The nitrogen decade: mobilizing global action on nitrogen to 2030 and beyond

Despite its relevance to most UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), nitrogen pollution still lacks broad visibility and coordinated global governance. A new goal “halve waste” by 2030 would save US$100 billion annually, contributing post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) economic recovery multiple SDGs. The scientific community is working with the coordinate accelerate necessary action. If every decade has character, it seems reasonable that 2020–2030 will be remembered as of coronavirus post-COVID-19 recovery. With a bigger impact on gross domestic product than 2008 financial crisis,1United NationsImpact COVID-19 pandemic trade development. Transitioning normal. United Nations Conference Trade Development, Geneva, 2020, 2020https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/osg2020d1_en.pdfGoogle Scholar effects us for years come. It may look like reaching (SDGs) just become even harder. While you might think there already enough worry about, we add mix. As scientists embrace next big environmental challenge, say not another problem. Instead, see part solution plethora problems faced. Many are aware one transgressed “planetary boundaries.” What less widely understood also affects exceedance all other planetary boundaries. By massively increasing supply compounds, humans worsening air water quality, climate change stratospheric ozone depletion, thereby threatening health, biodiversity, livelihoods. At same time, compounds vital building blocks life, so need them food bio-energy production. core “nitrogen challenge” must society recognize links these issues. points opportunity reduce policy fragmentation solutions many know well. world reach SDGs, then get serious about sustainable management. key thing remember both abundant limited planet Earth. In low-energy state atmospheric di-nitrogen (N2), dominates Earth’s atmosphere. contrast, forms nitrogen—from ammonia (NH3), nitrate (NO3?), amino acids, proteins, DNA—can considered representing high-energy “reactive nitrogen” (Nr). Substantial energy needed create Nr—whether lightning, fertilizer manufacture, or biological fixation (BNF)—so that, collectively, Nr precious commodity. This means naturally tend revert N2, supplying soil bacteria, while producing gases along way, such nitric oxide (NO), dioxide (NO2), nitrous (N2O). All together, make cocktail pan-dimensional consequences. addition addressing in our view, up To explain this, worth reflecting last 50 governance, where highlight problem between threats across parallel activities (Figure 1). We start 1970s international awakening. Stockholm 1972 became first “Earth Summit,” leading establishment Environment Programme (UNEP). retrospect, prescient world’s major agreement recommended Secretary General ensure “monitoring levels resulting from emission carbon dioxide, sulfur oxidants, [and] oxides (NOx).”2United NationsReport conference human environment.https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/523249?ln=enDate: 1973Google decades since, synonymous change, acid rain. Looking ahead, if overcome current barriers achieving SDGs boundaries, needs recognition One nitrogen-relevant agreements follow was Economic Commission Europe (UNECE) Air Convention, established 1979.6Bull K. Hoft R. Sutton M.A. Coordinating European policies conventions intergovernmental organizations.in: Howard C.M. Erisman J.W. Billen G. Bleeker A. Grennfelt P. van Grinsven H. Grizzetti B. Nitrogen Assessment. Cambridge University Press, 2011: 570-584https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511976988.028Crossref Google an appropriate herald 1980s convention’s Helsinki Sulfur Protocol 1985, followed swiftly Sofia (1988) NOx.6Bull cases, focus large industrial combustion sources, including electricity supply, whereas later increasingly focused NOx vehicle engines. Although can present some fuels, emissions mostly consequence N2 oxidation at high temperatures form mixture NO NO2. effect similar way lightning splits but produces much larger amounts. Not only does contribute rain, reacts volatile organic “oxidants” (such [O3]) mentioned Declaration. ecosystems breathe. parallel, fast becoming recognized N2O were important process depletion.7Crutzen P.J. Influence content.Q. J. Meteorol. Soc. 1970; 96: 320-325https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.49709640815Crossref Scopus (1088) Concern led signing Vienna Convention rapidly Montreal Protocol. However, N2O, included under Protocol, which exclusively solvents, coolants, manufactured chemicals. chlorofluorocarbons ozone-depleting substances largely banned result, now largest contributor depletion. main source soils, produced bacteria transform back N2. Humans have more doubled natural input through agricultural use industrially fertilizers, NH3, ammonium (NH4+), urea, rates BNF. net result increased billions fields. targeting quick wins reducing fluorochemical products few manufacturing companies, seemed step too far deal 70% emitted agriculture.8United ProgrammeDrawing down protect layer: UNEP synthesis report.http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11822/8489Date: 2013Google Building successes ozone, 1990s multi-lateral agreements. 1992, year Rio Earth Summit, three established: Framework Climate Change (UNFCCC), Biological Diversity (CBD), UNECE Water Convention. Each busy marketplace role often been overlooked. For example, third warming, UNFCCC basket greenhouse alongside methane. Yet synonymous, received little attention negotiations. Expressing gas “carbon equivalents” underscores idea everywhere invisible. Similarly, although CBD include within extremely diverse set Aichi Biodiversity Targets (COP/10/INF/12/REV.1, Target 8), because issues competing CBD, struggled find substantive Beyond entwined water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus, since wasted deposition farm inputs finds into watercourses, affecting ecology, coastal fisheries. therefore relevant, addressed nitrogen. 1995 Global Action Protection Marine Land-Based Activities (GPA) relevant taken lead nutrient 2012.9International Institute DevelopmentSummary Third Intergovernmental Review meeting implementation Land-based Activities.Earth Negot. Bull. 2012; 24https://enb.iisd.org/vol25/enb2577e.htmlGoogle agreed any goals, 2011 proposal increase nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) 20%.9International Scholar,10Sutton Bekunda M. de Vries W. H.J.M. Abrol Y.P. Adhya T.K. et al.Our world: challenge produce pollution. overview UK Centre Ecology & Hydrology behalf Partnership Nutrient Management International Initiative, 2013https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/10747Google agencies 1972, waste steadily increased, tripling magnitude over five conventions, remarkable how bodies unintended barrier joined-up management cycle, individual dimensions each issue lacked gravity catalyze change. Following NOx, science activity made progress linking challenges. Work establish 1999 multi-pollutant-multi-effect Gothenburg highlighted dual importance NH3 particulate matter (PM) ecosystem impacts.6Bull political abating pointed synergy cycle strengthen case response, Task Force Reactive (TFRN) “to develop better understanding integrated, multi-pollutant nature reactive … used outside Convention” (ECE/EB.AIR/91.Add1, decision 2007/1). drew cooperation Initiative (INI) Assessment.11Sutton C. 2011Crossref work directly inclusion national budgets revised 2012 (ECE/EB.AIR/119), guidance mitigation,12Bittman S. Dedina Oenema O. Options mitigation: Nitrogen. Hydrology, 2014http://www.clrtap-tfrn.org/content/options-ammonia-abatement-guidance-unece-task-force-reactive-nitrogenGoogle assessment eating meat dairy pollution.13Westhoek Lesschen J.P. Rood T. Leip Wagner De Marco al.Nitrogen table: influence choices environment. Assessment Special Report Food. 2015http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/513111/Google recent document adopted December 18, 2020—in ever e-session Convention’s Executive Body—on integrated mitigation NO3? overall losses (ECE/EB.AIR/2020/6). includes sorts opportunities valuable resources, simple covering manure advanced processing upscaling this approach facilitated GPA, Management, publications making nutrients,10Sutton climate, layer.8United Cooperation among INI, UNEP, Facility System (INMS) science-led support cycle.14Sutton Raghuram N. Baron Cox Hicks Ju X. Kanter D. al.The fix: circular economy.in: Frontiers 2018/2019: Emerging Issues Environmental Concern. Programme, 2019: 52-65https://www.unenvironment.org/resources/frontiers-201819-emerging-issues-environmental-concernGoogle Scholar,15Sutton Mason K.E. W.K. Masso Reis Just Enough Nitrogen: Perspectives How Get There Regions Too Much Little Springer, 2020https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58065-0Crossref (4) Ultimately, governance move beyond past fragmentation. action offers benefits environment, economy. GEF having INMS, accelerated. Learning UNECE, partnership formed 2017 INMS South Asian Cooperative (SACEP) draft first-ever Resolution Fourth Assembly March (UNEP/EA.4/Res.14). Agreement ministers SACEP governing council enabled India champion resolution, given mandate member states mobilizing globally. Among provisions, resolution calls executive director “consider options facilitating improved coordination national, regional levels, consideration establishing mechanism policies” Four options14Sutton reviewed member-state representatives during high-level segment INMS-4 Nairobi April 2019:Option 1: status quo (MEAs).Option 2: leadership existing MEA.Option 3: convention nitrogen.Option 4: interconvention (INCOM). Government gave clear preference option 4. Overall, strong encouragement MEAs, revisiting 3 future. following newly Working Group, preparing basis INCOM. Under approach, provides MEAs 2). UNEA-4 represents turning point states, community, noticeably quantitative goal. essential guarantee adoption, leaving open countries press specific goals. particular, Indian Prime Minister Modi’s published suggestion (on November 27, 2017, his regular radio address Mann ki Baat) halve chemical fertilizers 2022. strongly motivated intent, likely contentious arena. Another foster wider consensus. thus January 2018, tiny seminar room New York University, born waste.” No object waste, total sum plus denitrification equally resources. halving nitrogen15Sutton intensive agro-ecological farming enables available resources go further. equitable earlier NUE 20%10Sutton needed. allows flexibility local actors tune according their own priorities (by sector, source, form, effect, etc.). stakeholder consultation allowed INI launch commitment Our Oceans October 201816UK HydrologyINI commits 2030.https://www.ceh.ac.uk/news-and-media/news/ini-commits-support-global-goal-halve-nitrogen-waste-2030Date: 2018Google Bali, adoping target date linked achievement further accelerated Campaign Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2019.17United ProgrammeLaunch Management.https://papersmart.unon.org/resolution/sustainable-nitrogen-managementDate: 2019Google Colombo Declaration ambition National Plans, endorsing Road Map Management. taking life own, developing fresh character becomes embraced. May “reduce 50% 2030” Farm Fork Strategies. addition, considering future adoption (CBD/WG2020/2/3). Figure 1 shows, scarily ambitious. something everyone think. Can really achieve 2030? attraction saving $100 annually clear.14Sutton experience efforts anything by, require engaging sectors sources.8United Scholar,12Bittman Scholar,13Westhoek kind stimulate innovation green should societal benefit terms reduced pollution, damage quality.10Sutton Scholar,18Van Holland Jacobsen B.H. Klimont Z. Jaap Willems Costs implications mitigation.Environ. Sci. Technol. 2013; 47: 3571-3579https://doi.org/10.1021/es303804gCrossref PubMed (188) obvious scientists, emergent sapling careful tending flourish ideas. no surprise upon Management.17United Nitro-awareness politicians, policymakers, businesses, farmers, civil society, public. success, trick book. From “Nitrogen Song” Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej (available YouTube) Glasgow Summit (COP26) “discover” recovery, hundreds awaiting. question remaining is, ready join us? authors acknowledge though “Towards project,” Research Innovation (UKRI) Challenges Fund Hub, Natural Council SUNRISE program, UKRI Newton-Bhabha Department Biotechnology “NEWS India-UK” Virtual Joint Agricultural L.L. acknowledges MINECO-Spain EC Ramón y Cajal grant (RYC-2016-20269) together Universidad Politécnica Madrid.