Aspirational nitrogen interventions accelerate air pollution abatement and ecosystem protection

Although reactive nitrogen (Nr) emissions from food and energy production contribute to multi-dimensional environmental damages, integrated management of Nr is still lacking owing to unclear future mitigation potentials and benefits. Here, we find that by 2050, high-ambition compared to low-ambition N interventions reduce global ammonia and nitrogen oxide emissions by 21 and 22 TgN/a, respectively, equivalent to 40 and 52% of their 2015 levels. This would mitigate population-weighted PM2.5 by 6 g/m<sup>3</sup> and avoid premature deaths by 817 k (16%), mitigate ozone by 4 ppbv, avoid premature deaths by 252k (34%) and crop yield losses by 122 million tons (4.3%), and decrease terrestrial ecosystem areas exceeding critical load by 420 Mha (69%). Without nitrogen interventions, most environmental damages examined will deteriorate between 2015 and 2050; Africa and Asia are the most vulnerable but also benefit the most from interventions. Nitrogen interventions support sustainable development goals related to air, health, and ecosystems.

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Publication Details

Journal
Science Advances
Published
2024-08-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ado0112
Citations
22
Primary Topic
Air Quality and Health Impacts
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
6.92
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article

Aspirational nitrogen interventions accelerate air pollution abatement and ecosystem protection

Da Pan, Peter Havlík, Jinfeng Chang, David Kanter et al.
22 citations
Science Advances
Air Quality and Health Impacts
6.92
article

Aspirational nitrogen interventions accelerate air pollution abatement and ecosystem protection

Da Pan, Peter Havlík, Jinfeng Chang, David Kanter, Mi Zhou, Xiaolin Wang, Yixin Guo, David Leclère, Wilfried Winiwarter, Lin Zhang, Hao Zhao
article en
22 citations

Abstract

Although reactive nitrogen (Nr) emissions from food and energy production contribute to multi-dimensional environmental damages, integrated management of Nr is still lacking owing to unclear future mitigation potentials and benefits. Here, we find that by 2050, high-ambition compared to low-ambition N interventions reduce global ammonia and nitrogen oxide emissions by 21 and 22 TgN/a, respectively, equivalent to 40 and 52% of their 2015 levels. This would mitigate population-weighted PM2.5 by 6 g/m<sup>3</sup> and avoid premature deaths by 817 k (16%), mitigate ozone by 4 ppbv, avoid premature deaths by 252k (34%) and crop yield losses by 122 million tons (4.3%), and decrease terrestrial ecosystem areas exceeding critical load by 420 Mha (69%). Without nitrogen interventions, most environmental damages examined will deteriorate between 2015 and 2050; Africa and Asia are the most vulnerable but also benefit the most from interventions. Nitrogen interventions support sustainable development goals related to air, health, and ecosystems.

Science AdvancesVol. 10(33)
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (AT), Peking University (CN), Princeton Public Schools (US), Institute of Environmental Engineering (PL), University of Zielona Góra (PL), New York University (US), Zhejiang University (CN), University of Hong Kong (HK), South China University of Technology (CN), Colorado State University (US)
Responsible consumption and production
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Air Quality and Health Impacts
6.92
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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