The United Nations has issued an urgent call for global intervention to curb nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, describing the gas as a major threat to climate stability, the ozone layer, and public health. At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) held in Baku, Azerbaijan, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released findings from the UN Global Nitrous Oxide Assessment, warning that unchecked N₂O emissions could undermine global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.
Nitrous oxide, primarily generated from agricultural fertilizers and manure, has a global warming potential approximately 270 times greater than carbon dioxide and is responsible for about 10 percent of warming since the industrial revolution.
The report stresses that, without urgent reductions, N₂O will continue to accelerate climate change and deplete the ozone layer, potentially leading to increased UV exposure worldwide and a rise in health risks like skin cancer and cataracts. UNEP’s executive director emphasized the need for immediate action, stating, “Immediate action on nitrous oxide is not just about climate; it’s about protecting the ozone layer and public health.”
In response to these findings, UNEP’s Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is urging policymakers to prioritize N₂O reduction, predicting that swift action could prevent up to 20 million premature deaths by 2050 and eliminate emissions equivalent to 235 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide by century’s end.
UNEP is also coordinating with the International Nitrogen Management System (INMS) to develop comprehensive nitrogen policies, with a report set for release in 2025.
The effort, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), aims to further expand global strategies to address nitrogen-based emissions.
