Cabinet sources have told broadcaster NOS that the current programme to tackle nitrogen-based pollution is being torn up, and that the 12 Du
Cabinet sources have told broadcaster NOS that the current programme to tackle nitrogen-based pollution is being torn up, and that the 12 Dutch provinces can call a halt on their efforts to comply. The plan, known by the acronym NPLG, passed responsibility for tackling excess nitrogen to the provinces, which would all draw up their own programmes to meet environmental targets. If one province managed to improve, that would allow it to issue new permits for housing, for example. The provinces have been working on the plans for two years and have called for the policy to continue, with more cash. But new farm minister Femke Wiersma, who represents the farmers’ party BBB, is highly critical of the current strategy and the new government has scrapped the €20 billion budget for the programme.
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So the provinces, largely controlled by the BBB, wanted the program to continue, but the BBB agriculture minister, cancelled it. The BBB has a total of 7/150 seats in parliament. Makes perfect sense.