Human-caused emissions of nitrous oxide, a powerful and often overlooked greenhouse gas, are on an alarming rise, having increased by 40% over the past 40 years according to a comprehensive new study. Researchers warn that the gas, also called laughing gas, is accumulating in the atmosphere faster than many scientists expected, making it harder to meet the emissions reduction targets needed to avoid the most catastrophic effects. of climate change.
A gas with a warming power 300 times greater than CO2
Although the volumes of nitrous oxide (N2O) are much lower than those of carbon dioxide, the best-known greenhouse gas, its warming power is about 300 times more powerful. The study found that the rate of increase in N2O emissions from 2020 to 2022 was the highest in history.
Hanqin Tian, lead author of the report and professor at the Schiller Institute for Global Sustainability at Boston College, said: “If we don't control these nitrous oxide emissions, that means reducing nitrous oxide even further. of carbon “. He worked with a team of 58 researchers from 15 countries to produce the “Global Nitrous Oxide Budget 2024,” published Wednesday in the quarterly journal Earth System Science Data.
Nitrogen fertilizers, a major scientific advance that has become problematic
Ironically, much of the problem has its roots in one of the most beneficial scientific advances of the last century. “Most of the gas comes from nitrogen fertilizers,” Tian explains. The development of chemical nitrogen fertilizers in the early 20th century sparked the Green Revolution in agriculture, dramatically increasing crop yields and helping to feed a growing global population. But in the 21st century, we're taking stock of the costs of dumping all that excess nitrogen into the environment.
Progress identified in certain regions of the world
The study identified some areas for progress on nitrous oxide. The European Union, Japan and South Korea have reduced their emissions, and China, the world's largest source, has begun cutting emissions in recent years since the country launched a program to reduce use nitrogen fertilizers.
Several large agricultural companies are working on ways to improve nitrogen application. One of them is BP Bunge Bioenergia in Brazil, a joint stock company formed in 2019 by the oil company BP and the agricultural company Bunge.
The inspiring example of BP Bunge Bioenergia in Brazil
BP Bunge operates in Brazil, which according to Tian's study is the world's fourth largest source of N2O emissions. The company grows sugarcane for ethanol and other energy products, as well as sugar.
Traditionally, the crop relied heavily on nitrogen fertilizer, but leaders said a recent shift toward more regenerative farming practices is changing that. “We are seeing a revolution in this industry,” BP Bunge CEO Geovane Consul told Newsweek.
Consecutive trade threats inspired the company's move away from chemical fertilizers, Consul said. “When the pandemic started, we experienced disruptions in the chemical fertilizer supply chain around the world,” he explained. “And the second effect was the war in Ukraine,” which pushed up the prices of natural gas, crucial for the production of nitrogen fertilizer.
BP Bunge turned to organic substitutes primarily out of economic necessity and found that the ecological benefits made it a win-win. Consul said other large soybean and corn producers are adopting similar practices and large agricultural supply companies are developing more organic substitutes for chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Agriculture, part of the problem but also the solution
Tian points out that nitrous oxide emissions data highlights the importance of agriculture in the climate crisis. Livestock, farmland, and the machinery that supports them produce huge amounts of emissions, but agriculture is also full of potential climate solutions.
“About a third of our greenhouse gases come from the food production system,” Tian said. “So if you don't solve this problem, it's never possible to solve the problem of climate change. »
Faced with the emergency, it is clear that the transition towards more sustainable agriculture and less dependent on nitrogen fertilizers is a major lever in the fight against global warming. The innovative examples of companies like BP Bunge show that this revolution is not only necessary, but also possible and economically viable. It is up to all of us to support and accelerate this movement to ensure a greener and more breathable future for our planet.
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