ºÝºÝߣ

ºÝºÝߣShare a Scribd company logo

Abstract

•
•
Katie Wilhelm
Katie Wilhelm

This document compares nitrogen-related agricultural policies in the United States and European Union. It aims to understand how these policies are established and implemented in each region, and determine the impacts. Key policies evaluated include the Clean Air and Water Acts and Environmental Quality Incentives Program in the US, and MINAS and Sweden's NOx Tax in the EU. Analysis of secondary data found that nitrogen use slightly increased in the US but decreased in the EU between 1985-2013. Ammonia emissions decreased in both regions, while nitrous oxide emissions decreased in the EU but results were undetermined for the US.

1 of 1
Download to read offline
Nitrogen-related policies: A comparison between the United States and the EuropeanUnion Katrina M. Wilhelm Abstract Agricultural policy has been a common fixture in both the United States and the European Union for a large majority of the past century; to some extent environmental objectives have been attached to this through conservation efforts beginning in the 1930s and 1950s in the US and Europe, respectively. It is, however, only since the mid-1980s that distinct policies dedicated entirely to agri-environmental endeavors have become abundant. This investigation is based on two objectives: 1) Develop an understanding of how nitrogen-related policies are established and implemented in the United States and the European Union, specifically with regards to the agriculture sector in both regions; 2) Determine what, if any, impacts have resulted from the implementation of nitrogen-related policies in these regions. In an effort to achieve these objectives, severalprime examples of nitrogen-related policies in each region are evaluated, including the Clean Air and Water Acts and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program in the United States, along with MINAS and Sweden’s NOx Tax in the European Union. In addition to the results of these policies, independent results are established using secondary data to evaluate nitrogen usage trends, as well as ammonia and nitrous oxide trends in the US and EU between 1985 and 2013. It can be determined that the US has a slightly upward nitrogen use trend and the EU has a slight decrease in usage. Furthermore, ammonia emissions decrease in both regions during the period, whereas nitrous oxide emissions decrease in the EU and have undetermined results in the US. Keywords: agri-environmental policies, nitrogen policies, policy instruments, United States, European Union, ammonia, nitrous oxide

More Related Content

Abstract

  • 1. Nitrogen-related policies: A comparison between the United States and the EuropeanUnion Katrina M. Wilhelm Abstract Agricultural policy has been a common fixture in both the United States and the European Union for a large majority of the past century; to some extent environmental objectives have been attached to this through conservation efforts beginning in the 1930s and 1950s in the US and Europe, respectively. It is, however, only since the mid-1980s that distinct policies dedicated entirely to agri-environmental endeavors have become abundant. This investigation is based on two objectives: 1) Develop an understanding of how nitrogen-related policies are established and implemented in the United States and the European Union, specifically with regards to the agriculture sector in both regions; 2) Determine what, if any, impacts have resulted from the implementation of nitrogen-related policies in these regions. In an effort to achieve these objectives, severalprime examples of nitrogen-related policies in each region are evaluated, including the Clean Air and Water Acts and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program in the United States, along with MINAS and Sweden’s NOx Tax in the European Union. In addition to the results of these policies, independent results are established using secondary data to evaluate nitrogen usage trends, as well as ammonia and nitrous oxide trends in the US and EU between 1985 and 2013. It can be determined that the US has a slightly upward nitrogen use trend and the EU has a slight decrease in usage. Furthermore, ammonia emissions decrease in both regions during the period, whereas nitrous oxide emissions decrease in the EU and have undetermined results in the US. Keywords: agri-environmental policies, nitrogen policies, policy instruments, United States, European Union, ammonia, nitrous oxide