POTENTIAL FOR MITIGATION OF EMISSIONS OF NITROUS-OXIDE (N2O) FROM THENETHERLANDS (1980-2015)

This paper presents emissions estimates of nitrous oxide (N2O) from Th e Netherlands (1980-2015), investigates technical mitigation options a nd compares results to possible goals. Projections based on reference policies result in increasing emissions: by 2000, 2010, and 2015 Dutch N2O emissions will exceed the 1990 level by 1%, 6% and 10%, respectiv ely. This is a net effect of decreasing agricultural and ''other'' emi ssions, and increasing emissions from energy, industry, and waste. In particular, emissions from transport increase due to introduction of 3 -way catalytic converters. The results indicate that implementation of National Environmental Policy Plan 2 (NEPP-2) will not result in stab ilization of emissions at the 1990 level after 2000. Additional polici es are calculated to reduce Dutch emissions to about 25% below the 199 0 level, most of which results from catalytic N2O reduction in industr ial nitric acid production. A much further reduction, in line with lon g-term policy targets, would require new technologies, or reductions i n energy use, transportation, and fertilizer use.