For the purpose of this project, we have delivered a database of over 300 mitigation measures from the Nordic countries and beyond, to use to mitigate emissions of CH4, NH3 and Nr from the agricultural sector. While some measures may be documented multiple times, the database incorporates a classification function called measure type to address these repetitions. This category effectively distinguishes unique and similar measures. In total approximately 160 measure types were identified. Moreover, we have also mapped and created a database of the Nordic countries national and international commitments and obligations to reduce emissions from the agricultural sector.
The mitigation measures database provided by this project is a useful resource for Nordic policy makers at the national, regional, and local levels. It helps to prioritise and identify measures that can reduce air pollution and address climate change, by themselves or collectively. It presents a thorough analysis of the efficacy of the various measures as well as a collective picture of the possible impacts each measure may have on NH3, CH4 and other forms of Nr.
This project has identified 17 measure types that can be classified as integrated measures to reduce the effects on air pollution and climate change from the agricultural sector in the Nordic countries. The results show that most integrated measures mainly are related to manure/fertiliser application to soils. One of the main conclusions of this report is that measures to reduce manure/fertiliser application can have positive impact for emission reduction for at least two of the pollutants. The potential can be large. However, it is important to recognise that emissions from biological processes can vary significantly between the Nordic countries and locally, influenced by factors such as climate, soil type, and agricultural practices
Naturally uncertain, the scenarios used for estimating potentials suggests that by 2040 combined NH₃ measures can reduce emissions with some 25 percent, to a cost around 6 €/kg NH3. The same combination of measures would also reduce agricultural CH4 emissions. The findings of this project underscore the critical role that integrated measures targeting manure and fertiliser application can play in mitigating both air pollution and climate change within the Nordic agricultural sector.
The identification of 17 integrated measures highlights a focused approach to address environmental challenges through integrated measures. The key conclusion drawn is that reducing emissions from manure and fertiliser application can significantly decrease at least two environmental problems, air quality and climate change. By refining application practices, such as adopting precision farming techniques and incorporating manure promptly into the soil, the project demonstrates that it is possible to achieve dual benefits: enhancing air quality and contributing to climate change mitigation. These measures not only help in reducing harmful emissions, but also offer ancillary advantages, such as improved soil health and increased agricultural productivity.
Effective implementation of these measures will require coordinated efforts among policymakers, farmers, and stakeholders to develop supportive frameworks, provide necessary incentives, and promote best practices. With targeted interventions and continued innovation in nutrient management, Nordic countries can advance towards a more sustainable agricultural sector, realising both environmental and economic gains.
The report also highlights the importance of supporting farmers through targeted policies and incentives to adopt these integrated measures. This can include financial subsidies for purchasing advanced technologies, educational programs on best practices, and regulatory frameworks that promote sustainable agricultural practices.
A potential barrier for the implementation of these measures could be organisation of ministerial areas, where agriculture, environment and climate are rarely under the same ministerial area. This will not mean that effective measures cannot be implemented but can lead to a suboptimal prioritisation when measures are implemented to address a single problem like water pollution, emissions to air, or climate, and the co-benefits of measures might not be fully realised. We argue that a common platform for between ministerial areas is an important aspect to foster measures that are addressing both air, climate, and other aspects such as food security. All countries already have many policy measures in place which addresses N and P emissions, but not so many directly targeted at reducing climate gas emissions. Both information to the farmers, direct environmental regulation, pricing instruments (carbon tax) and financing instruments (e.g. targeted use of the CAP and national subsidies to promote integrated measures) could be needed to address both air and climate pollution from the agricultural sector and to ensure that all relevant benefits are maximised.
For example, integrating policy efforts could facilitate a more holistic approach, where addressing water pollution and air quality could simultaneously support climate objectives and improve food security. By fostering coordination among different ministerial areas, it becomes possible to design and implement policies that are mutually reinforcing rather than competing. Such a platform could enable better alignment of strategies and resources, helping to identify synergies and trade-offs between different environmental and agricultural goals. It could also facilitate the sharing of best practices and innovative solutions that address multiple issues simultaneously.
For instance, practices that enhance soil health and reduce nutrient runoff can also contribute to lower greenhouse gas emissions and improved resilience to climate change. Furthermore, the implementation of integrated measures would benefit from a streamlined approach to monitoring and evaluation. Consistent and comprehensive data collection across different domains could provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of integrated policies and help refine strategies over time.
In addition, involving stakeholders from various sectors – such as farmers, environmental organisations, and industry representatives – in the development of these policies can ensure that diverse perspectives are considered and that measures are practical and effective. Engaging in collaborative policymaking can also help build broad support and facilitate smoother implementation. Ultimately, creating a common platform for coordination among ministerial areas can lead to more coherent and impactful policies, driving progress towards a sustainable and resilient agricultural sector that balances environmental protection, climate action, and food security. It is positive that agricultural advice is starting to include both Nr and climate. It is, however, not common on farm level to have plans and bookkeeping relating to climate gases, which will be important for planning of farm level measures. However, there are an increasing interest and an increasing number of farmers that are now doing climate calculations by using different tools provided by different initiative, for example the Greppa Näringen and Arla Food initiatives.
5.1 Future recommendations
Based on the conclusions of the project, Nordic countries should continue to focus on the implementation of integrated measures that target both air pollution and climate change, particularly through improving manure and fertiliser application practices. These measures have the potential to significantly reduce emissions of NH3 and CH4, contributing to better air quality and climate change mitigation, while also enhancing soil health and agricultural productivity. Continued innovation in precision farming and prompt manure incorporation should remain a priority, as they offer dual environmental and economic benefits.
To further support these goals, it is important that Nordic countries enhance their policy frameworks to promote the adoption of these integrated measures. This includes providing financial incentives, such as subsidies for advanced technologies, and creating educational programs that inform farmers about best practices in nutrient management. Additionally, regulatory frameworks should be refined to encourage sustainable agricultural practices that address both nitrogen Nr and greenhouse gas emissions.
Another key recommendation is to address the current organisational challenges within governmental structures. Agriculture, environment, and climate issues are often handled by separate ministries, which can lead to fragmented and suboptimal policy implementation. Nordic countries should work on creating a common platform that fosters coordination among these ministerial areas, enabling the design of policies that address multiple environmental and agricultural goals simultaneously. Such integration would help maximise the co-benefits of measures aimed at air quality, climate, water pollution, and food security.
The Nordic countries should also focus on developing streamlined monitoring, reporting, verification and evaluation systems that can consistently track the effectiveness of integrated measures. Comprehensive data collection across domains will allow for better insights into the outcomes of policies and help refine strategies over time.
Finally, Nordic countries should promote and create farm-level climate gas measuring, accounting and planning, encouraging farmers to track and plan their emissions reductions, thus contributing to the overall success of integrated measures aimed at both environmental and economic sustainability.
Based on the study, we recommend continuing working with the following aspects of integrated measures of air quality and climate change in the Nordic countries:
to continue to work, nationally and internationally, with reducing emissions from the agricultural sector to protect the environment and human health,
to target measures that have an integrated effect on air pollution and climate change, while avoiding the measures that have a negative impact on climate or air pollution,
to promote and share knowledge of the adoption of integrated measures targeting manure and fertiliser application to reduce NH3, Nr and CH4 emissions,
to continue the development of multi pollutant-multi effect decision support modelling. As can be seen in
table 4, there are several measures identified in the literature as affecting several pollutants, but this effect is not included in important models yet. Further model development focusing on including multipollutant effect of emission control measures would assist decision makers through more complete decision support,
to support innovation in precision farming techniques and prompt manure incorporation to achieve dual benefits for air quality and climate change mitigation,
to enhance policy frameworks by providing financial incentives (subsidies, CAP funding) and educational programs to encourage farmers to adopt sustainable practices and pro-environmental technologies,
to foster coordination among agriculture, environment, and climate ministries to create a common platform that facilitates holistic policymaking and maximises co-benefits. An inter-ministerial task force to set the terms of references for this type of coordination should be the first step,
to improve monitoring and evaluation systems to track the effectiveness of integrated measures, ensuring data consistency across different sectors,
to engage a wide range of stakeholders (farmers, environmental organisations, industry) in collaborative policymaking to ensure practical and widely supported solutions, and
to promote farm-level climate gas accounting and planning to enhance the effectiveness of mitigation strategies at the local level.