However, it's more complicated than that. The problem is that the Dutch farmers have large cattle herds and they are a major beef producer for the E.U.. There is a lot of waste runoff into the local waterways. It's causing fish die-offs, algae blooms and other environmental problems.
Run off and pollution of waterways is a real environmental concern. The articles I have read are about 'nitrogen' causing climate change.
Guardian's article muddies the waters between water pollution and climate change and implies they are the same thing:
Livestock produce manure which, when mixed with urine, releases ammonia, a nitrogen compound. If it gets into lakes and streams via farm runoff, excessive nitrogen can damage sensitive natural habitats by, for example, encouraging algae blooms that deplete oxygen in surface waters.
The Netherlands has one of Europe’s largest livestock industries, with more than 100m million cattle, chickens and pigs. It is also the EU’s biggest meat exporter.
“We are a relatively small country with a lot of inhabitants, industry, transport and agriculture, so we are reaching the limits of what nature can take,” said Rudi Buis, a spokesperson for the agriculture ministry. “There is a high level of urgency for us to tackle the nitrogen compounds problem. This means that in the near future, choices must be made.”
But the idea of expropriation, or forced sale, due to the climate crisis, is politically controversial in a country where, six months after the general election, multiple parties are trying to form a minority government.
Run off and pollution of waterways is a real environmental concern. The articles I have read are about 'nitrogen' causing climate change.
Guardian's article muddies the waters between water pollution and climate change and implies they are the same thing:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/09/netherlands-proposes-radical-plans-to-cut-livestock-numbers-by-almost-a-third