Urgent Action Needed to Combat Rising Nitrous Oxide Emissions…

A new UN report warns that rising nitrous oxide emissions pose significant risks to climate stability, ozone recovery, and public health. The Global Nitrous Oxide Assessment urges immediate action to curb emissions, recognizing N₂O as a potent greenhouse gas and a major contributor to ozone depletion. Without intervention, achieving the 1.5°C goal becomes unfeasible. Effective strategies could reduce emissions by 40%, offering substantial environmental and health benefits.

A recently released United Nations report reveals that nitrous oxide (N₂O), a powerful greenhouse gas, is significantly accelerating climate change while also compromising the ozone layer. Launched during the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Global Nitrous Oxide Assessment by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) indicates that current N₂O emissions are rising at an alarming rate, necessitating immediate intervention to mitigate its harmful environmental and health effects. Nitrous oxide is estimated to be approximately 270 times more effective than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas and accounts for around 10% of net global warming since the onset of the industrial revolution. Primarily emitted from agricultural practices, including the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers, N₂O represents a critical challenge as it is now recognized as the most significant ozone-depleting substance currently emitted into the atmosphere. The reported findings emphasize that proactive measures to manage N₂O emissions would bolster the recovery of the ozone layer and protect human populations from increased UV radiation exposure, which is linked to health risks such as skin cancer and cataracts. The report underscores that without urgent action to curb rising N₂O emissions, it is impossible to sustain a pathway to limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as outlined in the Paris Agreement. It presents workable tools that could diminish emissions by over 40% from present levels. Additionally, if effectively managed, N₂O emissions could prevent an estimated 20 million premature deaths globally by 2050 due to improved air quality and avoid the equivalent of approximately 235 billion tonnes of CO₂ emissions by 2100. Practical strategies identified in the Assessment can substantially reduce N₂O emissions, emphasizing the transformative role of food production systems and nitrogen management. It is also noted that emissions from the chemical industry could be lowered quickly and cost-effectively. The simultaneous reduction of nitrogen oxide and ammonia emissions would lead to significant enhancements in air quality and ecosystem health while advancing public health outcomes. Kaveh Zahedi, Director of FAO’s Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, affirmed the importance of addressing nitrous oxide emissions to ensure sustainable agricultural practices. Supporting this, David Kanter, Associate Professor at NYU, emphasized that mitigating N₂O emissions has substantial environmental benefits relative to carbon dioxide emissions. A.R. Ravishankara, a chemist at Colorado State University, elaborated on the multiple benefits of sustainable nitrogen management, while Megumi Seki, Executive Secretary of the Montreal Protocol, reiterated the necessity of ongoing commitment for ozone recovery. Martina Otto, who heads the Climate and Clean Air Coalition Secretariat, highlighted the urgency of employing existing abatement tools to address this critical super pollutant. The report calls for immediate and ambitious actions not only to lessen N₂O emissions but also to align global efforts toward achieving health, environmental, and climate objectives that encompass food security and sustainable development.

The Global Nitrous Oxide Assessment addresses the escalating challenge associated with nitrous oxide emissions, a greenhouse gas with potent implications for climate stability and public health. Annually, global N₂O emissions have been on the rise, particularly from agricultural activities utilizing synthetic fertilizers, making it the third most substantial greenhouse gas. As the foremost ozone-depleting substance, its excess contributes significantly to health risks and climate change, requiring immediate and effective strategies to manage its impact on global warming and ecological health.

The findings of the UN’s Global Nitrous Oxide Assessment underscore the urgent need for concerted efforts to substantially reduce nitrous oxide emissions. With emissions rising dangerously, immediate strategies not only present the potential to mitigate climate change but also to protect public health and reverse environmental degradation. This assessment serves as a clarion call to implement effective policies and practices to safeguard health, achieve sustainability, and meet climate targets.

Original Source: www.fao.org