From South Asia to the world: embracing the challenge of global sustainable nitrogen management

South Asian regional cooperation with the International Nitrogen Initiative and India-led UN Resolution on Sustainable Management (UNEP/EA.4/L.16) brought Asia into global focus. Here, we reflect upon its proactive scientific community, growing capacity, international collaborations, which have enabled emergence of UKRI-GCRF Hub, has great potential both regionally globally. Reactive nitrogen (Nr) can be a boon in right place bane wrong place. Elemental (N2) is predominant air breathe (78%) relatively unreactive harmless. However, Nr compounds containing oxygen, hydrogen, or carbon—although essential for very existence life this planet—threaten sustainability when they accumulate environment. The voluntary efforts scientists globally to bring intergovernmental attention over last two decades culminated (UNEP/EA.4/L.16)1United Nations Environment ProgrammeResolution adopted by United Assembly 15 March 2019: sustainable management. Programme, fourth session, Nairobi, 11–15, 2019. UNEP/EA.4/L.16.https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/28478/English.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=yDate: 2019Google Scholar at 4th (UNEA4) This article reflects as major hub these future potential. biogeochemical cycle depends abiotic biotic worlds interconverting inorganic organic forms sustain planet. involves “fixation” some atmospheric N2 “denitrification” excess back N2. Since invention agriculture 11,000 years ago, exploiting natural biological fixation symbiotic legumes supported human population growth civilization sustainably millennia.2Galloway J.N. Raghuram N. Abrol Y.P. A perspective reactive global, Indian context.Curr. Sci. 2008; 94: 1375-1381Google industrial era emissions by-products combustion fossil fuels energy transport, advent Haber-Bosch process after 1908 fixation, initially fertilizers later war munitions. resulting anthropogenic conversion exceeded all Earth’s terrestrial processes combined well 2-fold.2Galloway pollution continues unabated today accumulation oxides (NOx), ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O) nitrates (NO3?) water, among others. They been affecting our health, causing eutrophication water bodies, altering biodiversity, worsening climate change. N2O greenhouse gas 298 times more warming than CO2, whereas NOx ten In addition, serious implications including respiratory disorders due NO23Achakulwisut P. Brauer M. Hystad Anenberg S.C. Global, national, urban burdens paediatric asthma incidence attributable ambient NO2 pollution: estimates from datasets.Lancet Planet. Health. 2019; 3: e166-e178Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (155) Google (Figure 1). Nitrates NH3 contribute fine particulate matter (PM) air, constituting up half constituents PM 2.5 5, respiratory, cardiovascular, other diseases prolonged exposure. World Health Organization (WHO) that globally, 7 million people die each year result (https://www.who.int/airpollution/en/). Programme (UNEP) recognized one emerging threats planet Frontiers 2018/19 report.4Sutton M.A. Adhya T. Baron J. Cox C. de Vries W. Hicks K. Howard Ju X. Kanter D. et al.The fix: circular economy.in: 2018/19: Emerging Issues Environmental Concern. 52-65http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11822/27543Google report provided timely impetus UNEA4 Management,1United itself emerged was led India. most populous fastest regions world. With less 5% world’s land mass, 14% arable land, 2.73% forest area, 4% coastline, it supports 25% 45% Asia’s population. region’s ecosystem services are under pressure, countries already parties three Rio Conventions (UN Framework Convention Climate Change [UNFCC], Biological Diversity [CBD], Combat Desertification), Manila Declaration (2012) nutrient pollution, Global Partnership Nutrient Management. There several mechanisms, such Co-operative (SACEP), Seas Natural Resources Information center, Coral Reef Task Force, Malé Control Prevention Air Pollution likely transboundary effects, Biodiversity Clearing House Mechanism. Although Assessment still underway, becoming increasingly clear hotspots NOx, N2O, pollution5Van Damme Clarisse L. Whitburn S. Hadji-Lazaro Hurtmans Clerbaux Coheur P.F. Industrial agricultural point sources exposed.Nature. 2018; 564: 99-103https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0747-1Crossref (185) Scholar,6Tian H. Xu R. Canadell J.G. Thompson R.L. Winiwarter Suntharalingam Davidson E.A. Ciais Jackson R.B. Janssens-Maenhout G. al.A comprehensive quantification sinks.Nature. 2020; 586: 248-256https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2780-0Crossref (251) pollution.7Global Ocean Oxygen NetworkThe ocean losing breath: declining oxygen coastal waters.in: Breitburg Gregoire Isensee IOC-UNESCO, IOC technical series no. 137, IOC/2018/TS/137. 2018https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/265196eng.pdfGoogle relative quantitative terms, seems highest region, followed ammonia, order.8Sutton Drewer Moring A. Ahmad Bhatia Brownlie Dragosits U. Ghude S.D. Hillier challenge perspective.in: T.K. Aneja V.P. Pathak Kulshrestha Sharma Singh B. Assessment: Sources Nitrogen, Effects, Options, Policies. Elsevier, 2017: 9-28Crossref (7) Agriculture livestock contributors sewage fast contributor nitrogenous region. Indeed, replaced methane second important could true agrarian Recent childhood (a constituent NOx) indicate importance contribution NH3, nitric acid (HNO3), N issue Asia. According WHO, worst cities terms Asia, also accounts largest number deaths Building awareness developed (INI), included review health impacts Nr.9Gupta S.K. Gupta A.B. Pathophysiology nitrate toxicity humans view changing trends special reference India.in: 459-468Crossref need an organization highlight policy aspects first felt 1998 during First Conference held Netherlands crystallized 2001 Second US. INI’s eventual formation 2003 co-sponsored Scientific Committee Problems Geosphere-Biosphere Program, originally established Science Council (then ICSU). main goal optimize nitrogen’s beneficial role food production minimize negative effects environment production. It grew rapidly representatives North America, Latin Europe, Africa, now Australia (https://initrogen.org/). Around same time, Group (ING) independently taking shape network Society Conservation Nature (SCON), registered non-governmental (NGO) based New Delhi (https://www.scon-india.org/). Soon, ING INI came contact set Centre 2), China continued represent East Over years, become voice Nr. consistently highlighting through science dissemination, messages, stakeholder engagement governments, UN, civil society, fertilizer industry. briefs conference declarations research articles mobilizing wider awareness. Third (2004) out Nanjing Development (2010), Kampala Statement-for-Action Africa Globally (2013), Melbourne Responsible Future (2016) fifth, sixth, seventh conferences, respectively 2). were submitted agencies disseminated widely stakeholders. forthcoming eighth Berlin (2021), sponsored hosted national government (Germany) amply indicates impact landscape. had roles ensuring became focus (GPNM), currently chaired India, UNEP Action Protection Marine Land-Based Activities. phosphorus cause marine ecosystems mostly activities industry needed addressed source. representation chair GPNM steering committee, establishment nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) task force, strong engage nitrogen. Its obvious GPNM’s Cycling project, funded Facility (GEF) implemented (2012–2016). mainly focused highly but contrasting developing-country sites, Bay Philippines rural Chilika Lagoon east coast An interesting insight project not entirely affected runoffs adjacent lake, Laguna (https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/paralysed-growth-lake-under-siege). Similarly, loading effluents nearby areas (http://www.nutrientchallenge.org/sites/default/files/documents/files/Chilika%20Rpt%20Card_A4%20web.pdf). These findings highlighted understanding local linkages assessments, especially intended cooperation. success overview management10Sutton Bleeker C.M. Bekunda Grizzetti van Grinsven H.J.M. Billen al.Our world: produce pollution. UK Ecology & Hydrology behalf Initiative, 2013http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11822/10747Google prepared dedicated ongoing $6 GEF titled “Targeted improving toward management system (INMS).” being UNEP, executed INI, (https://www.thegef.org/project/targeted-research-improving-understanding-global-nitrogen-cycle-towards-establishment). includes tools managing cycle; quantifying flows, threats, benefits; demonstrating full approach, others (https://inms.international/). Learning previous carbon combines seven studies regions, ever Assessment, published 2022. 2006 2008, co-hosted Fifth 2010, galvanized interdisciplinary expertise levels spearheaded society (the SCON) India Trust (SIT), NGOs free institutional rigidities universities laboratories. organizations built agenda side event 11th session Parties (COP11) CBD Hyderabad, 2012. Event 2776, “The assessment,” organized association UNEP-GPNM between nitrogen, nutrients, 20 CBD-Aichi Targets 2010 met 2020. remain unmet date, although targets (https://www.cbd.int/aichi-targets/). Even championing brainstorming meetings various ministries stakeholders, opportunity 2013. SACEP commissioned study entitled “Nutrient waters seas” UNEP-funded project. scoping outlined losses freshwater environments consequent critical habitats suggested coordinated interventions (http://www.sacep.org/pdf/Scoping_study_on_Nutrient_loading_in_SAS_Region.pdf). acceptance member governments milestone recognition laid foundation assessment. Overview Management10Sutton mentioned earlier offered insights demonstrated capacity boosted appetite assessment best way join cooperation.11Raghuram H.K. Tiwari M.K. Centre: building management.in: Sutton Mason K.E. W.K. Masso Reis Just Enough Nitrogen. Perspectives How Get Regions Too Much Little Springer, 2020: 467-479https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58065-0_32Crossref After interest triggered European Assessment,12Sutton Erisman J.W. Grennfelt Assessment. Cambridge University Press, 2011Crossref leadership Assessment.13Abrol 2017Google carried citizen-science mode without waiting government’s commissioning funding. compiled data sinks sectors activity reduce policies scenarios.14Bhattacharya 491-512Crossref (5) Such national-scale provide support informed domestic actions, negotiations envisaging “India champion.”8Sutton civil-society umbrella SCON SIT proved instrumental formulating proposal preliminary INMS bodies partnership SACEP, meeting partners Malé, Maldives, September 2017. Based draft resolution “sustainable management” submission Assembly. mobilized resolution, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh 2018. Day celebrations Eventually, piloted successfully negotiated diplomats (March 2019) INMS. passage historic moment above successes primarily partly aided projects. But cannot sustained liberal investments rest utilized by, jointly UK, investing four virtual centers focusing rice (Newton-Bhabha Virtual Efficiency Whole Cropping Systems [NEWS India-UK]), wheat (Indo-UK Improvement Use Wheat), millets (Cambridge-India Network Translational Nitrogen), (India-UK Fixation Centre) period 2016–2019. NEWS India-UK plant science, agronomic, environmental laboratory scale. highlights include phenotype NUE rice;15Sharma Sinha V.B. Rajpal Kuchi Sitaramam V. Parsad Phenotyping use (NUE): genotypes differ N-responsive germination, consumption, seed urease activities, root growth, crop duration yield low N.Front. Plant https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2018.01452Crossref (21) Scholar,16Sharma Arun Prem Kumar Subrahmanyam Neeraja C.N. Jha al.Nitrogen associated genes: flowering, root/shoot length biomass.Front. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.587464Crossref emission reduction neem-coated urea; replace 50% urea manure biofertilizer; whole farm models rice, wheat, sorghum; inventories; budgets Another development massive open online course Nr, launched languages Edinburgh Edex platform (https://www.edx.org/course/nitrogen-a-global-challenge). India-UK’s bilateral involving past current chairs, along their involvement GEF-UNEP INMS, paved extensive £20 (2019–2023) Challenge Research Fund (GCRF) Innovation (UKRI), “GCRF Hub (SANH),” 40 institutions Hydrology. Through SANH projects, consultations workshops throughout 2019 Kathmandu, Dhaka, Delhi, Chennai. contributed launch Campaign high-level summit Lankan Colombo October campaign promoting “halve waste” 2030, multiple benefits across Goals.17Sutton Baker E. Basir Cordovil Eory al.Nitrogen: grasping challenge. manifesto science-in-action System. Summary report. UNEP-SL/UNGC/Res.L.14/INF/6. Hydrology, 2019https://papersmart.unon.org/resolution/uploads/nitrogen_grasping_the_challenge_1.9_summary_version.pdfGoogle declaration Working 2020, representative country whose work inter-convention coordination mechanism UNFCC, CBD, Economic Commission developments further strengthened UNEP-INI-INMS-SACEP-SANH while support. reducing possible necessary every monitoring controlling neither uniform nor adequate any countries. As emerges different (e.g., agriculture, energy, industry) governed departments countries, assigning nodal pollutant help avoid complications inter-ministerial coordination. Policy technology choices, effluent standards, taxes, subsidies, public procurement pricing. Because sensitivity consumption (air, food), forests, rivers, produce, coral systems, desirable ecosystem-specific standards results protect livelihoods. solutions require increasing equivalence value animal recycling wastewater nutrients; fuel dependence power, industry; energy-efficient gadgets systems; waste meat etc. available practices adapted situations, apart developing adopting new technologies recapture reuse Regional because evidence spills borders neighboring only develop common framework helps coordinate approach implementation region evidence-based interventions. If necessary, supplement realize part Hub” ( NE/S009019/1 ) “Towards System (INMS)” (GEF Project ID 5400). authors thank Navjyoti Chakraborty his assistance template Figure 2.