The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee has launched an inquiry into efficient nitrogen use and management in relation to sectors including agriculture, combustion, wastewater treatment and food waste.
The main aims of the inquiry are to:
- highlight and explore opportunities for capture and reuse of existing reactive nitrogen within sectors to reduce waste;
- understand barriers to sustainable nitrogen management approaches within sectors;
- review changes to the nitrogen cycle and its balance over time and associated challenges;
- understand the gaps in current policy and the effectiveness of regulation in addressing nitrogen pollution;
- understand how Government departments and associated agencies coordinate efforts on nitrogen management and whether this could be done more effectively.
The Committee is seeking evidence from members of the public, industry experts, campaigners, academics and other stakeholders in the following topic areas:
- the main sources of nitrogen pollution in the UK and the solutions and technologies available to increase nitrogen reuse;
- the ecological, public health and economic impacts of nitrogen pollution;
- government policy and regulation;
- examples of best practice relating to monitoring, regulation or management of nitrogen.
Baroness Sheehan, Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee said:
“Nitrogen is an essential element for the abundance of life on earth, the fertility and health of the planet as well as plant and human well-being.
“However, it is very clear that too much reactive nitrogen causes pollution and has significant environmental and public health impacts: on water quality, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, ecosystem health and biodiversity, and soil quality. It is also clear that existing measures to curb nitrogen pollution fall short in managing it effectively.
“The committee wants to hear from individuals and organisations impacted by nitrogen pollution; it will consider how Government and those involved in practices involving the use of and removal from the environment of nitrogen compounds could take a more holistic, strategic approach to nitrogen management, it will also consider how existing Government policy on nitrogen is coordinated across departments and whether it is fit for purpose.”
The complete list of questions, plus details how to submit evidence by the deadline of Friday 7 March 2025, is on the Committee’s website.
The inquiry’s first evidence session will take place on Wednesday 5 February and explore the nitrogen cycle and gaps in existing policy with:
- Dr Ulli Dragosits
Group Leader for Emission Sources, Sinks and Solutions at UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology - Professor Kevin Hicks
Senior Research Fellow at Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York - David Baldock
Senior Fellow at Institute for European Environmental Policy, UK
The session will start at 10am in Committee Room 3, Palace of Westminster and can be followed live or afterwards on Parliament TV.
