Evaluation of the reduction of greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions under Focus Area 5D in the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 of North Rhine Westphalia, Germany

The report examined the contributions of measures under ‘Focus Area 5D’ (Reduction of greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from agriculture) in supporting the North Rhine-Westphalia region climate protection targets. Measures primarily centred on emission reductions were environmentally and climate-friendly, manure management (M4.4) and distribution (M4.12), while secondary effects stemmed from agri-environmental and climate protection measures (M10.1) and organic farming (M10.3).

Using data analysis and emission reduction calculations, the study indicated a reduction of 125 kilotonnes of CO2-eq, representing 1.6% of the sector's total output. The reduction of ammonia by projects in Focus Area 5D was approximately 1 805 tonnes of ammonia, marking a 2.3% decrease. The evaluation concludes that Germany needs to refine its funding towards the most effective technologies to reduce its emissions in line with national ambitions.

Rural Development Programme: DE -North Rhine-Westphalia

Programming period: 2014 – 2022

Original publication date: 2020