Why nitrogen management is key for climate change mitigation

The environmental interest in nitrogen (N₂), an essential component of the air we breathe, focuses on the conversion of N₂ into other chemically reactive forms. Some are vital for life itself and some cause costly and dangerous nitrogen pollution.

“Altogether, humans are producing a cocktail of reactive nitrogen that threatens health, climate and ecosystems, making nitrogen one of the most important pollution issues facing humanity,” the 2018-2019 Frontiers report warns. “Yet the scale of the problem remains largely unknown and unacknowledged outside scientific circles.”

The European Nitrogen Assessment identified five key threats of nitrogen pollution: water quality, air quality, greenhouse-gas balance, ecosystems and biodiversity.

Growing demand on the agriculture, transport, industry and energy sectors has led to a sharp growth in the levels of nitrogen pollution and related greenhouse gas emissions. nitrous oxide  (N₂O) from industry and combustion, for example, is 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas.

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