 7000 50 fertilizer input, meat production 6000 World population (millions) world population (no Haber Bosch % world population, 40 5000 N) % world population 4000 fed by Haber 30 Bosch N 3000 average fertilizer 20 input (kg N / ha 2000 /year) 10 meat production 1000 (kg / person / year) 0 0 1900 1950 2000 5 20-10-2008
Past and future global N fertilizer consumption 1900-2100 efficiency increase efficiency increase 250 250 diet optimization diet optimization A1 – technol / global A1 – technol / global biofuels biofuels A2 – technol / regional A2 – technol / regional food equity food equity 200 200 B1 – environm /global B1 – environm /global efficiency increase 250 population growth population growth diet optimization B2 – environm / regional B2 – environm / regional A1 – technol / global biofuels A2 – technol / regional food equity Tilman et al, 2001 Tilman et al, 2001 200 B1 – environm /global population growth B2 – environm / regional FAO, 2000 (baseline) FAO, 2000 (baseline) 150 150 Tilman et al, 2001 150 FAO, 2000 (baseline) FAO, 2000 (improved) FAO, 2000 (improved) Tg N Tg N FAO, 2000 (improved) Tg N 100 100 100 50 50 50 0 1900 1950 2000 2050 2100 A1 A2 B1 B2 0 0 1900 1900 1950 1950 2000 2000 2050 2050 2100 2100 A1 A1 A2 A2 B1 B1 B2 B2 We need a new invention that will change the world the coming 100 years Erisman et al. 2008 6 20-10-2008
Energy, transport and industry Fossil fuels/energy and nitrogen • NO x emissions from combustion • Fertilizer production • Globalisation through transport • Increased production through increased manpower • Biofuels/bioenergy will require more fertilizer use 7 20-10-2008
The reactive nitrogen formation and cascade Effects Sources Cascade through the environment 8 20-10-2008
www.ecn.nl Nitrogen policies in Europe
Changing insights on role of N in water and air • 1920s: N in water contribute to algal growth • 1940s: NO 3 in drinking water has toxic effects on babies • 1960s: N from sewage contribute to algal growth • 1970s: N from agriculture contribute to algal growth • 1980s: Managed pastures contribute to NO 3 leaching • 1972: United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm • 1980s: ‘das Waldsterben’ 10 20-10-2008
Policies on nitrogen in air Europe � 1979: UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) � 1988: NO X Protocol UNECE-CLRTAP � 1999: Gothenburg Protocol - 1984: EU Air Framework Directive (84/360/EEC), - 1989: EU Large Combustion Plant Directive 88/609 - 1996: EU Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (96/61/EC - 1999: EU Air Quality Directive (1999/30/EC) - 2000: EU National Emission Ceilings Directive (2001/81/EC) - 2005: EU Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution Barents Sea Barents Sea Kara Sea Kara Sea Artic Ocean Artic Ocean Canada Canada Iceland Iceland Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean Finland Finland United States of America North Sea North Sea Atlantic Atlantic Norway Norway Sweden Sweden Russian Federation Russian Federation of America - 1997: UNFCCC Kyoto Protocol Estonia Estonia Latvia Latvia Denmark Denmark Lithuania Lithuania Ireland Ireland Belarus Belarus United United Poland Poland Kingdom Kingdom Netherlands Netherlands Belgium Belgium Germany Germany Czech Rep.Ukraine Czech Rep.Ukraine Kaz Luxembourg Luxembourg Slovakia Slovakia Austria Austria France France Switzerland Switzerland Liechtenstein Liechtenstein Hungary Hungary Moldova Moldova Aral Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean Slovenia Slovenia Romania Romania Aral Croatia Croatia Sea Sea akh Azerbaijan Bosnia and Bosnia and Monaco Monaco Herzegovina Herzegovina Yugoslavia Serbia and Black Sea Black Sea Caspian Caspian Kyr Kyr Bulgaria Bulgaria Georgia Georgia Italy Italy F.Y.R.of F.Y.R.of Sea Sea Albania Albania Macedonia Macedonia Armenia Armenia sta Spain Spain Montenegro Greece Greece gyz gyz Portugal Portugal Turkey Turkey Malta Malta n sta sta Cyprus Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea Cyprus n n UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE 11 20-10-2008
Effect based approach based on ecosystem critical loads CLnut(N) percentile 5 Critical load : “the highest deposition of eq ha -1 a -1 < 200 (…) below which harmful effects in 200 - 400 400 - 700 ecosystem structure and function do 700 - 1000 1000 - 1500 > 1500 not occur according to present knowledge” = long-term ecosystem capacity against eutrophication, acidification, heavy metal effects used as sustainability indicators for policy guidance MNP/CCE 12 20-10-2008
Excess of critical loads for eutrophication 2000 2020 2020 Current legislation Max. feas. reductions Percentage of ecosystems area with nitrogen deposition above critical loads using grid-average deposition. Calculation for 1997 meteorology 13 20-10-2008
Policies on nitrogen in air in Europe: Industry and traffic: decreasing NO X emissions • Instruments: - Regulatory limits and standards - Regulatory ceilings (from flat-rates to critical loads) - Economic instruments (charges, subsidies) • Measures: - Best available techniques (BATs) - (Structural measures: changes in energy sources, transport) • Effects: - In EU-25 in 2006 a decrease in NO X emissions of ~34% relative 1980 - A further decrease needed of ~27% to reach 2010 ceilings - Side effects: increases in energy use, Source: EEA NH 3 , N 2 O, CO 2 emissions 14 20-10-2008
Policies on nitrogen in air in Europe: Agriculture: decreasing NH 3 emissions Other • Instruments: 4000 Waste 3500 - Permits for large pig and poultry ktonnes of NH 3 Agriculture 3000 operations Other Transport 2500 - Regulatory ceilings (based on Road Transport 2000 critical loads) 1500 Industry • Measures: 1000 Fugitive Emissions 500 - Best available techniques (BATs) Energy Industries 0 - (milk quota system, less fertilizer) 2010: CLRTAP Gothenburg Protocol, 1 Dec. 1999 0 2 4 6 8 0 • Effects: 9 9 9 9 9 0 2010 NECD Target 9 9 9 9 9 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 - In EU-15 in 2006 a decrease in NH 3 emissions of ~19% relative 1980 - A further decrease needed of ~2 - 30% to reach 2010/2020 ceilings - Side effects: increase in N 2 O emissions and NO 3 leaching 15 20-10-2008
Changes in NH 3 emissions Netherlands Denmark Finland Germany United Kingdom Liechtenstein ☺ � Belgium EU15 Greece Luxembourg Portugal Italy Sweden France Austria Norway Ireland Spain -60% -50% -40% -30% -20% -10% 0% 10% 20% 30% 1990 - 2001 1990 - 2010 NECD Target % change from 1990 to target (1999 & National Ceilings 2010) Source: EEA 16 20-10-2008
Policies on nitrogen in water Europe • 1972: Helsinki Convention / OSCOM / PARCOM • 1976: Mediterranean Action Plan • 1992: HELCOM /OSPAR Conventions :50% decrease in N and P loads • 1991: EU Urban waste water Directive • 1991: EU Nitrates Directive • 2000: EU Water Framework Directive • 2006: Groundwater Directive • 2007: Marine Strategy 17 20-10-2008
Policies on nitrogen in water in Europe: Urban waste: Decreasing N loading to surface waters • Instruments: - Regulations for collecting & treatment - Regulatory limits for discharges • Measures: - Collection of sewage - Treatment • Effects: - Decrease in N loading of surface waters by ~40% - Regional diverse 18 20-10-2008
Policies on nitrogen in water in Europe: Agriculture: Decreasing NO 3 leaching losses • Instruments: - Regulatory limits on the use of fertilizers and animal manure - Communicative instruments - Economic (through Cross compliance regulations) • Measures: - Codes of Good Agricultural Practices - Zoning, Nitrate Vulnerable Zones - Action Programs • Effects: - Decrease in fertilizer N use of ~5% - Changes in agricultural practices - Not much change in NO 3 concentrations yet 19 20-10-2008
Nitrate concentrations in some rivers Source: EEA 20 20-10-2008
Spatialised Gross Nitrogen Balance indicator National N surplus kgN/ha Source: EEA Spatialised gross nitrogen balance (average on 10 km grid), JRC 21 20-10-2008
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