New global initiative shares three initial steps for countries to drive emissions reductions of the third leading greenhouse gas
Baku, November 19th, 2024: Today, during Food Day at COP29, the N₂O Hub launches to rally governments, business and civil society to address nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, the third leading greenhouse gas responsible for global warming after carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane. N₂O emissions – largely from fertilizers and manure – are currently rising faster than in worst-case emissions scenarios. If they continue on the current trajectory, there will be no viable path to achieving the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C. As part of the launch of the hub, convened by Climate Advisers, a new N₂O policy brief and accompanying one-pager propose three initial steps to help countries to drive action to reduce N₂O emissions:
- Countries should agree and commit to a global time bound, quantitative N₂O mitigation target similar to the Global Methane Pledge, and integrate N₂O in national climate plans.
- Countries should commit to a near-term goal of eliminating industrial sources of N₂O emissions, those from nitric and adipic acid production, as these are easier to abate than emissions from other sources.
- Leaders should make a collective commitment to marshal the public and private funding necessary to achieve these goals, including from philanthropies.
N₂O traps around 273 times more heat than carbon dioxide and remains in the atmosphere for up to 110 years. It is also the gas which contributes most to ozone depletion, and can detrimentally affect air quality. Nearly three-quarters of human-caused N₂O emissions come from nitrogen-based fertilizers and manure on farms. Most of the remaining emissions come from wastewater, fossil fuels, biomass burning, and the production of adipic acid, nitric acid, and caprolactam – chemicals used in the production of plastics, fertilizers, and other products and materials.
Mumukshu Patel, Senior Director, Climate Advisers, and lead convener of the N₂O Hub said: “2024 is the year where science has made the case for N₂O. Seminal reports released this year present robust scientific evidence that shed light on N₂O – the forgotten greenhouse gas – and point to viable abatement pathways, with 20-40 percent mitigation potential overall. 2025 needs to be the year of action on nitrous oxide. Climate Advisers is launching the N₂O Hub to raise climate ambition and enable action starting now, with a call to integrate N₂O in national climate plans and commit to an immediate phase down of industrial emissions.”
Josh McBee, Deputy Director, Climate Advisers, added, “Over the coming months, the hub will convene partners and scientists across the world to advance this effort and ensure that food system solutions consider all aspects of climate action and sustainable development, including food security and livelihoods.”
The hub launches on the back of critical steps taken by the global community in addressing N₂O emissions this year. Last week, the Climate & Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), a UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Initiative, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released a new Global Nitrous Oxide Assessment making the scientific case for reducing emissions, and potential solutions, building on the Global Nitrous Oxide Budget, released earlier this year. Alongside the climate and ozone layer benefits, the assessment also revealed the opportunity to prevent 20 million premature deaths through improved air quality.
David Kanter, Associate Professor, New York University, Chair of the International Nitrogen Initiative and one of the lead authors of the new global N₂O assessment, shared: “The science is clear: keeping 1.5 alive and protecting the legacy of the international ozone agreement requires ambitious action on nitrous oxide. It can be forgotten no longer. Meaningful action will require international collaboration that tackles all major sources, including industry and agriculture.”
Durwood Zaelke, President of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, said: “It’s time to remember that N₂O has long been recognized for both its damage to the ozone layer and climate. The new UNEP FAO assessment shows that reducing N₂O emissions by 40% is not just possible but necessary, with industrial N₂O emissions representing a near-term no-regrets strategy on which the US and China are already showing leadership. We welcome the N₂O hub to continue building awareness and momentum.”
For those at COP29, the launch takes place at 13:00 AZT at the Action on Food pavilion during N₂O Hub: Driving Global Action On Nitrous Oxide.
For those interested in getting involved with the work and the hub, please contact Mumukshu Patel at patel@climateadvisers.org and Josh McBee at mcbee@climateadvisers.org.
For media interviews or comments, please contact Natasha Ferrari at ferrari@climateadvisers.org and Kyle Saukas at saukas@climateadvisers.org
About the N₂O Hub
The N₂O Hub will serve as a leading champion of N₂O action by helping to raise awareness of those leading the way to deploy N₂O solutions, engaging governments and other institutions to implement bold plans for action, mobilizing finance for existing solutions, and advancing research and future solutions.
Climate Advisers serves as the secretariat of the N₂O Hub with an aim to coordinate a coalition of like-minded organizations to co-create innovative strategies to agree on and meet goals. Climate Advisers will provide organizational support while ensuring that all partners have meaningful opportunities to shape the Hub’s strategies and approach based on their capacity and organizational focus.