Briefing
The German Environmental Aid published a joint analysis on 3 November 2026 with University of Oxford and the Changing Markets Foundation, according to which the region of Weser-Ems in Lower Saxony is one of Europe’s hotspots for methane and ammonia emissions from agriculture. The study cites annual emissions in the region on a scale that makes ammonia, a precursor of secondary particulate matter, and methane, a potent though relatively short-lived greenhouse gas, particularly significant. According to DUH, around four fifths of methane emissions in Weser-Ems come from cattle farming; ammonia emissions are also generated mainly by housing livestock in barns and spreading manure.
The Federal Environment Agency confirms in its data collections that agriculture is the main source of ammonia emissions in Germany and that methane makes a substantial contribution to the sector’s greenhouse gas profile. Practical mitigation measures cited by experts include covering slurry stores, acidifying slurry, applying it close to the ground, and making technical improvements to livestock housing and storage. However, complementary funding programmes, binding inspections and clear transition periods are essential to ensure that farms can actually implement these measures.
DUH is calling for larger cattle farms to be brought more firmly within existing regulatory systems. Poultry and pig farms are often covered by the Europe-wide Industrial Emissions Directive, whereas cattle farming is often not covered. DUH proposes extending reporting requirements and limits to large cattle farms in the same way, so that reductions in ammonia and methane become mandatory.
Politically, the classification increases pressure at state and EU level: discussions are under way at EU level on revising the IED and introducing reporting requirements for agricultural emitters; at state and municipal level in Lower Saxony, the focus is on the practical implementation and monitoring of existing air quality and climate protection programmes. The findings now presented give authorities and policymakers a regional focus and a reason to assess and support targeted measures to reduce emissions from agriculture.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).