Since it is such a common element in nature, until recently, nitrogen was ignored as being a pollutant. Nitrogen is a natural part of the ecosystem and helps to increase the rate of plant growth. Because of this benefit, nitrogen has been used frequently, during the last decades, as an agriculture fertilizer. However, there are negative effects brought on by nitrogen that many people aren’t aware of.

Agricultural fertilizers and burning fuels are sources of nitrogen pollution. These occurances involve the predominance of nitrogen in the atmosphere which lead to the greenhouse effect, pollution of waters and soil, and to breathing and heart problems for living creatures. Calculating the impact on health, by respiratory problems, asthma and cancer; the nitrogen pollution reduces life expectancy of any European by six months.

Accordingly to a recent study on European Nitrogen Assessment, in Europe each person pays between £130 and £650 per year for the cost of nitrogen pollution, while on average, the total amount rises to €70bn-€320bn: costs of pollution on air, soil, water, increased greenhouse gases and damage to wildlife.

BBC News announced that 80 percent of the nitrogen in crops feeds livestock, not people. Meat consume is heavily increasing the nitrogen pollution, especially in Europe. Dr. Mark Sutton, from UK’s Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, one of the leaders of the study, according to the Telegraph: “Amazingly, livestock consume around 85 per cent of the 14 million tones of nitrogen in crops harvested or imported into the EU; only 15 per cent is used to feed humans directly.

European nitrogen use is therefore not primarily an issue of food security, but one of luxury consumption”. The advice is not to become all vegetarians, but at least to try a “demitarian” regime, to try a reduction of meat consumption. Other advice, to lesson the negative impacts seen by nitrogen, are being shared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The Department said, in order to improve soil-management practices, using conservation-tillage, crop rotation, and cover crops as wheat, rye and other grasses will be neccessary. Among agricultural strategies through methods as “precision farming” (fertilizers calculated with precision for each surface), manure recycling, genetically modified crops (which absorb nitrogen from air), governments should adhere to a new set of policies, at least in Europe, said professor Bob Watson, Chief scientist at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Even though European Union statistics shows that the emission of nitrogen decreased from 13.84 million tones in 1997 to 10.94 in 2007, improvements are still required. “There have been and still are many attempts to control nitrogen but we believe the big challenge is to link existing policy areas and make them work together.” stated Sutton.

However solutions reside also in the hands of individuals by cutting down meat consumption, and choosing a responsible industrial and agricultural business.

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In February this year Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that her government would begin to put into place a tax on carbon.

This caused controversy in the media and in the court of public opinion, as during her 2010 election campaign Ms Gillard stated on air that there would be tax on carbon if she and the Labor party were elected.

The new tax will be placed on large businesses that are polluting with the most carbon, but Ms Gillard acknowledged on ABC television show Q&A that there would be some cost of living increases as a trickle down from the tax on business.

During the launch of the carbon tax she made clear that price impacts would be felt, particularly in areas which generate a lot of carbon, encouraging them to lower emissions.

“Now as a Labor Government, when we price carbon we will ensure that the carbon price is fair, that it is a fair system.

“Every cent raised from pricing carbon will go to assisting households, helping businesses manage the transition and funding climate change climate change programs, and the Government will always support those who are in need of assistance with cost of living pressures,” Ms Gillard said.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott called for a revolution after Ms Gillard announced the tax.

He and others critical of the scheme have drawn attention to Ms Gillard’s statements before the election saying unequivocally there would be no carbon tax.

In various media interviews Ms Gillard has come under extreme pressure for her new proposal.

Quote from Alan Jones radio program on 2UE in Sydney:

HOST: … they (the electorate) wouldn’t be as angry as they are today were it not for the fact that you said there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead. You said I rule out a carbon tax and Wayne Swan, your deputy, I just want to, so that you understand, Wayne Swan said this, your deputy:

Wayne Swan on Audio Clip: No, it’s not possible that we’re bringing in a carbon tax. That is a hysterically inaccurate claim being made by the Coalition.

The Coalition in Opposition have also been hugely vocal in their disapproval of the carbon tax proposed by Ms Gillard.

Senator Eric Abetz, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate said that a carbon tax will destroy jobs as well as increasing the cost of living and crippling Australia’s trade.

“The Australian people have every right to feel betrayed and outraged by Labor’s shameful deceit,” Senator Abetz said.

“Not only did Julia Gillard deceive the Australian public, it’s clear that in announcing her back flip under pressure from Labor’s Green Alliance partners, the Prime Minister didn’t seek approval from her own Labor colleagues.”

The Opposition have also said the carbon tax is another sign of the power of the Green party in the Labor government.

The 2010 election that placed Julia Gillard and Labor in power did not give Ms Gillard a large enough majority from the voters to have outright power in the Senate.

Ms Gillard formed a minority government with the Green party and several Independents.

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