Failure to limit nitrous oxide emissions will make it impossible to achieve the main goal of the Paris Climate Agreement - holding global warming to 1.5°C. This shows the first major global study of the pollutant, reports "Reuters".
Nitrogen oxide is the third most common greenhouse gas and the worst ozone depleting gas.
The Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Global Assessment report is similar to the 2021 Global Methane Survey, which showed that human-caused methane emissions could be reduced by up to 45% this decade. The research laid the groundwork for 150 countries to commit to the Global Methane Agreement, which aims to cut these emissions by 30% by 2030.
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This report states that emissions of nitrogen oxide, caused mainly by the agricultural use of synthetic fertilizers and manure, have increased globally by 40% since 1980 and are on track to increase by 30% from levels from 2020 to 2050
It notes that taking global action to reduce nitrogen oxide (N2O) emissions could avoid the equivalent of up to 235 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions by 2100.
A US State Department official said earlier this year that reducing N2O emissions from the production of fertilizers or materials such as nylon is cheap, costing as little as $10 per metric ton through projects using the voluntary carbon offsets market .
"Ambitious action to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions could bring the world closer to meeting a wide range of global climate, ozone and other environmental and human health goals," said the study, published by the Coalition for Climate and Clean Water air of over 180 governments, non-governmental and international organizations.
US officials met with Chinese counterparts to discuss cooperation to reduce N2O emissions. Both countries are the largest emitters of greenhouse gases.