Plans lawmakers in the Netherlands have to reduce emissions are being met with intense opposition by farmers who say it'll force them to go out of work or kill their own livestock.
In a statement about its emission reduction targets—cutting nitrogen oxide and ammonia by 50 percent nationwide in the next eight years—the government was frank: "The honest message ... is that not all farmers can continue their business," reports ABC News.
The government says emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia, which livestock produce, must be drastically reduced close to nature areas that are part of a network of protected habitats for endangered plants and wildlife stretching across the 27-nation European Union. (ABC News)
The proposal leaves two options for farmers: shut down or change their current practices.
In response, some 40,000 farmers are protesting, blocking roads and supermarket distribution networks, leaving bales of hay in the streets, spraying government buildings with manure and leaving some on the street near the home of the minister leading the country's anti-pollution efforts.
Netherlands ????
— James Melville (@JamesMelville) July 4, 2022
The Dutch farmers have had enough.
They are spreading manure on government buildings and blocking the highways with tractors.pic.twitter.com/hnUTu6kaGJ
In their infinite wisdom, the govt of the #Netherlands wants to impose new climate goals of reducing #Nitrogen output by 2030, which will force #Farmers out of business
— ?? Sarwar ?? (@ferozwala) July 4, 2022
Holland had even appointed a new Minister for Nature & Nitrogen! The minister, Christianne van der Wal#Protest pic.twitter.com/iY6AqtcAH2
I wish protestors in the USA were as interesting in their tactics as the Dutch are.
— Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) July 5, 2022
Dutch farmers close the border between Holland and Germany with tons of manure to protest nitrogen cuts ??
Sound optional pic.twitter.com/CXqlUX5EWk
Dutch farmers are being treated appallingly by their political masters, being forced to kill their livestock and close their farms in order to 'slash emissions' (incl. ammonia in urine and faeces). Honestly, this is the sort of thing of which revolutions are made. https://t.co/XpmQnBHVt2
— Adrian Hilton (@Adrian_Hilton) June 30, 2022
This is the end path of climate change activism. Eventually everything has to be stopped, even our food supply. Dutch farmers are protesting new rules that will close farms and force them to kill off livestock to curb “emissions”. Godspeed to the farmers pic.twitter.com/aBXRiRqDIH
— Malcolm Roberts ???? (@MRobertsQLD) July 1, 2022
The Dutch Farmers are not messing around. Amazing. #Netherlands pic.twitter.com/H56HtLuygF
— Ryan Gerritsen???? (@ryangerritsen) July 4, 2022
???? The Dutch police are now using tear gas against the farmers on multiple locations across the country to get them to move. The Netherlands really is an illusion of a free country. pic.twitter.com/rdXU6zwoVu
— Eva Vlaardingerbroek (@EvaVlaar) July 4, 2022
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has pushed back against the protesters, arguing, "You can demonstrate, but in a civilized way."
He added: "So don't block highways, don't set off fireworks outside a minister's house and spread manure and … scare two children, and endanger families."